Alan's 59 Bug

The Featured Car section is to highlight a club member's car. We will accept any aircooled VW regardless of condition. We want to see all of your works in progress and learn more about them. Show off all that hard work by submitting your VW pics and detailed info on your car. Before and after pics are a plus. Add any stories that go along with the pics. Feature will run for one month depending on how many submissions. Submit pics and info to kustenkreuzers@yahoo.com

April 2011 Featured Car

Alan Glaskox's 59 Beetle

OWNER: Alan Glaskox

VW: 1959 Beetle

ENGINE: OG 36hp

For as long as I can remember I have always been drawn to VW's and as the future and modern technology mold our modern modes of transportation into engineering marvels the simplicity and soul of the vintage VW seems to grow even stronger and grow more apparent to me.
At the age of 16 I bought a 69 Auto Stick Beetle bone stock and within 2 months transformed it into a Cal Look ride. Since then I have owned 58 Ragtop Sunroof Beetle(which I still own--more on this one later), '66 Sea Blue Beetle and most recently the '59 Deluxe Beetle. I have yet to be in the right place at the right time with the right amount of money for a good Ghia, Bus or other VW but hopefully the future will yield more VW's of this nature.
I was actually searching for low back seats on Craigs List and came across the '59 and after one look at an original 59 3rd owner w/original order/bill of sale sheet with owners manual and other original goodies I had to have it. Thanks to my beautiful, understanding and loving girlfriend we now own a 59 Deluxe Beetle with original 36hp engine although the split case transmission was swapped for a more modern case the rest is completely original minus the dropped spindles/Empi roof rack I installed. I also tracked down some original period accessories from the 50/60's era to compliment the look I wanted such as the Firestone Swamp Cooler, Australian Visor/Rear steel blinds. Periodically I take the roof rack down to mix it up a bit but usually the rack is adorned with 50's era 7UP/Coca-Cola coolers to add to the vintage look. I stock one cooler with tow straps/emergency tools/parts and the other w/beer sodas and/or water and of course 7UP and Coca-Cola's! The 3 pieces of blue luggage were coincidentally given to me by one of my best friends who had no idea what color the Bug was or my desire to find but they match perfect and are also vintage pieces.
Future plans are to maintain the ride as vintage as possible and keep the current paint until I absolutely have to part the pan and weld in new panels where rust may breed and threaten the body but until then I will happily roll the old and tired paint/trim as far as I can with a top speed of 68mph with a trusty 36hp. I have a decklid rack and a few other pieces to add here/there whenever I decide to change the appearance or utilize more traveling space.
Aside from tune-up, NOS fuel pump and a new generator plus some new white walls there hasn't been anything else done since purchased except the addition of a lot of miles. I drive my VW everywhere and leave my Acura in the driveway as often as possible.