Tagged: bug
Herbie
Photo of the week #74 – Surely the best known VW Beetle all over the world, Herbie, the star of many Disney Movies was first propelled to fame in ‘The Love Bug’ in 1969 when he was just 6 years old. When visiting any VW show you are almost certain to come across a Herbie replica or two with the iconic red and white stripes and the 53 racing number. This one even has the banded-steel wheels and white-letter tyres too. Herbie’s 53 racing number was chosen by producer Bill Walsh, who was a fan of Los Angeles Dodgers baseball player Don Drysdale (Drysdale’s jersey number, later retired by the team, was 53).
One careful owner
Photo of the week #73 – This one owner from new, 1972 Marina Blue Beetle was offered for sale at the Stanford Hall VW show this year. From what I can recall the only thing non original is that it has been fitted with day-mouldings, self-coloured fibreglass wings. Not too bad for forty years of careful ownership!
Stanford Hall 2013
On Sunday Alison and I made our way over Stanford Hall for this year’s annual show which is organised by the Leicestershire and Warwickshire Volkswagen Owners club. I usually take my beetle to display in the Historic VW line-up but, this year we decided to bring my Audi A3. Last year’s show was one of many which fell fowl of the appalling weather being postponed to later in the year. By the time we got to Stanford Hall, at about 10.30 am, the show was in full swing and looked to be busier than ever!
There were lots of great VWs for sale including some nice, early stock examples, along with the lowered and custom cars which are always in plentiful supply. One of several which caught our attention was a very straight and original split screen pick-up which was a fresh import from Ohio in the US.
The concourse area was packed with immaculate VWs of all kinds from early air-cooled models right through to recent vehicles including the Audi TT and New Beetle. The Splitscreen Van Club always have a huge presence at this show as they have their AGM the same weekend and then cruise to the show en mass. The Historic VW display was also impressive and seems to be getting better each year.
We left after lunch having enjoyed wondering around the show for most of the morning, in sunshine for a change!
Snowflake light
Photo of the week #72 – Another snowy iPhone 5 photo from a wintery March. Hopefully I’ll be off to The Stanford Hall VW show at the start of May so I should soon have some more show photos to share…
Roundel
Photo of the week #71 – Another iPhone photo of my VW beetle taken during the second coldest March recorded in the UK. The coldest was in 1962!
Snoval
Photo of the week #70 – I moved home last week to a small village near Brackley, and my poor old 1955 Oval Window VW Beetle had to spend a few days outside on the drive while we sorted out everything in the garage. With heavy snow-falls over most of last weekend, I think this may have been the worst weather that this old timer has faced since it’s been in this country – certainly since I’ve owned it! But as it originally came from Sweden, it may be a nice reminder of the weather it had to face when it started it’s life. This photograph was taken on my iPhone 5.
Loval
Photo of the week #69 – Another view of this lowered black oval window beetle on show at DubFreeze. Downtown Los Angeles by Heather Lee Brough
This fantastic series of photographs was taken by Heather Lee Brough and features Isabel, the 1956 VW Beetle. There’s lots more great Volkswagen photography, amongst other subjects over on Heather’s blog: heatherleebrough.wordpress.com
Green ’57
Photo of the week #67 – I spent last Saturday in Towcester and spotted this 1957 right hand drive oval-window beetle parked up at the side of the road. Original, Early, Right hand drive, UK-supplied Volkswagens are now few and far between and this early example looked fairly original, apart from being a bit closer to the ground on some polished Empie 5s! This shot was taken on my iPhone 5.
British Standard
Photo of the week #66 – A rare standard model sunroof oval VW pictured at DubFreeze. These basic, no-frills beetles have little, if any chrome work, cable-brakes, a minimal headlining and the front seats are bolted to the floor and can be adjusted by loosening two wing-nuts below each seat! They also have a three-spoke steering wheel similar to the early standard split window models.
