bertbehrens.com

Lately I have been obsessed. The curves, the chrome, the interiors, the blatant disregard for aerodynamics and ergonomics have taken me completely. I have been scouring the interwebs for oldness in the form of a VW Type 3 Squareback, or Variant as it was officially known. \\\\\\\\nToday\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s cars are shaped be computers to achieve maximum fuel efficiency and safety but end up looking like jelly beans. Back in the day they just drew it out and built what looked good. The quirky good looks of the Squareback has re ignited my flame for old school. Its lines are no beautiful, but honest and simple. Its engine is small enough to fit in your pocket and can be rebuilt on the coffee table if your wife is understanding enough and completely blind. And it is a great canvas to express your personality.\\\\\\\\nBut the best thing about old cars like this are the communities that spring up to honor and love them. The VW community is massive as far as collector car groups go, but it has to be when you are dealing with one of the best selling cars of all time. Just like most classic car groups it is supporting and friendly to most, but unlike some the VW community encourages people to be creative rather than slavish to the restoration or billetification of these old rides. Check thesamba.com and browse through the library of pictures and you will see rat rods, immaculate restorations, wild customs, low riders, drag cars, rally cars, and more all from a line of only 5 major body styles. First of course is the Beetle, then the Bus, and then the attempt at a mainstream look in the 3 Type 3\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s known as the Fastback, Notchback, and Squareback.\\\\\\\\nI encourage anyone reading this to take a look back and see if you can find that spark that\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\’s been hiding inside you to get back to a simpler automotive landscape of tail fins and chrome, of wood paneling and pin striping, of patina and primer, of the smell of carbureted engines and the sound of cherry bombs.