Bill C.-

Our member in the Spotlight this period is David B.. He has been a dedicated member since joining in July 2007. We hardly ever see him without his light blue 1967 Beetle which he has owned for about 2 years..

He has lived in Memphis for the last 24 years, and Asheville, NC prior to that.   His wife of many years, Cindy, has lived here for almost as long.   He is a licensed aircraft mechanic, and works in MOCC for FedEx for the last 2 years.  He was with Northwest airlines for 19 years previously.   Cindy also works for FedEx as an international aircraft dispatcher.  

Hobbies include a little of everything,  from restoring old cars,  sport motorcycle riding/racing,  remote control airplanes/boats/cars,  computers,  music,  guns,  dogs,  collecting old electronics,  antiques,  etc.     He also works on motorcycles for hire on occasion as well.   

David says, “I have restored several other cars in the past, from Mustangs,   British cars, Oldsmobiles, and recently an old Mercedes.   Won trophies back in the 80’s with a 27 T model built by me and my dad.     

I have restored many cars in the past and kind of stumbled on the VW by accident.  The VW is somewhat different from the traditional classic car and did peak my interest.   Like most people,   I have fond family memories of the old VW back in the 70’s when my dad took me and my sister to school in a red one.”    

David traded for his ’67 and says, “I found it in a driveway with 4 flat tires and windows down.  It had been there for 3 years and did not run.   The previous owner was a professor here in Memphis and drove the car to work every day.   It had been repainted the same color as original, and had 3 sets of seat covers installed one on top of the other.   It came with original key.  

He says it’s somewhere between a daily-driver and a weekend cruiser now.

AirBill: How do you feel about its condition?

David: I would say fairly good….   No rust or bad things to mention,   but it does need paint and bodywork.   I choose to leave it as is, because if I paint it, something will happen to it.   Ha-ha.

AirBill: What do you like most about it?

David: It’s cool…   It turns heads…  Everyone has a story to tell when you take it out…   It forces you to slow down and smell the roses.   It’s more about the journey than the destination.  

Airbill:  So, I imagine you have had to do some work to get it running as well as it does.

David: The list is long.   I took it in on trade for some labor on a motorcycle repair.   It was in bad shape, but all there.  

I’ve welded in new floor panels, heater channels, rear package tray and firewall, door bottoms.  

(I had to) completely overhaul the suspension, both front and rear, with all new components.   (I) narrowed the beam; welded in spring adjusters;, installed lowered spindles &  custom shocks. Also, I installed all new brakes, from the lines to the calipers; along with a new steering box, and custom MoMo steering wheel from 1980.  

I replaced the transmission and all bearings and seals at the rear; plus removing and resealing the engine, including new ignition system, and exhaust. 

The interior was completely redone including seat repairs and new pad/covers,  a new headliner and all new window runners and seals, including the pop out and rear window seals.   I can say that I’ve replaced every component on the car but the bumpers, headlights and turn signals.

It currently has the original serial numbered engine and carburetor installed. So, like many of us, David says his Beetle needs more power. He will most likely build a new engine for it soon. There is a spare engine he can get to work on and is even considering a turbocharger. There aren’t too many around. So I would really like to check it out when he finishes.

Sometimes we get a sign; not often, but sometimes. David has a story about that.

“When working on the interior of the car,   the rear seat back rest was split at the top from years of being in the sun.  After removing all the covers and such in the process I found a gum wrapper someone had thrown down into the back seat springs.   It was a Beeman gum wrapper.    I realize you can still buy Beeman gum today, but it’s still interesting to think of this as some sign that it was “meant to be.”