Just Getting Broken In.
Not many nineteen year olds can say that, at nineteen, they are building their dream car. And even fewer can say that their dream car is a 1962 Volkswagen Beetle. But Randy Hay happens to be one of the few that strays from the path beaten down by MKV Golfs and static Honda Hatchbacks. And, surprisingly, he manages to navigate this path as if he's been driving a dumped Bug his entire life.
Now, there's a lot more that's gone on with this build than appears on the surface. Before I moved in with Randy and really understood what a Beetle-nut he actually is, I remember him telling me about this "pearl white, bone stock, fully restored" 1962 Bug that he had just bought, and bought for a hell of a price, at that. And of course, being the enthusiast that I am, I would question it until I truly knew what was going on with the car. Not surprisingly, the questioning ceased to exist when I truly learned of the plans he had in store for Eva the Beetle. Having purchased the Bug from someone who had fully restored the car to stock form a short 26 years ago, and then never driven it, Randy had picked up a perfect canvas to start his build with, that is, until disaster struck. The first time that I heard that the Beetle was being brought to our house in Cleveland for it's renovation, it was unfortunately through a text that had informed me that the old motor had blown about 60 miles outside of Columbus. Now, most people take a blown motor and fold, especially when living in the rust belt. Though, as stated before, Randy isn't like most people. Having trailered the newly transformed rolling shell to our back yard in Cleveland, Randy and myself got to brainstorming about the possibilities of this newly recognized blessing in disguise. He gave himself approximately three months to put together enough money to buy a motor, during which he was going to finish the drop, correct the paint, and get everything on the body fine-tuned. However, something happens when you live with another nineteen year old who has the same drive and passion as you do, and quickly, very quickly actually, the ball started rolling into the first steps of what lies before you.
Granted, the concept of doing a "full" wire tuck on a '62 truly requires lengthening and hiding a mere 7 wires, it was still an idea that captured the mind of Randy in a way that let his creativity run free like no other. And to take it one step further, a full bay shave and respray was in the works to compliment the freshly tucked, and newly built 1600cc air cooled powerplant, which was bench pressed into place nearly two months ahead of schedule. The heavily flaked metallic red paint meshes perfectly with the pearlescent white exterior coat, and when the hood is popped, it is a sight that catches the eyes of any passerby that might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse. Not to any surprise, though, the perfect combination of paint isn't the only thing that is to be noted.
The stance of such an elegant car is sometimes overlooked; though, I will argue, it is the most important piece of any build. As a good majority of Beetle enthusiasts opt to go with a narrowed front beam, primarily to combat clearance issues while turning, Randy quickly fell in love with the aggressive look that came with stock beam fitment and chose to stick with it, taking the time to massage the front fenders just enough to get the old school flavored VW smoothies to clear while turning. In the rear, the static drop dished out a very healthy amount of rear camber, and removed the horrific monster truck like wheel gap that was more than distracting. The overall stance of Randy's bug is refreshing, to say the least, and will only continue to get better as a rebuilt set of 8 inch wide rears will soon be stuffed underneath the 53 year old arches.
Complimenting the rear garnish is pinstriping layed by one of Randy's school instructors, an old school touch that ties the rear end together perfectly. Up front, you'll see chrome eyelids placed over the headlights, a small feature that gives a seductive look to Eva. The dual mount antenna, an OEM German piece, stands taller than this Randy himself, and works to draw the eye of any onlooker to the supple curves of the old two door. With the chrome trim being removed, the bumpers and exhaust tips shine enough to bring attention to the bottom half of the car, as well as the paint, allowing the pearl shine as vibrantly as a De Beers diamond. It's not to say that the exterior is perfect in any way, but the small paint cracks, rock chips, and light wear marks are signs of daily use, and daily enjoyment, a testament to the character that this car holds.
I've quickly found that it's hard to pack in every last detail of a build (especially when it's been built by one of my best friends), and still keep an article short enough to not lose the attention of a reader. I feel that pictures should help, and if anyone is lucky enough, being able to see Eva in person will truly put a face to a name, and leave an impression that will stay with you for as long as you'll be able to remember. Randy has done an incredible job of putting together a car that captures the attention of every last person that sees it. And seeing as he is currently in the Classic Car Restoration program at Ohio Tech College, one can only imagine how much better Eva will get with time. After 53 years, it's all uphill from here.
