VW ADVENTURES

The last Volkswagen Beetle has rolled off the assembly line at the VW plant in Puebla, Mexico. It is the end of an era and we say, “Farewell Beloved Beetle-Bug.”

According to the article accompanying this photo, the final cars were “serenaded by a Mariachi Band and surrounded by factory workers” in celebration of this classic car. These final cars will be sold on Amazon.com… Read the Full Article Here

When the ‘New Beetle’ (new design) was introduced, I was comforted, knowing the old style was still being made and a brand new one could be acquired. The familiar look of the ‘bug’ changed only slightly over the years while it continued to be produced in Mexico.

The iconic ‘Bug’ has traveled through the years taking on a variety of fans through each generation. It is heartwarming to me to see younger generations embracing the vehicles and joining the fan club.

I know it will remain in the hearts of generations to come. Even now, my great-grandchildren play ‘slug bug’ with excitement. Often the game changes to ‘Love-Bug’ as they enthusiastically spot and take a score of the numbers of VW Bugs they spy.

Everyone has encountered a Beetle

We all have fond memories of our experiences of VWs in general. I have often said that everyone has a story – whether or not they owned a Volkswagon. Everyone has encountered a Bug or a Bus or some other model of VW at some time in their lives.

Acknowledging the end of the Beetle, this report on CNN recognizes the love of the Beetle/Bug through personal stories submitted. A Bug’s Life: Remembering The Classic Volkswagen Beetle

My first car – shared with my siblings – was a 1962 Beetle, fondly referred to as “The Green Bug.” Even though the color was listed as ‘Robins Egg Blue’ it looked more green than blue. One day we found the shell of a Robin’s egg and it matched perfectly but we continued to call it “The Green Bug.” Many miles were driven and wonderful memories made with that precious car.

What are some of your memories of the beloved Volkswagen Beetle?

This Life-size Lego Bus is the ultimate challenge and creation of lego enthusiasts and VW model-car collectors.

Most of us have played with legos, building simple towers, creative castles, and even more intricate architectural structures and layouts. Some of us even built large-scale vehicles and boats – including the VW Bus that was available several years ago.

This is taking the ‘life-size’ concept to a new level — quite a project!!

This Volkswagen camper van is made of 400,000 Legos
It took two workers six weeks to build this life-sized Volkswagen T2 camper van for the 2019 f.re.e Fair for Leisure and Travel.

Source: CNN Business

The Annual Copperstate 1000 Rally 2019 attracts a field full of classic cars and adventurous drivers for a fun-filled few days of driving through the backroads of Arizona.

Spectators have a close-up and personal view of the cars lined up around the field before they depart on the rally.

Drivers and their cars are given a great sendoff. Departure time provides exciting entertainment for spectators as the cars are described and the drivers are recognized.

There were no VWs in the lineup for the rally, but several arrived for the send-off adding intrigue and interest to the “parking-lot show.”

Is it a VW Bus? A Milk Truck? A Motorhome? It’s all of those put together and more – becoming the Hyper-Hippy Magic Bus. This intriguing vehicle is designed by Randy Grubb, a creator of exotic, eccentric vehicles.

Double-Decker Deco Bus is Magic

In his article for Car and Driver, John Pearley Huffman declares

This Double-Decker Deco Bus is Magic. Automotive sculptor Randy Grubb goes hyper-hippy with a GMC Motorhome/Volkswagen Microbus combo.

Hippy-dippy lunacy that it is, that Magic Bus makes perfect sense for its intended purpose of taking members from San Francisco’s “The Battery” social club on communal excursions. It’s nudging up against nearly sensible in that sense, more practical than many Grubb creations.

Frappéd in an Art-Deco Blender

So, here’s Randy Grubb’s “Magic Bus.” It’s a mix of milk truck, Volkswagen Microbus, GMC Motorhome, hand-formed aluminum, and sci-fi all frappéd in an art-deco blender with some pastel paint. For those who remember a time when Volkswagen vans weren’t collector items, it’s a throwback to the hippy contraptions of the psychedelic era when cast-off school buses would be expanded into double-decker crash pads by welding VW shells atop the roofs. Think 1968, when The Who first released “Magic Bus.” 

Magic Bus was Commissioned Artwork

Grubb’s bus is also an evolution of his Decoliner, which C/D featured in the February 2013 issue. It takes many of the ideas built into that split-level road vessel and refines them for specific
duty. Specific because, while Decoliner was built to Grubb’s whims, the Magic Bus was commissioned by one of Grubb’s patrons. And that language is precise because Grubb views himself as an artist and vehicles as his medium. Suitably, then, the Magic Bus is making its official public debut at the 70th annual Grand National Roadster Show January 25-27 at the Pomona, California, Fairplex. Formerly known as the Oakland Roadster Show, it’s the celebration of hot-rod craftsmanship where the top award is called America’s Most Beautiful Roadster, or AMBR.

Read the full article here  – it’s fascinating to learn the components that make up this Hyper-Hippy Magic Bus.

Another article in HotRod Network by John Gilbert, with great photos by Stephanie Carlson, provides another fun perspective of the Magic Bus.