Volkswagen Offers Authentic Restoration Services for Vintage Microbuses
— Volkswagen fans who favor the vintage models have something new to be excited about. Volkswagen has announced that they are now providing restoration services to the general public. Now collectors and nostalgic drivers can have their microbuses reworked to reflect all their original glory. Volkswagen began restoring vintage Transporters back in 2007. However, all the [...]
Volkswagen Offers Authentic Restoration Services for Vintage Microbuses
300 VW fans come together after getting bug
300 VW fans come together after getting bug
Shared from www.odt.co.nz
by Debbie Porteous
What is it about Volkswagens that would attract 300 people in 140 vehicles to Dunedin for a weekend of V-dub-love?
According to those parked up at the VW Nationals car show, held at the Forsyth Barr Stadium yesterday, there were many reasons the German people's car remained all sorts of people's car.
Wellington Kombined Club member Paul Bonsey said enthusiasm for Volkswagens was actually an infectious disease.
He managed to pass it on about eight years ago to mate Gary Manley, who then bought a 1980s Kombi van, (known as "the Flat", because there was basically a whole household inside), similar to Mr Bonsey's.
The pair now travelled together to Volkswagen club events across the country.
"It's a social thing really," Mr Bonsey said. "It's a big worldwide club. We are all people getting together to share a common interest."
Mr Manley said people often modified their vans, and it was interesting to attend shows and see what people had done to vehicles.
"You don't want to start a conversation on what is better though," Mr Manley warned.
Invercargill woman Jo Dennis, who bought a 1968 Beetle eight months ago, said she liked Volkswagens because they were "cute and round and made such a cute noise ...".
Her friend Brenley Marshall (23), also from Invercargill, who owned a Beetle and a Golf, said he liked Volkswagens for their mechanical simplicity, although he admitted he missed out on showing his Beetle at the Nationals this year after he pulled it apart and did not have it back together in time.
After spending 30 hours a week for three years fixing up his 1964 Beetle, including installing leather Peugeot seats and a modern sound system, Lyttelton man Clive Argyle, who intended to use the car as an everyday runabout, said he had been forced to buy a bicycle to get about on instead, because he did not want to get the Beetle wet or dirty.
"I just like the style. They're just better than Japanese junk. And it's nice to have a classic car with modern things in it."
The Hopkinson family, of Christchurch, said they loved the community around Volkswagens and enjoyed family holidays in their 1961 Kombi van with friends who also had a Kombi van.
Their van still had many of its original fittings, although dad Neil, a longtime Volkswagen fan, had lowered it a little for "a better ride" and a "cooler" look.
There had been a few roadside repairs, he said, "but other vans don't have the personality".
The Vehicle of the Show prize was awarded to a car 16 years in the refurbishing - and not quite finished yet - a bright yellow 1973 Beetle belonging to Dunedin couple Ken and Margaret Berry.
But maybe it was Mr Bonsey who summed why they all loved VWs so much. "We're just VW nuts," he observed.
Shared from www.odt.co.nz
by Debbie Porteous
What is it about Volkswagens that would attract 300 people in 140 vehicles to Dunedin for a weekend of V-dub-love?
According to those parked up at the VW Nationals car show, held at the Forsyth Barr Stadium yesterday, there were many reasons the German people's car remained all sorts of people's car.
Wellington Kombined Club member Paul Bonsey said enthusiasm for Volkswagens was actually an infectious disease.
The pair now travelled together to Volkswagen club events across the country.
"It's a social thing really," Mr Bonsey said. "It's a big worldwide club. We are all people getting together to share a common interest."
Mr Manley said people often modified their vans, and it was interesting to attend shows and see what people had done to vehicles.
"You don't want to start a conversation on what is better though," Mr Manley warned.
Invercargill woman Jo Dennis, who bought a 1968 Beetle eight months ago, said she liked Volkswagens because they were "cute and round and made such a cute noise ...".
Her friend Brenley Marshall (23), also from Invercargill, who owned a Beetle and a Golf, said he liked Volkswagens for their mechanical simplicity, although he admitted he missed out on showing his Beetle at the Nationals this year after he pulled it apart and did not have it back together in time.
After spending 30 hours a week for three years fixing up his 1964 Beetle, including installing leather Peugeot seats and a modern sound system, Lyttelton man Clive Argyle, who intended to use the car as an everyday runabout, said he had been forced to buy a bicycle to get about on instead, because he did not want to get the Beetle wet or dirty.
The Hopkinson family, of Christchurch, said they loved the community around Volkswagens and enjoyed family holidays in their 1961 Kombi van with friends who also had a Kombi van.
Their van still had many of its original fittings, although dad Neil, a longtime Volkswagen fan, had lowered it a little for "a better ride" and a "cooler" look.
There had been a few roadside repairs, he said, "but other vans don't have the personality".
The Vehicle of the Show prize was awarded to a car 16 years in the refurbishing - and not quite finished yet - a bright yellow 1973 Beetle belonging to Dunedin couple Ken and Margaret Berry.
But maybe it was Mr Bonsey who summed why they all loved VWs so much. "We're just VW nuts," he observed.
Kombi catches peoples' hearts
Kombi catches peoples' hearts
Shared from www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz
Winning four awards would have done nothing but fuel Dean Farr's obsession for Volkswagen vehicles.
Taking out the Best Interior, Best Bus Modified, Best Bus Overall and People's Choice awards at the VW Nationals in Dunedin left Mr Farr "satisfied" after four years of blood, sweat and tears put into his 1964 VW Kombi Van.
With what Mr Farr thought would be a straight-forward revamp of the van he bought in Sydney, it soon turned into a big job for the joiner with rust and other problems arising with further inspection.
"But winning those awards made it all worthwhile," the 40-year-old said.
Mr Farr and his partner Lisa Scammell said the People's Choice award meant the most to them as it was one of the most recognisable prizes over the national event involving more than 140 contestants.
"It was nice to know that people appreciated the work put into it," Ms Scammell said. "We never expected to win any awards and by the time we went up to get the fourth award it got a bit embarrassing," she said. Buying his first VW when he left school Mr Farr admitted he has always had a soft spot for VW vehicles, something he blames on his brother Wayne.
He said he was unsure how much he had spent on his prized van and he wanted it to stay that way.
"I'd hate to think how much money has been spent on it," he said while Ms Scammell smirked behind him.
For now, Mr Farr said he was looking to keep his van long term but if a substantial offer came his way he would have to think about it.
Shared from www.ashburtonguardian.co.nz
Winning four awards would have done nothing but fuel Dean Farr's obsession for Volkswagen vehicles.
Taking out the Best Interior, Best Bus Modified, Best Bus Overall and People's Choice awards at the VW Nationals in Dunedin left Mr Farr "satisfied" after four years of blood, sweat and tears put into his 1964 VW Kombi Van.
With what Mr Farr thought would be a straight-forward revamp of the van he bought in Sydney, it soon turned into a big job for the joiner with rust and other problems arising with further inspection.
"But winning those awards made it all worthwhile," the 40-year-old said.
Mr Farr and his partner Lisa Scammell said the People's Choice award meant the most to them as it was one of the most recognisable prizes over the national event involving more than 140 contestants.
"It was nice to know that people appreciated the work put into it," Ms Scammell said. "We never expected to win any awards and by the time we went up to get the fourth award it got a bit embarrassing," she said. Buying his first VW when he left school Mr Farr admitted he has always had a soft spot for VW vehicles, something he blames on his brother Wayne.
He said he was unsure how much he had spent on his prized van and he wanted it to stay that way.
"I'd hate to think how much money has been spent on it," he said while Ms Scammell smirked behind him.
For now, Mr Farr said he was looking to keep his van long term but if a substantial offer came his way he would have to think about it.
Pictured: Dean Farr (left) along with daughter Matilda Farr, 1, and Lisa Scammell were stoked with winning four awards for their 1964 Volkswagen Kombi Van at the VW Nationals in Dunedin during the Easter break.
Photo Johnny Houston
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