Six questions with A BEETLE owner

Jon Spriggs explains why the iconic VW is such a great classic all-rounder

1 Why did you decide to buy a Beetle?

‘When I was three my parents plonked me in front of the telly to watch the Love Bug, one of the Herbie films. Two years later I went for a ride in my cousin’s Beetle, and from that point on I was really keen to own one, but that day wouldn’t come until four years ago. Now I own two of them – a 1958 example and a Beetle 1303 from 1974.’

2 What were your criteria when buying?

‘I wanted a really good car that didn’t need any work, and I wanted something that’s original – or at least original spec. So many of these cars have been modified, and in many cases not to a very high standard.’

3 How easy was it to find a good Beetle?

‘Not at all easy. I drove around the country looking at plenty of cars and found that many owners were using old pictures to sell their cars. I didn’t even test drive most of them – I could see that they were rotten before I’d even got out of my car. I ended up buying a fully restored car via ebay; it had been owned for a long time by the previous owner.’

4 What was the first drive like?

‘Until I bought this car I’d never driven a Beetle, which seems a bit mad now, but there you go! I drove the car home via the M25 and it behaved itself perfectly. More of a problem was the fact that I’m 6’ 5” and the Beetle isn’t a big car. I had to be sparing with my gearchanges as I couldn’t work the clutch properly; I’ve since modified the seat rails and fitted a smaller steering wheel, so I can fit in more comfortably.’

5 Any other mods?

‘The original engine was a 1.3-litre unit, but I’ve taken mine out to 1641cc, which is the limit. I’ve also fitted Weber carbs and front disc brakes, so the car looks stock but it’s better able to keep up with traffic. And I do use the car – all year round, including in the winter. It also gets used for Sporting Bears activities – kids love a ride in my bright orange Beetle!’

6 How different are your two Beetles?

‘They’re like chalk and cheese, honestly. The 1958 Beetle has no seatbelts, no synchromesh and it’s not as well made – the doors like to open of their own accord, for example. The newer car feels so much more modern to drive, thanks to its synchromesh gearbox and Macpherson strut suspension.’