1968 1500 Deluxe Beetle
- Tuesday, 27 May 2008
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How many times have you heard the tale, "it wasn't supposed to be a full restoration," before? Many, I'm sure! I'm guilty of it myself, though I've found it's usually worth it in the end, even with the ups, downs and the huge holes burnt into your pockets.
To Ingrid Griffiths, the 'quick repairs turned full project' scenario is a familiar one, as she has just finished restoring her 1968 1500 Deluxe Beetle.
Having been into Beetles since seeing Herbie goes to Monte Carlo at the pictures at the grand age of six, it's safe to say that Ingrid is a 'lifer' where love of Beetles is concerned. But it wasn't until she was in her twenties that she finally got hold of one for herself.
Prior to owning the Beetle you see here, there were a couple of other Bugs in her life. "One was a project that never really got going and the other was a bright yellow 1303, which I never actually drove - it was more of a driveway ornament," Ingrid explains.
Her hubby is also into VWs and is currently working on a 1972 Double Cab and then there's the family 1959 Kombi too! Even the kids are into it, having now got the entire Herbie box set and a good collection of model Volkswagens.
"I think there is only one room in the house that doesn't have anything VW in it - I've even promised my son he can have Bertie [the '68 Bug] if he behaves himself for the next seven years!" That's a very generous promise indeed!
Ingrid first got the '68 in 1998 and is only the third owner from new. The first owner, Lillian, kept the car from 1968 to 1993.
It was a great little car and Ingrid drove it regularly without problems until 2006, on the way to Vanfest, where it broke down in the outside lane of the motorway. "Not funny," put in Ingrid. "This was when I realised a little TLC was in order."
And that's where it all began. Only a few repairs were thought to be needed as the Bug looked otherwise OK. "Perhaps change the front wing where rust was creeping through, patch a section on the floor that had caused the MoT failure and fix the driver's seat that had become a little wonky".
But as the initial repairs began to take place the horror began to unfold as some nasty areas were revealed. "I did at one point consider getting rid of the car - albeit at this point most of it was in boxes! However, because of the sentiment attached to the car I decided there was only really one option and that was a full restoration! An incredibly weak excuse 'he was going to reach 40 soon' provided full justification for the project".
For the full story check out the July 2008 issue of VolksWorld magazine. On sale on 16 May and then available through back issues.
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