Members of the citys Beetle Club tell you how to own one To call it a cute little thing would be a grave injustice to its cult iconic status. The Beetle,or the Bug as it is fondly known,is one of the few cars that has transcended barriers of time and managed to stay on the top of the must-have list. A headturner on haute wheels,it has acquired a distinct personality (remember Herbie?). Now that the new Volkswagen Beetle,available in bright sunny colours is zipping on city roads,we take time out and visit Chandigarh Beetle Clubs meeting at Sector 11s Barista,catch up with the Bug lovers and proud owners and jot down pointers on how to own one of these beauties. People often mistake it to be a vintage car. But the Beetle is not in the vintage league,it is a classic. There is difference between the two. All cars made before or on December 31,1939 are vintage. The period from 1939 to 1954 is considered the classic era when cars like Ford Mustang and the Beetle commanded admiration, says SPS Garcha,regional director for The Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India. His feelings are echoed by Surjit Singh Bhurjee. While these classics are hard to come by now,a Beetle is a keeper that you can restore too. The legend among Bug owners is that you dont find a Beetle but the Beetle finds you. So where does one start the search? Sourcing one,that too with all the documents is difficult, says Satinder Sarkaria,vintage and classic car restorer. You can get one,the price can range according to its condition from a couple of thousands to lakhs, adds son Manreet Sarkaria. Try Kashmiri Gate in Delhi,people fly them in from Brazil too which is known for its Beetles. Then there are passionate owners in Goa, chips in Garcha. Once the cars towed in,the restorers at Sarkarias garage in Chandigarh Industrial area get to work,starting with the missing parts. We go for the closest match,though originals can be found with dealers scattered all over Delhi,in places like Jama Masjid,opposite IGI Airport and Khan Market. They also source parts from Brazil,Thailand,Singapore and UK, says Bhurjee. Sometimes,you need two to make one, Garcha says,telling us how he used the parts from two Beetles to make a new one and sold the rest to a restaurant owner. He is using the body as a bar now, laughs Garcha. As Amanbir,president of the club,looks with admiration at his bright new Volkswagen Beetle,he tells us how easy it was to procure one five years ago. People were just giving it away,but now,with the new edition bringing Beetle mania back,it has become a prized possession, says Pritpal Matharu,who restored one,painted it bright red and used Suzuki parts in it. It takes two to six months to restore,the restoration cost being around a lakh,apart from the cost of the car, says Sarkaria. To know more,check out the Beetle Klub of Chandy on Facebook.
