Brian Murphy
I decided as A teen back in about 1988 that I need an air cooled beetle. So I went shopping and found a 63 cabriolet. I actually sold a 57 Chevy 210 with Bel Air trim (Back then it was just an old car) to finance my bug. But I had absolutely no mechanical experience and no real job to pay for my beetle project. I found two local air cooled VW shops in the area and would hang around to soak up any knowledge I could. I eventually ended up working at both places. I had a mentor similar to what you described in your video. I love this video for many reasons. For one,,, you're of a dying breed with a knowledge that fewer and fewer will know as time passes. One of the shops I worked for didn't advertise because he had all the service work he could handle. In 1988 our customers weren't people with custom performance bugs. they were just average to poor people trying to hang onto the type of car they could afford and also loved. For this reason I loved my job more than any job I've ever had since. I remember one customer...an old man that had an unrestored early model double door bus that he used to deliver crickets he raised to sell at local bait shops. These type people are unheard of now LOL. I followed Hot VW's and did build a few engines with parts from the Berg's and such. I had a Dr. customer that kept me busy with his 911 service and mods also. Your video brings back all that. I tore down that 1963 vert in about 1991, had it media blasted to see if there was any rust, put a coat of paint just to preserve it, and haven't touched it since. I hadn't touched an engine in decades until recently when I turned my 4.0 inline six jeep into a sleeved and stroked 5.0 with unreal torque and HP gains. After finishing my Jeep and seeing your video I think it's time to take the old 63 out of hibernation. After all I sold a 57 Chevy to have it. Thanks for your video man..... You reminded me of things I haven't thought of since I was young.