Owners Name: Mike and Ester Rodriguez

Model: Kombi Bus

Year: 1966

Color: Turquoise (L380) and Pale Blue (L289)

Nickname (if any): None

Car Features: Stocker with 15" wheels. 1641cc dual porty which belongs to the distributor of the week club: stock, 009, 010, or 019, depending on my mood.

Mechanical/Cosmetic changes in the works: Dual Type III carbs from dual port engine. All other future mods currently Classified, until future review for public dissemination.

Any work that you did/do yourself that you are particularly proud of: All of it. Panels, seats, dash resto, body and paint (with help). How about Operation Walkthru?

How you became interested in Vintage Vw's: Growing up in Southern California in the early 80s around that whole CalLook scene really made me hate VWs. They were so trendy, and being the nonconformist that I was, I would have nothing to do with it. A friend's sister had her dad restore a '63 ragtop Bug - hot pink and wide whites - really cool...then in college an old highschool friend (and actually, her ex) carpooled with me, showed up in his left over Ghia - this thing was slammed and handled like it was on rails! What a hoot! Then the real story - years later, one day in Texas, Ester and I on a Sunday drive, spotted a '66 Splittie sitting in a field for sale. That was all it took for me - it was a love/hate relationship.

Why did you pick this particular model?:Ever see Fast Times At Ridgemont High - come on, what more reason do you need? No, really - Form and function all rolled up into one neat asthetic package. Practically nothing you can't do with a bus - haul, camp, cruise, etc - ok, maybe not go fast, but...