Ok... So I have been recommended to intro myself... Just don't really know what to say.. but anycase lets go.
I have been a car fan ever since I was quite young.. think 5ish (that I can remember) and I was introduced to VW's when I was born (my folks had a beetle and Kombi (square ones after the shaggin wagons)
We used to travel back and forth in the Kombi and my sis and I used to sleep in the boot. Twas warm at night and we could lie down and see everything outside. The kombi was beige and white with brown interior and vinyl seats. My first experience in driving was in this! I must have been about 8 ( give or take a few years) and my sis, dad and I were driving in the Kruger on holiday. He asked if I wanted to "drive", which consisted of me sitting on his lap and steering while he operated the pedals (could not reach the pedals let alone the floor!). He told me that if I wanted to turn all I would have to do is turn the steering wheel "gently".
So we are happily "driving" along when we come to a corner, he says turn so I turn (gently), he says more... I give a little more effort, then he says with a bit more urgency turn harder.... I try but I am not that strong. Eventually at the last moment he yanks the steering wheel and we miss going through bushes and into a ditch but just!!! Needless to say I didn't drive for a long time after that!!
The beetle we had, well that was nice, was white with maroon "leather" aka Vinyl and was quick (1600 I think). My most memorable experience in this car was trying to get to a function (think it was a wedding) with my mother driving and sis in the front and me in the back. My mother was pushing it as we were really late and this thing was flying... I really had to hold on not to slide around. We got to a point where the robot was turning red and she floored it! She never realised that the road crossing was different levels, so this little volksie decided to vault into the air across the intersection (about 5-10m!!!) and land on the other side, in the meantime my sister is almost in tears and I have mutiple bruises on my head and arms... still can't belive how fast these things go.
The other intro to VW's was a passat station wagon of my best mates folks. It was also white, had a black interior and back in those days, cost a mere R20 to fill!!!
This was our favourite transport (my mate and I) to and from dinners and shops. We used to sit in the back and pull faces at the drivers behind us...
From then I was hooked... and decided to go on a VW (and audi) binge. I have had many old G1 2 doors, current golfs and avants, but I really crave the Karmanns, beetles and of course Splittys!!!!
I have a 54 (thats the best description I got from the previous owner) bus, It is a Barn door with windows all round. All that is missing are the "sun roof" windows on the side of the room. I eventually found this shell after searching for one in 8 years... that was worthy of being rescued!
I have had it in storage since as I would like to do it right and have great difficulties in finding the right parts, but I do know some of the original colour as it is preserved behind the orignal vinyl layers on the roof!
Hope I get to see more out there (seen only a handfull) on the roads that are near to OEM as possible.
Shot for the intro see you guys soon!