Final Edition of Old Beetle – “Last Gasp for Air.” July 30, 2003; A day that will go down in infamy, of bug lovers everywhere.

I am deeply saddened. However, we knew that it was eventually coming. First, safety and EPA laws forced it from our shores in 1979. Then, it was Brazil that stopped building our luv bugs back in 1996. Now we are faced with the closing of the Puebla, Mexico VW factory, which was the last factory in the world that built air-cooled beetles (also home to the New Beetle and Jetta plant).

The Mexi-Beetle came under tough competition when trade agreements allowed inexpensive, more powerful compacts to flood the Mexican market.

By July 30, 2003, VW built the last of 3,000 final edition “retro” bugs, but only selling 2,999. The 3,000^th one is headed to Wolfsburg. Some public relations photos erroneously showed the early, early Beetle with overriders and the pre-1967 headlights/fenders. But the correct pictures have the square bumpers and late style headlights. So what was different? Wide whitewalls with color keyed wheels, a return to chrome trim (headlight rings, bumpers, side molding, even a Wolfsburg hood crest) rather than painted trim, a 4-speaker CD player and a price tag of $8,000, up $500 from the normal price. Color choices were Aquarius Blue and Harvest Moon Beige.

When the New Beetle was introduced, we heard statements like, “If the Beetle had been allowed to evolve, we think it would have evolved into what is represented in the New Beetle.” Maybe that is so; at least for the U.S. Strangely, however, the production Mexi-Beetle remained a very familiar face to the owners of its American cousin. If you are like me, you may suddenly feel more protective of your own bug. So, go ahead; go give it a hug and a couple of pats on the top.