It always starts with a Beetle!

[BugginBert]

A quick hello,
We are off to pick up a T5.1 California Beach today so very excited!
This is our second Transporter after owning a Type 2 Bay Window a few years back when the kids were young. Now it’s just the two of us and two small and shouty schnauzers called Dolly & Boris.
To explain the title our VW history goes a bit like this…
Buy a VW 1971 Beetle
Then buy a VW 1975 Transporter
Life gets in the way
Kids grow up
Buy a VW 2016 Beetle Cabrio
Now buying a VW 2015 T5.1 California





View attachment IMG_1294.jpeg

 

[Perfectos]

 

[Loz2286]

I have a similar history...

First car, a 1300 Beetle. Then company cars ... Then Land Rovers...lots of them.... then an Amarok, a Caddy, then during the Pandemic, a California T6.1. Two years ago I added a T6.1 Kombi.

I'm now looking for a 1300 Beetle again, to go back to the beginning....

And we've got two Schnauzers that just love the campervan.

 

[chockswahay]

My first car was a ‘67 Beetle 1500……… I bought it from my brother in 1974. It was rapid in a way that it felt it had no right to be! Yeah OK it had a pair of Weber 40’s, wider tracking and bigger tyres, Ricaro seats and a tiny steering wheel. It was only a few decades later that my brother owned up to the fact that it was fully race tuned, 2000cc, lightweight flywheel……. blah blah blah to Porsche spec!!!! No wonder it was quick!

I suppose the clue should have been that he was a highly successful rally driver back in the day and this was his ‘road’ car

Halcyon days………

 

[Doorbundle]

Correct! It always starts with a Beetle!​

1972 PB-WD-71 1960? VW 1200 Beetle, Owned by GF while serving in Germany.
1976-77 Morris Minor PVJ 983 Not a Beetle, but a reasonable substitute. Mother in Law's Car.
1977 - 79 VW 1300 Beetle ORR 629L
1979 - 84 VW 1200N Basic Beetle MUY733P
1980 - 83 VW 1200 L Beetle REA125L
1983 -2013 VW Mexico Aubergine Beele 1200 A767XWP Personal Import from Germany
1987 -1988 VW1300 Polo Formel E ...Damaged falling off transporter - Long story - Rejected to VW..... Oops!
1988 - 1994 VW1600 Diesel Golf
1994 - 1999 VW 1900 Tdi Golf Estate.
2003 to Date VW Mexico 1600i Beetle.....MOT on Monday!
1999 - 2010 S620PAB VW 2.0 Tdi Passat Estate - Wondercar!
2010 to Date VW 2,0l TdI BMT Passat Estate
2011 to Date Fiat 1300MJ Diesel PANDA.........Wondercar!
2018 to Date VW Tdi 150 California.

 

[sidepod]

Panda? I hope it’s the ubiquitous 4x4?

 

[Doorbundle]

Panda? I hope it’s the ubiquitous 4x4?

No, sorry, despite a substantial 'Affinity Discount' on the 4x4 Cross, head ruled heart at the time of purchase so 1.3JTD currently 170k miles. 70mpg, nicely run in.

 

[BugginBert]

I have a similar history...

First car, a 1300 Beetle. Then company cars ... Then Land Rovers...lots of them.... then an Amarok, a Caddy, then during the Pandemic, a California T6.1. Two years ago I added a T6.1 Kombi.

I'm now looking for a 1300 Beetle again, to go back to the beginning....

And we've got two Schnauzers that just love the campervan.

We are hoping our two will love it, they like camping in the tent. Having the bus means if I nip to the loo in the middle of the night, I won’t have Dolly following me 5 mins later

 

[BugginBert]

My first car was a ‘67 Beetle 1500……… I bought it from my brother in 1974. It was rapid in a way that it felt it had no right to be! Yeah OK it had a pair of Weber 40’s, wider tracking and bigger tyres, Ricaro seats and a tiny steering wheel. It was only a few decades later that my brother owned up to the fact that it was fully race tuned, 2000cc, lightweight flywheel……. blah blah blah to Porsche spec!!!! No wonder it was quick!

I suppose the clue should have been that he was a highly successful rally driver back in the day and this was his ‘road’ car

Halcyon days………

Wow, my first car was a Renault 4 GTL, not quite as fast but it holds an affectionate place in my heart.

 

[BugginBert]

Correct! It always starts with a Beetle!​

1972 PB-WD-71 1960? VW 1200 Beetle, Owned by GF while serving in Germany.
1976-77 Morris Minor PVJ 983 Not a Beetle, but a reasonable substitute. Mother in Law's Car.
1977 - 79 VW 1300 Beetle ORR 629L
1979 - 84 VW 1200N Basic Beetle MUY733P
1980 - 83 VW 1200 L Beetle REA125L
1983 -2013 VW Mexico Aubergine Beele 1200 Personal Import from Germany
1987 -1988 VW1300 Polo Formel E ...Damaged falling off transporter - Long story - Rejected to VW..... Oops!
1988 - 1994 VW1600 Diesel Golf
1994 - 1999 VW 1900 Tdi Golf Estate.
2003 to Date VW Mexico 1600i Beetle.....MOT on Monday!
1999 - 2010 S620PAB VW 2.0 Tdi Passat Estate - Wondercar!
2010 to Date VW 2,0l TdI BMT Passat Estate
2011 to Date Fiat 1300MJ Diesel PANDA.........Wondercar!
2018 to Date VW Tdi 150 California.

Wow, that’s some car history, good luck with the MOT.

 

[Kayleigh]

Correct! It always starts with a Beetle!​

1972 PB-WD-71 1960? VW 1200 Beetle, Owned by GF while serving in Germany.

Yes, my first car was a 73 GT Beetle 1600 in apple green.

I’m still going for bright colours

 

[Doorbundle]

Correct! It always starts with a Beetle!​

1972 PB-WD-71 1960? VW 1200 Beetle, Owned by GF while serving in Germany.
1976-77 Morris Minor PVJ 983 Not a Beetle, but a reasonable substitute. Mother in Law's Car.
1977 - 79 VW 1300 Beetle ORR 629L
1979 - 84 VW 1200N Basic Beetle MUY733P
1980 - 83 VW 1200 L Beetle REA125L
1983 -2013 VW Mexico Aubergine Beele 1200 A767XWP Personal Import from Germany
1987 -1988 VW1300 Polo Formel E ...Damaged falling off transporter - Long story - Rejected to VW..... Oops!
1988 - 1994 VW1600 Diesel Golf
1994 - 1999 VW 1900 Tdi Golf Estate.
2003 to Date VW Mexico 1600i Beetle.....MOT on Monday!
1999 - 2010 S620PAB VW 2.0 Tdi Passat Estate - Wondercar!
2010 to Date VW 2,0l TdI BMT Passat Estate
2011 to Date Fiat 1300MJ Diesel PANDA.........Wondercar!
2018 to Date VW Tdi 150 California.