I must have had a dozen.
Best was my 58, drove it from Montreal to Mexico city and returned via Cyprus gardens Fla back to Montreal about 12,000 miles trip.
On the way around NY it would not start in AM. Points were so worn that it would not fire! Paid $400. for that one!
Coolest was a 61, sliding roof, Abarth exhaust.
Best deal was a later '60's that the owner flipped and he cut off the roof. Bought it only 5 months old and made me a convertible top with canoe canvas and steel flat bar stock.
That one set me back $500. It was so new that it was basically still under warranty!
Had some with gas heaters up front but most with standard heat boxes.
All my Beatles were regular carb and 12 volts and super simple to maintain.
I even had for a while an Austrian cabbed snowmobile that sported the VW engine up front, tractor fashion, that drove a pair of cleated tracks. They somehow caused the differential to operate tractor fashion. Dang thing turned on a dime and did 40 MPH and almost could climb a cliff. Heat was non existent.
Up here (Canada) many VW's had small propane heaters installed with the tanks under the hood.( I actually still have one).
In snow they were so good that I actually once went off road with the snow bank simply going up and over the roof with me in the farmer's field.
Since the belly is a flat pan the wheels always make contact and I simply backed out.
Chains on a VW makes it a serious competitor to a tractor especially if one welds rear rims double . What a mud buggy they made! We would go hunting in tidal flats 4 on board and never get stuck, very dirty, yes.
OK, I'm reliving some of my youth. L.O.L.
Now I will date my self! a beetle fill up cost all of like $3.50-$4.00
