The VW beetle or bug as it was sometimes called, is very dear to me. My father bought a beetle for my sister during the sixties. I remember the price back then for this puppy was $1,900.00 and marketed in Panama by a company called Unicar. This company is long gone.
The color or the car was “chinchilla” or mink. It was the best car I have ever driven by far. No water was needed to cool the motor and the consumption of gasoline was almost nada. Everybody in the family drove it and the car just kept going and going like the bunny ad. When I returned from Costa Rica, the car had been sold by my father. Never knew why. I recall, I cried for almost three days. To this day, I can remember vividly my teen age experiences with this unforgettable car.
Like its contemporaries, the Mini, the Citroën 2CV, and the Fiat 500, the Beetle has long outlasted predictions of its lifespan. It has been regarded as something of a “cult” car since its 1960s association with the hippie movement and surf culture; and the obvious attributes of its unique and quirky design. For example, the Beetle could float on water thanks to its sealed floor pans and overall tight construction, as shown in the 1972 Volkswagen commercial.
Below is a picture of totally renovated Beetle on display at Amador Causeway on March 25, 2012. I got goose bumps when I saw it painted in a gorgeous light blue color Absolutely beau-ti-ful!
Snapshot of a Volkwagen Beetle at an antique car exhibition in Panama City, Panama. Watching it is like traveling back in time. Brought back many memories of my youth in Changuinola. Best car I've ever driven. Never broke down. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
