European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 26, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Beatlemania by Kate Callen United press International t s squat it s ugly it s out of production and in remains one of the most popular used cars on the Road. The durable Volkswagen Beetle affectionately termed " the Bug during its heyday in the 1960s, is holding its resale value remarkably Well thanks to a resurgence in restoration and a growing cull of vow aficionados the Vintage Volkswagen club of America which started with 100 members in 1976, is now at 2,000 and growing with chapters in nearly All so states says club Allicer Terry Shulor of Portage a you Don i buy this car As much As you adopt it says Shulor people who write to me Don t say they want to sell their Bee he they say they want to ind in a new  in san Diego where hordes of bugs putt along coastal roads David Sanger of brought Back bugs inc. Has 100 beetles on his lot at any Given time All awaiting restorative surgery that May increase their value to triple their Slicker Price. Doing Hal in t hard says Sanger because when they first came out they were cheaper than meat roughly a Dollar a  Sanger started out in College restoring lotuses mrs and of her More exotic european cars. But customer demand steered him in the Beetle s direction and nearly $1 million in business a year is keeping him there. He was first Bil by the Bug in the mid-705, when he found that a Little cosmetic work could markedly transform the value of a used vow Erma Bombeck workmen Admire the last Volkswagen Beetle built in weal Germany in january 1378. I bought a 63 with a Canvas Sunroof for $145, got a set of seats and a Sunroof kit or $100 and. With a Little bit of work listed the car for $550." to a recalled. Four people showed up to buy it. They started bidding against each other Ond the final Price was $675." today a 1970 Beetle that sold tar �2,300 new can be restored for Between $4.500 and $8,000, says Sanger. The refurbished car would be Wrath at least �7,000 �3,000 if it s a convertible with almost no risk of depreciation he adds. It will hold its value or go up depending on maintenance because it s in demand and it has a proven history behind it. Restorations we did five years ago Aie folding their value  impressive numbers including a tile expectancy of 200,000 to 300,000 Miles Are Only Hall the Story behind the Bug s enduring Appeal says Sanger. People Are emotionally attached to these cars. I can t Tell you How Many bugs we be restored for wealthy people who could have Bough any car they wanted one Guy restored his wife s original Bug As a gift for their daughter he said. It was purely a sentimental  the Bug s remarkable 60-year Saga chronicled in the vow Beetle an illustrated history by Niko teus re chert end Hans Klersy Haynes publication Sis a key element in the car s mystique. Designed by Auto Pioneer Ferdinand porsche in the Early 30s, the Volkswagen or people s car survived an association with Adolf Hitler s third Raich he promoted it As part of his vision for Germany and went into mass production after world War ii. The Millionth Beetle rolled off the Assembly line in 1955. In the old sos it became the world s Best Selling car produced in 17 countries on six continents. The bugs look and design changed Little Over five decades because Volkswagen did t want to tamper with a winning formula. When you look at a used Bug Maya Sanger it s hard la Tell what year it was  in 1981, the so Millionth Bug came off the line i Mexico bypass avg the Mode t by 5 million cars to set an All time production record. Today Mexico be one of Only four countries still making the Bug according to the vow history and no new bugs have been imported into the United Stales since 1977. The reason for this is the Stirler safety and emission regulations say the authors. Sanger Doorn t buy that excuse. Volkswagen discarded the Bug because they wanted to keep up with the Joneses he says so they came up with the Squar Eback Rabbit. They could have made the Bug pass any test they  instead Sanger and is stall of is Are kept Busy retooling old bugs earning lots of Money and customer loyalty. The office is crammed with Memorabilia like the Bug Pencil Holder wild the spare lire Eraser. Vintage vow Magazine ads ugly is Only skin deep hang next to a framed december 1983 connoisseur Magazine cover titled eleven dream cars that features a vow Riding Oil into the Sunset. "1 hear rumours from time to time that the Bug is coming Back into production Sanger says. I heard once that somebody in the United states approached Volkswagen to revive the 67 Model. Every car company wants to coma up with a Bug. To produce something thai successful. But it s got to Click with the Public and that s something you just can t  if you Haven t made up your mind yet As to How you re going to Vole these Are a Lew things you should take into consideration Michael Dukakis has an old Snow Blower in his garage and George Bush fishes without a License in Lake Erie dressed in a business suit. There you be been forewarned so now you know Wotal you re dealing Mph a Democrat who would keep the country from having the vision to move Forward and keep it in he dark Ages and a Republican who is not Only Stuffy but who would Bend the Taw to serve his own interests in t in amazing How political analysts can Cut through Iho rhetoric and come up with a profile of a Man just by observing Little things about him they do in with symbolism taking a seemingly innocent bit of his personality and applying it of his Page 16 the stars and stripes qualifications As a Leader. It s been going on or years. President Carter carried his own garment bag on and Oil of planes. It did t take a Genius to figure out that Given that tact. Carter had to be against labor and Tabor unions and would probably Cut any appropriations that would Benefit the Little  president Gerald Ford stumbled a Tew time in Public. Conclusion the Man could t be trusted to negotiate with foreign leaders without making mistakes end besides he could t inspire Confidence. President Johnson picked up his dog by the ears. This not Only alienated the animal lovers of the country but you could Only assume he was insensitive to the needs of welfare recipients. On the other hand for sent a Navy boat to pick up his dog Fala so he could join him. That was Good. No that was bad the press inner peeled that act As monday september 26,1968 wasteful and questioned the judgment Ofa president who had so Little regard Lor Federal spending. Actually knowing one candidate has an old now Blower in his garage and one fishes in a suit without a License in t really enough information to vote with Eny intelligence. With Adial Stevenson we knew he was a Man we could relate to because he was pictured on television with a Hole in hit shoe. We also figured out he would Heep a out cd War. With president Nixon when he said he loved his Mother you just knew he was unbeatable Althe Poto. I m not ready to Moke my decision yet i want to know dukakis1 sat scores in High school and whether Bush squeezes of Rolls his toothpaste in the lube. I m sure these things Wilt be made Public before the election. Id 1mb Erk Bombeck