Saturday, September 1, 2007

Groovy for the 60s

I found this psychedelic Volkswagen van parked outside a building in the Village a couple months ago. I thought it was groovy because of the beautiful artwork!! I wonder if it belongs to an aging hippie from the 60s or a Wall Street millionaire with his new "toy"?

My dad used to own a vintage 1967 WV beetle when I was a young kid. It was a temperamental car (I'm trying to use PG-rated language here) that won't start on mornings when the weather was too cold. My brother and I would have to get out of the car and push it down the street hoping to jump start the engine while our dad steered it away on coming traffic through the windows.

So when I was old enough to get my own car, I specifically stayed away from a VW and bought a second-hand Nissan pick-up truck instead. Eventhough that truck had over 200,000 miles on it, it was super reliable and it gave me very little trouble.

So tell me about your first car.

19 comments:

Fénix - Bostonscapes said...

It was a Fiat 128 I nicknamed "liquid fart." Don't ask! ROTFL!

Love the groovy van.

Anne-Catherine said...

I must admit I had a VW Jetta dated 1987. Very good quality, very reliable. I loved it ;-)

Anonymous said...

It is an interesting way to cover up imperfections as well as be decorative.

VW used to have excellent reputations when the first bugs began to appear over here. People often waited 6 months for delivery and many in our research and development department had them on order and paid extra for heaters and air conditioning.

Nice shot. Interesting story.

I hope you get to see my bird today.

Unknown said...

This VW van reminds me of the 'church van' that will come pick up my grandma for ladies fellowship when I was a kid.

You know its coming because the engine is so loud! We will shout to granny... The Van is coming in 1 minute! Hurry! :-)


My first car? Either I pay installments for my new car, or I take over mum's old Honda Accord, so that she can get her new car. That's what Dad said.

I took mum's car. haha...

Missy,Mrs and Mum said...

WOW I LOVE IT!!!!! Its beautiful! I would love to buy and convert one. The chef Jamie Oliver has got one with a beautiful double bed and a stove as well! Brilliant

sonia a. mascaro said...

Thanks Ming for your comments and greetings to Sofia's Birthday! She appreciates it so much!

Sure, very psychedelic Volkswagen!
My first car was a Ford Corcel, 1969. My husband loves old cars and we have this car till now. But it don't move anymore!

Have a nice Sunday!

Chuckeroon said...

My first was a Mercedes 219 Build year 1957...look it up "Mercedes 219 1957" on the web and you will find some nice examples of restoration.

Carol E. said...

Cool VW! My first car was a.. guess what... VW! It was a Beetle, year 1971. It was very reliable and a fun car. It stayed alive until it was so rusted out that it had a huge hole in the floor so that if I drove over a puddle, the puddle came into the car!

Kiwi said...

That's what we used to call a 'hippie container'.

My first car was also a VW Beetle just like Carol E. It was a 1972 model 1500 if I remember correctly. And I second Carol: "It was very reliable and a fun car."

Peter said...

First car in 1967 was an old Ford Consul that drank more oil and water than gasoline. Kept it only for a few months. Then I bought a second hand (1965 model) Morris Cooper! I loved it! Kept it several years and made Stockholm / Marseille back and forth twice!

WichitaKsDailyPhoto said...

I like the photo of the Hippie looking bugmobile. My first car was a 1965 Ford Galaxie 500. Baby blue with a white (1/2 vinyl top). White interior, automatic on console between bucket seats. Bought it at a car auction for $230., in 1973. I saw one like it the other day as I was driving down a street, had to back up and do a double take.

Sunkyoung said...

I love groovy 60s! It was the funkiest period.

Anonymous said...

I like the colors on this mini van.

Todd HellsKitchen said...

Where's Danny Partridge?

Or rather... Where's Keith??

jeremyDP said...

nice van ! i have no car but I'd like to have the same kind of van (without theese colors ...).

• Eliane • said...

Groovy!!! Love, love, love it!!! My parents used to own one of those when I was a kid too. They transformed it into a camping car. I don't recall much of our adventure as I was about two or three years old.

My first car was a green Twingo. It's also the last one as I sold it when I moved to NYC.

Anne-Catherine said...

I was in NYC until yesterday and I saw it, I had a thought about you and your blog ;-)

Anonymous said...

So sweet van!! my girlfriend will looks great in salon this car.)

Anonymous said...

This van is sweet. If anyone wants to see MY van, which is just as groovy (I painted it all myself) go to www.myspace.com/hedderdog and look at my pics.