dune buggies and hotVWs December 2020

On August 26, 2020, our VW community lost one of the greatest VW artists and a dear friend – Tim Leventry. Tim was such a talented artist. Even if you didn’t know him, you have likely seen some of his work. Many of his hand-lettered Buses are on the road today, especially in Southern California, including our own hotVWs “sales flap” Bus. He was a true artist in every sense of the word. Tim was the man behind many VW-related company and event logos, such as Big Wednesday, the So-Cal Vintage Treffen, and many more. Our OCI Media company logo is also Tim’s work. When Tim was a young lad studying at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, the only car he could afford was a 1962 Volkswagen Bug. That car worked…

I think we can all agree that the VW cars and the scene that surrounds them is a pretty awesome thing. The question I have been asked many times and enjoy asking others is: “Where did it start for you?” For the vast majority of people I have questioned, it seems that they have caught the bug (pun intended) from a family member. Perhaps their parents had a VW, or a sibling in their younger years, but the exposure to the tender growing minds of the youth are a strong connection that emerges later on when we are looking for a cool old car to play with. The stories are endless of kids being jammed in the back seat, or even in the “way back” behind the seat on road…

Return to Sender Mr. Chabot, question about cylinder head temperature monitoring… I am sure there are several opinions on what folks prefer to use to monitor engine wear/performance. What might be the best or recommended spark plug position to install the sender under? I know Number 3 runs the hottest but is the hottest cylinder the best to use when assessing wear/performance? It would certainly be the safest bet, I guess. In your experience, are you aware of any modifications folks typically make (either to the sender or head) to enable the sender to fit through the opening that leads to the spark plug hole? Or will it all fit just fine? (FYI... I will be installing this on a Type 1, 1968 dual-relief engine, stock, with dual carbs.) Thanks…

It’s an opportunity to meet fun, new people and see fabulous new cars that you’ve never seen before. Case in point: Barnum’s 10th Annual Bug and Buggy Show and Swap Meet in Millington MI, hosted by Herman and Stephanie Barnum, of Barnum’s Auto Salvage Yard and Bug Barn fame. We’ve made several trips to Barnum’s over the past few years, scoring some really nice finds. It’s becoming “the” place to go in Mid-Michigan if you need salvageable Volkswagen parts and can’t find them at a swap meet. Barnum’s was started in 1969 with all makes of vehicles, but they eventually developed a large concentration of Volkswagens. Herman and his wife Stephanie took over the business from his father in 1982, and they now have over 150 Volkswagens (both air and…

The year is almost over – luckily! Let’s hope that the next one will be better and more meetings will and can take place again. I’m really looking forward to one thing in particular: Hessisch Oldendorf, or HO21 for short. This event is a must for every VW fan; you should visit at least once in your lifetime. The large number of high-quality classic Split Window and Oval Window Beetles, coachbuilds, Buses and Ghias is breathtaking. In addition, the 2021 event will feature a very special car: It is very likely you will be able to see the body of the only known surviving VW30! The VW30 prototypes were the direct predecessors of the Split Window Beetle and were used between 1936 and 1942. Shortly after, according to legend, all…

I have seen thousands of Buses in my travels, at shows, out in the field, and in some stellar collections of original condition Type 2s, including a few which have traveled less than a thousand miles since new. It is very rare to see a Transporter which is truly untouched. If a Bus was unlucky enough to leave the dealership without the salesman selling the original owner a few accessories, that owner probably stopped by his local Pep Boys or Western Auto to buy a few goodies and started drilling holes into the vehicle before they made the first payment on it. Over time, the Bus in question probably had multiple owners; they added, fixed and changed things over a period of 50 years. It is all part of the…