|
|
"A lot of people love it and give you the thumbs up," Scott said.
The car is part of a living art project Scott said she started to bring the two sides the 1960s - the Vietnam veterans and the "Flower children" - back together.
"My husband is a veteran," Scott explained. "I went to Woodstock."
The Scotts were just one of the 270 Volkswagen owners who entered their car in the 16th Annual Litchfield Bug In at the Harwinton Fairgrounds Sunday. Chuck Pisconski, organizer of the event that benefited the Bronc Callahan Community Fund, said there were cars from Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and even a few from various Canadian provinces. Approximately 2,500 people came to take a look at the cars and peruse the parts for sale at the swap meet.
Volkswagen of all shapes and sizes were lined up, forming a rainbow of paint and chrome on the rolling fairground terrain. There were new Beetles and old Beetles, vans, dune buggies, sand rails and Bajas, Karman-Ghias and Things. And, there was George Murtha’s 1943 Schwimmwagen, an amphibious vehicle used by the German Army during World War II.
Murtha rescued the rare machine - there were only 16,000 produced during World War II -- from a farm in the Swiss Alps where it satin a barn, beat up and broken.
"Everything was missing," Murtha said. "Everything that you see bolted on it had to be found."
He finished the 18-month long restoration last year, just in time for the Litchfield Bug In and the camouflaged four-seater quickly became a popular attraction.
"It’s probably the most photographed car at the show," Murtha said.
People of all ages walked up and down the rows of the cars and vans on display Sunday, sharing their love for the German car company that literally translates to "the people’s car."
Murtha, who only collects Schwimmwagens, said Volkswagens almost have a cult following.
"People love them," he said.
But, they love them for different reasons.
Chris Knox, president of Wasserwerks, a Volkswagen and Audi enthusiast club, said enthusiasts have formed attachments because of their simple design.
"In my mind it’s the simplicity. They’re easy to work on," he said. "Back in the day with the old bugs you could lift the engine right out."
For Scott, who had a Volkswagen in the 1960s, working on the Beetle with her husband has been a trip down memory lane.
"It’s reliving lost youth," she said.
Doug Jaggers can be reached by e-mail at newhartford@registercitizen.com.
