My Favorite Car: '73 Volkswagen Super Beetle, Charles W. Longenecker, 75, Spring Hill

'73 Volkswagen Super Beetle

My car is a 1973 Super Beetle model No. 1131. The Super Beetle was first produced in 1971. It has a larger trunk than the standard Beetle and its front suspension was changed from torsion bars to a coil front suspension. The windshield was greatly enlarged on the 1973 model. My first Volkswagen was a Karmann Ghia and I loved it but was excited to take possession of my new VW in December 1972. I enjoyed the roominess of this little car with the 46-horsepower engine in the rear. I took good care of it and, in 1994, I had it repainted. Soon after that, the front end between the front wheels was restored. Now it looked beautiful as it was clearcoated twice to give the paint the appearance of depth. What particularly gave my Super Beetle a sense of belonging was that the first prototypes were on the autobahns the year I was born, in 1935. I still enjoy driving it all these years.