I think it was around 1985 when the Bug was given to me by my parents.  There are many fond memories of trips taken when the kids were small (and before mandatory child seats and such) with the two small girls riding in the “nest” behind the back seat.

Soon Amanda was needing a car, so I decided to retrieve the Bug and tune it up for her to drive.  I would resume ownership, and she would be able to use it.

And so it was, for awhile.  One day, while on the freeway, Amanda did not realize the generator warning light had come on until it was too late, and it overheated and destroyed the engine.

 

Amanda loved that Bug, so I made her an offer.  If she could pay to have the engine rebuilt or replaced, the car would be hers. 

She talked to a local VW shop, and made a deal.  She would pay them whatever she could, whenever she could, and when she had paid them enough to cover the cost of the engine, they would rebuild the car.

On her limited income at the time, this took several years, but she was finally able to reach the point where the car was to be repaired.  She very proudly finally drove her own car home after waiting nearly 6 years.

Slowly she was able to fix other parts the old Bug to make it safer and more comfortable, but it still look weatherbeaten, and had several dents and dings, a bent hood and engine cover.

Still, just a couple years ago, she was able to drive it to Florida when she moved there from Idaho, and with a better job and some extra funds she was able to restore the exterior.

As the work prgressed, she proudly provided me photos of the progress until finally we once again saw a shiny, new-looking Bug. 

And the Bug's life continues.  The Bug, while having many owners, has always been owned in the same Family.

And, for Amanda, it is a car with many fond memories that she says she will never sell.  And, as her Dad, I am proud of her accomplishment.