My Bug is a 1971 VW Super Beetle that I bought 4.5 years ago when my daughter was just born. I nicknamed it Leroy because it was the name of the man I bought it off of. He was going to restore it, but was forced to move into a nursing home and had to sell his house and all his belongings. The condition it was in was pretty good from what I could tell. The heater channels where solid and floor pans were not rusted through, but it needed a complete restoration done to it.

Leroy has been completely restored. I ended up getting a donor body because the area near the rear window was covered with body filler and the sand blaster revealed what was underneath all those layers of paint. The front suspension is completely restored and lowered about 3.5 inches. I've had to replace everything on this car from brake lines to seals.

My best memory is the friend I made because of this car. I was given his phone number because he is the best VW mechanic around. People said he is the only one around here that knows how to work on old Bugs. He is retired now, but still works on these old cars for fun. I had my motor all tore down and was overwhelmed with overhauling it so I went to ask him some questions about it. He answered them then asked about where I work. When I told him I am a painter in a body shop he offered to build me a bigger, better motor if I would paint his ’67 Bug. I said, “Deal!”

Ever since then I talk to him almost every day and I've learned so much about these great car from him. It makes me love these cars even more.