What a ride it's been! For forty years, my relationship with my 1966 VW Beetle has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. The only time I seriously considered parting with it was when I was a naïve teenager. Now, as a seasoned adult, that notion seems utterly absurd. After all, owning something for four decades is a significant feat, especially a vehicle that demands constant care and maintenance. Today’s youth might lean towards reliable and comfortable options rather than dealing with the upkeep of an old car but let me take you through my four-decade-long love affair with this remarkable machine. It all started when I was just fourteen. I discovered a faded ruby red Beetle parked in the driveway of my friend’s sister. It was partially concealed under an old tarp, shielding it from the Pacific Northwest rains. The worn ruby red paint peeked through, and I initially thought it was just a project her husband had taken on. When I asked, she told me the Beetle had been inherited from her recently deceased grandfather. He had bought it new in San Diego in 1966 and drove it until his illness in 1980. Though the car was in decent shape—running and stopping for the most part—she had replaced the original 1300 motor with a 1600 DP. At the time, I wasn’t a “car enthusiast,” so I shrugged it off and went about my day. But the Beetle stayed on my mind. A few weeks later, I couldn’t resist asking my friend about his sister’s plans for it. I mentioned my eagerness to fix it up and drive it someday. After some persistence, I finally encountered his sister again and asked about the car. Exhausted by my relentless inquiries, she made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. For the cost of the motor and labor, I could have the car. Though I didn’t have the money and my mom wasn’t exactly supportive of my newfound passion, I took on extra paper delivery routes and mowed lawns all summer to save up the $275. I was bursting with pride when I handed over the money and received the keys. At fifteen, I didn’t have a learner’s permit, hadn’t taken driver’s ed, and hadn’t told my mom about my new purchase. But how hard could driving an old car be? I took possession of the Beetle a few months later and convinced my mom that it was a project car I’d work on until I got my license. Somehow, she agreed, with the condition that I wasn’t to drive it without her permission. Of course, I was so thrilled with my new car that I drove it every day. I quickly became proficient with a manual transmission—or at least good enough. As the months went by, I tackled various issues with the car. I bought a Volkswagen Owner’s Manual and familiarized myself with the basics. By the time I graduated high school, the Beetle was running smoothly, though it still looked rough—faded paint, rust, a cracked windscreen, and a dent from a collision with a Ford LTD on the left rear quarter panel. This was a testament to my early lack of skills. In 1995, after marrying my high school sweetheart and landing a decent job with the cable company, I decided it was time to restore the Beetle from the ground up. I meticulously disassembled it, cataloging and bagging every part. This was in the early days of the internet, and I managed to find some catalogs online. I ordered essential parts, including a rebuilt transaxle from a company called “Mid America Designs” based in Effingham, IL. When a crate arrived missing some lock nuts, the company sent me a $25 gift certificate signed by Karen Reuter. I never used it and still have it to this day. Then life threw a curveball. The birth of our first child brought new priorities and a budget that felt like it came from the Great Depression. My dream of restoring the Beetle was placed on indefinite hold. With child number two on the way, the chance to complete my project seemed even more distant. Over the years, I managed to gather enough money to rebuild the 1600 DP motor, but the chassis remained in disrepair. For the next two decades, Lucille, as I affectionately named her, sat in pieces, often serving as a storage unit for my kids' youth rock band. Fast forward to 2017. With our youngest heading off to college, I was promoted at work and had the chance to relocate to Colorado. Faced with the possibility that Lucille might not fit into our new life, I thought this might be the end of the line. I worked out a rental property deal with a two-car garage and drove Lucille, in all her disassembled glory, across the country, holding onto hope for her future. In the spring of 2019, having bought a new home with a three-car garage and with our youngest about to graduate from college a year early, I saw a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. With the children off the payroll, I began toying with the idea of restoring the Beetle again. I pulled out all her parts, laid them out carefully, and began inventorying them. After 25 years in storage, labels had faded, and familiar parts had become mysteries. I sought out reputable restoration shops around the state and interviewed several. This was a lifelong dream, and I was looking for a business that would partner with me in bringing it to fruition. I shared my story and the Beetle's history with all three shops and made my decision based on their response to my vision. Within a month of signing the agreement with the restoration shop, the country and the world were hit by the COVID pandemic, causing things to screech to a halt—including the restoration shop. Once again, we faced uncertainty and new priorities. Despite this adversity, I maintained my dream of restoring Lucille to her original glory and driving her proudly around my community. In early August 2020, I received a call from the restoration shop with great news—they were ready to take possession of Lucille and start the body work. It would be a multi-month project to save the rear quarter panel and repair the rust areas, but it finally seemed my dream was beginning to take shape. On October 11, 2020, I delivered Lucille’s body and fenders to Frank Town Restoration. I was a bit choked up, feeling like I had won the lottery, and drove home with a new sense of excitement. I had lots to do to get the chassis ready, and there was no time to waste. Within days, I had the chassis stripped and repainted from top to bottom. I rebuilt the front beam, installed disc brakes front and rear, and custom-made all my own brake and fuel lines. I spent weekends and nights working away in the garage, anticipating the return of the body so I could marry it with the chassis. After nine long months of expert body work and exceptional paint, I got the call that the body work was complete and to bring the chassis for assembly. On August 15, 2021, after nearly a year of restoration work, I brought Lucille home reunited with the chassis after twenty-six years. I partnered with Sew Fine Interiors for a custom look just for me. I installed the interior in its entirety and reassembled the entire car, front to back, top to bottom. I had the motor rebuilt to a 1776 for a bit more power and installed the motor and drivetrain with pride. As a side note, I installed the transaxle that I purchased from Mid America Design back in 1999, hoping I wouldn’t regret it. On New Year’s Day 2021, I fired up Lucille and heard her run for the first time in over 26 years. It was an exciting moment, reliving the experience of turning the ignition on a car for the first time as a fifteen-year-old. Scary and exhilarating. On February 22, I took my first test drive. Despite the Colorado winter and a foot of snow still in the yards, it was cold but oh so worth it. Reflecting on that fifteen-year-old version of myself, I realize there was something special about this car. I always held on to the dream of completing the restoration. I had many dreams about it, planned it, paused it, started again, and paused it once more—all for the right reasons. For me, it’s not just about the car but about never giving up on your dreams. I cherish the journey Lucille and I have shared and the countless stories of our adventures. I’ve even been the subject of a newspaper article centered around our story. But what I love most are the stories of others recalling their experiences with their own Beetles and how it made them feel. Today, my beloved wife of 32 years and I reside in Central Valley, CA, where we enjoy spending time with our granddaughter, attending car shows, and cruising around in our beautiful Lucille, sparking fabulous conversations wherever we go. Included in the pictures is one of my mom (#1358), now 90 years young, sitting in the front seat of Lucille preparing for a cruise - and she loves to take a cruise in Lucille any time. And in case you are wondering, I have reached out to the person I originally purchased the car from in 1984 and shared pictures of the restoration. She was extremely grateful for all the care and effort I put into the restoration and thankful that her grandfathers pride and joy was brought back to life. Thank you for the opportunity to share my (our) story. Sincerely, Tim Johnston P.S. I was wondering if you would consider honoring the $25 gift certificate I have held on to since 1999?