How Many air cooled VW owners, Who had an air cooled VW car or van back in the 60-80s Options

[burton73]

I was just thinking of all the Air cooled VWs that I had. I started with my first car a 1958 VW Bug that I bought in 1968. $75. And a real piece of shit but my first car.
I went on to having more new VW Bugs and Campers in my life and got started with VW –Porsche 914 in 1978. Always loved the VW air cooled product and also enjoyed a new Rabbit Pick Up in 1981


Bob B

[mankowski]

Learned to drive in the early '80s on my parents' 60 Beetle. Sadly, they would not give or sell it to me because of fears about its poor safety and 'metal fatigue'.

The second vehicle I bought was a '70 Westphalia Bus, which true to all of the stereotypes, stranded me and my future wife in South Lake Tahoe during a western states camping trip due to a blown cam gear. Got a new engine in Lake Tahoe from the VW mechanics there, shipped up from the valley. With the mechanics contorted jacking removal of the old engine and installation of the new one without taking off the apron or bumper, even this novice knew something was not right. The first start up had oil spewing everywhere due to a missing oil cooler seal. A few weeks later after getting the new engine sealed up properly, it blew again on the 520 floating bridge in Seattle. I had it towed home to Kirkland, removed the motor myself this time, shipped it back to the manufacturer (Vee-Tech (?), who said a "metal object" was a found in the cylinder or intake and simply (and only) removed it as their warranty coverage. Not surprisingly, after reinstalling, it never ran the same and so I sold it to a young woman before heading off to graduate school. She promptly blew up the engine, driving it too hard up I-90's Snoqualmie pass.

I always wondered what became of that bus. Years later, I came to regret selling it and bought my '70 914 in honor of that same old love.

Also since then, have owned several wbx Vanagons and Westy's.