Sweet Beetle

As far back as I can remember I have had a love for the automobile. Getting my hands on a glossy marketing pamphlet from a car dealership was (and still is) heaven. The best one I ever got a hold of was from Porsche. It covered the newly released 924, 928 and of course the holy grail of cars, the 911 turbo. I can not tell you how many hours I spent pouring over that pamphlet. The idea of driving a 911, sitting in that small car with that powerful rear engine was my dream. Of course average guys don't have the scratch to ever drive a 911.


The first car I did get to drive was a 1966 VW Beetle. My parents bought it used when my older sisters were reaching driving age. I can still remember the sweet smell of old decaying vinyl and dust. This car was a great second car for our family. There were times in a pinch that even all eight of us would pile in. We had the system down. First my brother and I would climb back into the cubby behind the back seat. Then, three of my sisters would get in the back seat. My dad would drive and my mom would hold my youngest sister on her lap. (This was before the days of seat belt laws.) There were a lot of great things about this car. By the time I was able to drive there was not a fender left without a dent. I didn't have to worry about fender benders, no one would even notice. I could take this car anywhere. There were many skipped ensembles during my high school days when we would all load up in the bug. As long as I had a crew it didn't matter if we got stuck. We would just jump out and lift the car out of what ever.

I took a summer job as a delivery boy for the local baseball team. Telemarketers would sell the tickets and I was on my way to deliver the tickets and pick up the checks. The bug and I had a great summer together. I could at least say that I was driving a small car with the engine in the back.

I am happy to report that my son has some of these same warm feelings for the old family mini-van that he has had the great honor to drive to high school.