Perhaps one of the most frustrating experiences a vintage car buff can have is not being able to locate necessary parts. As you’ve worked on your “second love” Volkswagen, invariably you’ve run against the brick wall of “that part is no longer available”! “What??? Now what am I going to do?” That’s probably putting it mildly. In my more than 36 year experience with VWs, I’ve had this problem hundreds of times. My two children and I made a regular habit of visiting salvage yards in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. Then, things changed. Government restrictions began making things difficult for the salvage people. Yards were moved or closed. But, don’t give up! There still are some salvage yards located around the Country. Here’s the unique story of one salvage yard oasis; Don’s Bug Barn. As told by Dustin Carter, Don’s son.

How did you get all of this!?!
I have answered this question many times. My answer of “It is my father’s 36 year collection” never seems to satisfy.

Okay? But… but how did you get all this?
I tell the story, which always elicits smiles, that since we are in Texas, it is not uncommon that our story begins with horse-trading. In 1974, my father, Don Carter, got his first Volkswagen from my grandfather, who traded a horse for a dune buggy. My grandfather had no use for the buggy and offered it to my father, who accepted, thus beginning the story of Don’s Bug Barn. Growing up, my father always was a car guy, and throughout the years he acquired all types of American iron and muscle cars. But Volkswagens became his ultimate love.

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Tell us about the history of your ’67 Beetle.
My great-grandfather purchased a used 1967 Volkswagen Beetle, painted Volkswagen Blue, in November of 1967 (it was built in August of ’66 so I’m assuming that the previous owner had it for about a year). He drove it a fair amount until his death, when my grandfather inherited the car. It ended up at my grandparents’ house, and when my dad was in high school it was really never used (although it still wears the dents he made with a golf ball). When my dad went to college, however, he ended up driving it sometimes, because it was economical and he wasn’t too concerned about anyone breaking into it. Although my dad never hated the car, it just really wasn’t for him. As a result, in late 1986, it was put into the garage at my grandparents’ house. Aside from being rolled from one garage stall to another in the late 1990s, it was absolutely untouched, complete with a half tank of gas (yikes!) and the battery still connected. Over time, it was filled and covered with all sorts of things—used as an impromptu rack and an occasional cat toy.

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Tell us the history of your ’67 Beetle.
As per the maintenance card for this VW, it was inspected and delivered to the original owner on January 6, 1967, at BOB SMITH VOLKSWAGEN in Hollywood, CA. On 1/18/67, at 357 miles, the dealer performed the “300 Mile Free Maintenance Engine and Transmission Oil Change”. The next service was performed at 5,000 miles by a mechanic who thoroughly recorded the entire service record, by hand, on the under-side of the engine compartment lid, until 1986. That’s when the car was sold to its second owner for $5,500.00. The second owner was living in Minnesota and had specifically wanted a 1967. One day he received a call from his brother, in Los Angeles, telling him he had found the ’67 for him, for sale in the parking lot of Studio City Golf and Tennis, which the owner frequented. So he bought the car and trucked it to Minnesota, where he had an igloo (garage) built, at the ready. He drove the Beetle only in Summer months. One year later, the owner moved, bringing the Beetle back to Studio City, now living here himself. The car was straight , just as it still is, and well-maintained, when it was sold that second time. The new owner continued to maintain the car, replacing everything as needed, including interior, paint and eventually the engine, kicking it up from 1500cc to a 1600cc dual-port. When this car, that I drove by almost daily for 11 years, was finally for sale the third time, 23 years later, I grabbed it the first day it was for sale. I bought this ’67 Beetle in 2009, exactly 42 years, 1 month and 3 days from the original delivery.

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