Hello everyone at JBugs—please feel free to forward this along to Gary and the Technical Department.

I spoke with Hutch earlier today and mentioned that I’d be sending photos of my 1975 Super Beetle Convertible. I recently completed a full restoration, and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. A big part of that success is thanks to JBugs and your entire team.

The car has quite a story. It was originally purchased new in 1975 by my neighbor, who only drove it about 11,500 miles before parking it. Being a larger man, he often joked that he felt like “a sardine in a can,” and eventually stopped driving it altogether—nearly 29 years ago. I had expressed interest in the car decades back, and about 13 years ago, he finally offered to sell it to me for $1,000, saying he knew I would restore it properly. He had seen the work I’d done on my 1963 Mercury Comet Convertible, which I’ve owned since high school and restored into a show car that has won several awards.

After purchasing the Beetle, I stored it for years before deciding it would make the perfect beach car for our second home in Fort Myers, Florida. Three years ago, I began a complete, ground-up restoration. The car was entirely dismantled and sandblasted down to every detail, including the seat frames. I handled the initial bodywork before sending it to my brother’s body shop in Des Moines for a high-quality paint job in its original 1975 Scarlet Red. From there, it received a new cloth top, a fully rebuilt mechanical system, a new windshield, lowering struts, a completely redone interior, and all new exterior chrome, lighting, and running boards—most of which came from JBugs. It was finished off with oversized tires and new Empi Mag wheels.

I also detailed and painted the engine and front trunk area, and I truly believe the car is now close to perfect in every way. The photos I’ve included show the color, though the camera makes it appear slightly more orange than it actually is.

I do have one regret—that I didn’t discover JBugs earlier in the process. While I sourced about 75% of my parts from you, I wish I had gone through JBugs for everything. Throughout the build, your team consistently answered my questions, offered guidance, and provided encouragement. I’m incredibly grateful for that support.

I’m looking forward to enjoying this car as we cruise the beaches of Sanibel, Fort Myers, and the surrounding areas in Southwest Florida. I’m sure it will turn plenty of heads along the way.

Thank you again for all your help, and for taking the time to check out what I consider my masterpiece.

Best regards, Rick Lampkin. Moline, IL and Fort Myers, FL