Reader Submissions: This Volkswagen Super Beetle Has Been In The Family Since New

This Volkswagen Super Beetle Has Been In The Family Since New

By Petrolicious
May 5, 2016

Story and Photography by Jason Cole

This 1974 Volkswagen Super Beetle has been in the family since it was new. It was purchased by my wife’s grandpa. It was then passed to my wife’s dad, Steve, and then to us. Up until I started wrenching on the Beetle, I had only a passing interest in cars. But in the past 8 years, I’ve totally fallen in love with our family Bug from learning to fix and improve it—and by driving it.

There are tons of these cars, and the Supers aren’t the most collectible. So I’ve enjoyed making her into what we want her to become, close to stock…but not too close. She has a two-tone paint job (the original blue color, and white on the bottom). The engine has been rebuilt by me, it’s now 1641-cc instead of 1600-cc with a Weber Progressive carb to add some power.

I’ve also replaced a lot of the worn-out exterior and interior like the dashboard, headliner and so on. I improved the suspension and ride by lowering it, adding disc brakes, sway bars, etc. She runs and looks great. Not perfect, I’ve got more to do, but she looks great. I’ve added really cool little touches like a dealership license plate frame from the actual dealer she was purchased from.

I love the Bug for so many reasons. I love it because of the countless hours I’ve spent learning about it and working on it. I love how it drives…the sounds and smells while cruising in it. I love how it makes people happy as I drive by. Every day, people wave, take photos—not many cars inspire that.

More than anything, I love it because of the family story. My wife was brought home from the hospital in this Bug—and that’s what we’ve done, too, with our two daughters. We’ll never sell her.

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Skipmurdog
Skipmurdog
7 years ago

Hey Jason,

I’ve got a ’72 super my mom bought new and I got it for my 18th birthday/high school graduation. It’s stock and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Too many adventures and memorable occasions… When we got caught in the flood of ’86 on the Sacramento river, the other half lost her Subaru so we went car shopping and found the twin to my car. So now my driveway is home to twin blue 72 super beetles.

Sreekant Pillai
Sreekant Pillai
8 years ago

Hi Jason. I too have 1967 Beetle my dad bought new and I was brought home from the hospital in it when I was born. I have kept mine original and drive it on long road trips. I recently did a 4000km drive across East Malaysia and everything you have written and shown on the video is how I feel about her. Check out my blog on the road trip when you have time at bugroadtrips.wordpress.com. Thanks for sharing and keep it going.

David Tumusiime
David Tumusiime
8 years ago

What a beautiful story, of car and family. Wonderful to see the bond this car has created in your family. It is a real heirloom.

Peter Lukáč
Peter Lukáč
8 years ago

I love dat sound of boxer, I could listen it hours and hours. 🙂 Very nice bug with great story!

Jason Cole
Jason Cole
8 years ago

Thanks Everyone for your comments. This is a video I’ve wanted to put together for a long time. Once my second daughter was on the way I knew I had a perfect ending. Also, thanks to Petrolicious for posting my story! Your site and videos are a huge inspiration to me. I watch your videos every week. One other note is I couldn’t have done the video without my friend and video extraordinaire Ben Niles.

Frank Anigbo
8 years ago

Beautiful.

Stephan P
Stephan P
8 years ago

Great story.
I smile every time I see a bug being daily driven, actually quite often where I live.
I’ve stopped going the big exotic car shows because I get much more enjoyment seeing a vintage car actually being used, thanks for doing your part.

Jaime Baker
Jaime Baker
8 years ago

Hey Jason, I absolutely loved your video. The story is wonderful and the video quality is great. I immediately recognized Mount Si as until Sep 2015 I lived in Snoqualmie. I own a Saturn yellow 73 sport beetle and feel we must have passed each other on the road at some point.

Thanks for sharing your story

Thomas maine
Thomas maine
8 years ago

Hi Jason, what a cool story and what a nice car. Thanks for sharing and for the clip. Made my eyes moist and went right into the top 10 of my favorite car clips.
Happy motoring around in the future.
Cheers
Thomas

Wayne Mattson
Wayne Mattson
8 years ago

Jason,

Nice story and a well done film not to mention a really nice VW. Your film made my afternoon. It’s nice to see some love and affection put into these great little cars. Not everybody needs a Porsche or Ferrari to be part of the Petrolicious family.

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