Back when I was a student going to the University of North Texas I was lucky enough to be able to bicylce to school, work and then home again.  My (then) wife and I needed a car, of course, so she drove around a Dodge K car that her grandparents had given us.  During my last semester I was required to student teach about 10 miles away and so we needed a second car.  Knowing we couldn't afford anything fancy, I decided that if I was going to have to drive around a piece of junk, I would at least drive around a junky bug.  Don't know why I always loved them, just did.

The car was purchased for $700 from a local man who was moving and had been driven around by his daughter in her High School years.  Finances let me do nothing for the first couple of years except the needed minor repairs.  Then, as needed, I replaced the engine with a new GEK 1600.  This was put in by John O'keefe at Budget Bugg, Denton, TX (one of the last few honest repair men in the business, I recommend him highly).  New carburator, generator, brake line, exhaust were also put in.  Over the years I scrounged around and got what I could from junk yards, including (gasp, yes I found one in a junk yard) a new engine lid.

Then in 1999 I got a divorce and with it, alot of time and freedom to do what I wished.  Working for summer school I decided to put some of the money I earned into the outside of my car, like I always wished.  Hours of bondo and sanding resulted in what I think is a decent looking car, nothing like it's former self, but not a show winner either.