How many 911 owners here owned a VW Beetle first?

DaveE · 08-01-2006, 10:53 AM

Reading the thread about stuffing a six in the back of a Bettle made me ask this question. I owned a 1970 Beetle for about 6 years through the late '70s before I bought my first 911 and later owned a VW Bus. Did our disease start with the Bug infection? I guess this applies mostly to the older Pelicans.

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

I owned a 1976 Super Beetle in 1985, it lasted about six months before the rust killed it. Prior to that I looked at many VW models, all too rusty to drive.

SE Michigan salts it's roads...............also the death of my 1966 Mustang (first car in 1979).

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

'67 bug was my first car. Also had a '63 semi-baja.

sammyg2 · 08-01-2006, 11:01 AM

first car was a 65 bug.

Gene Wilkes · 08-01-2006, 11:04 AM

had a 63, 65, 67, 69 Super Beetle. Loved em all! Poor mans's Porsche!

rcwaldo · 08-01-2006, 11:05 AM

Owned several beetles before my first 911. None of which were newer than 1963

vesnyder · vesnyder's Garage

My first car was a '66 Beetle with a 6 volt electrical system! Had to buy a converter to hook up a modern stereo system.

RKC · 08-01-2006, 11:06 AM

1972 - Baby Blue Bug! I'd swear the handbrake is the same piece in my 87 911!

The two really have a similar feel. The 911 still has a flat-ish dash, same glove box location, flat-ish floor, turn the mixture up rich and you even get that VW Bug "underwater bubbles" sound out of my 911.

911 is better in every way - except I wish the 87 had quarter window vents (and maybe running boards!) - but the Bug still holds a warm place in my heart.

KNS · 08-01-2006, 11:08 AM

First car, 1968 Beetle

MOMO3.2 · 08-01-2006, 11:09 AM

I owned a 1967 bug while I was attending Art Center College of Design in Pasadena (1984-85). And yes, 67 is the best year! I used to fantasize that I was driving a 935 in that car. One of the students used to drive a genuine 1973 RS Carrera to that school everyday. I also had a 1979 Bug convertible (last year for the bug in the USA).

One cannot really be a 356 enthuisast without having an appreciation or fondness for the bug. Its all in the family IMO.

Mike

zotman72 · 08-01-2006, 11:10 AM

I started with '63 bug and John Muir (Idiot Book author) back 1972. I also have had:, '65 bug, '68 squareback, '72 Campmobile(with 914 guages), and a couple of VW waterpumpers ('80 dasher and ' 83TD Quantum coupe). Learning to rebuild and maintain air cooled VWs with Muir as a crazy mentor, helped me transition to my 911s. YMMV

KobaltBlauSC · 08-01-2006, 11:10 AM

My first as well, 1973 baby blue dual port with an AH motor, think that was the 60 hp model once smog got ripped off!!! It was a Standard Beetle with the Auto-Stick, kinda fun but got trashed for a manual, simple conversion...due to conversion purchased a 1967 and 1971 for parts. I plan on building another someday in the distant future. I still love the old Bugs!

goat · goat's Garage

Had a 1969.
Spent quite a bit on it rebuilt the engine, suspension, new interior, and then I did the Cal thing with the one piece windows, turn signals ect.
What a silly kid I was.
What a fun car rho.

wilke3169 · 08-01-2006, 11:21 AM

I had a '69 Bug. Also had a 1963 bus and a 1968 bug. My father loved VWs and we also had a few of them around. I actually rebuilt the engine in the '69 when I was 18 even though it was running fine. I repeated this last year with the 911. Sound familiar to anyone?

911quest · 08-01-2006, 11:25 AM

Still own my 61 used beetles of various years as daily drivers

1911Guy · 08-01-2006, 11:26 AM

My first 911 was a 1966 VW Bug! Called her Kate after Kate Bush.

It was white, rust , and primer gray in color. The interior was red and "horsehair" matting. It caught fire one day because a spring in the backseat contacted both battery terminals. Good thing I caught it in time.

It was a great car. Still kind of wish I had it.

72doug2,2S · 72doug2,2S's Garage

My Dad had two immaculate Microbuses at the same time -1972 one light yellow, and one light blue. We kept the light yellow one until the early 80's. I never had a bug but I always loved that little car.

RickB · 08-01-2006, 11:34 AM

Had a 68 Yellow and new 72 baby blue Super Beetle. loved 'em both quirks and all. Dad owned early 50's model and remember him flashing the only other Beetle in town.. so many moons ago

__________________
Rick B
84 RoW

ckissick · 08-01-2006, 11:36 AM

My first car was a 1973 VW Thing. I bought it for $1800, beat the snot out of it on the local logging roads, then sold it 2 years later for $2500.

I also had 2 Baja Bugs, a 1959 'vert, and now the '50 and my third Westy.

The Tristar just arrived at Port Hueneme and will be in my garage in a few weeks.

craigster59 · craigster59's Garage

I had a 68 Bug and also learned alot of my air cooled wrenching thru John Muir's book. Makes me want to go out and buy another copy (part of the package when I sold the Bug), it was great reading.