Steven and Connie Pautz

1968 VW Beetle Sedan

Owner: Steven and Connie Pautz, Chesterfield, MO
Year: 1968
Body Style: Sedan
Uniqueness: Autostick, 12 volt electrical
Engine Type: Flat 4, Air Cooled, 1600 cc

This sedan was originally purchased in Brooklyn New York on mm/dd/yy. It was later sold and moved to Miami, Florida. The owner eventually passed away and the family advertised the car in the local newspaper. Somehow a resident of Highland IL found the ad, purchased the from the estate in Miami and trailered it back to Highland. The car was restored and a new engine & transmission was installed. The original engine was stored and later rebuilt. The Highland owner became ill and the car was sold to family in St. Charles, MO. Due to mechanical issues, the car was sold to its present owner.

1968 was the first year VW offered the Autostick. The Autostick was a simple method of using a torque converter to gradually adjust the gear ratio in the transmission and offered 3 ranges of speed. The car automatically disengages the clutch when the driver places their hands on the gear shift and engages the clutch when hand is removed. There is no clutch pedal. This is the first year VW offered a IRS (independent rear suspension). Previous years used a swing axle suspension. This is the 2nd year of a 12 volt electrical system.

Phil Ierardi

1975 VW Beetle Convertible

Owner: Phil Ierardi, St. Louis, MO
Year: 1975
Body Style: Convertible
Uniqueness: Single owner- Phil, California emissions
Engine Type: Flat 4, Air Cooled, 1600 cc

This convertible was purchased new by Phil on March 13, 1975 in California. The laws of that state required extra emission controls which were new to the air-cooled Volkswagens. This is the first year of the fuel injection and a single tailpipe. Engine horsepower is 48 HP. Equipment includes catalytic converter. Only 91 octane unleaded gas can be used for fuel.

VW Accessories (options): Bumper horns, fog lights, console & shifter, blaupunkt radio and speakers.

Special Notes: Paint, top, interior, engine are all original as the car was delivered in 1975.

Frank & Kathy Ramaesiri

1957 VW Beetle Sedan

Owner: Frank & Kathy Ramaesiri, Chesterfield, MO
Year: 1957
Body Style: Sedan
Uniqueness: Delivered in Munich Germany, shipped to United States, Last year of oval window & bullet style blinkers, 6 volt electrical system
Engine Type: Flat 4, Air Cooled, 1200 cc, 36 HP

This 1957 Beetle left the Wolfsburg factory May 22, 1957. It was sold at a dealership some 65 kilometers west of Munich called F. Kohler in Landsberg/Lech Germany. It arrived in America shortly after and was owned by a colorful man named Basil Kercheval who later traded it in at a Used Volksagen lot named Ye Olde Bug Shop in Seattle Washington.
A young man named Greg Arhart saw it, bought it and and had it professionally restored by Vintage Wagen in 2000. It sat for 7 years in his garage putting only 350 miles on it and considered it primarily an art object. After selling it to finance an antique boat restoration, it was acquired and shipped here to Chesterfield, Mo where it has been reborn and living a full life.
It is the original Horizon Blue (L31) color, boasts a full pull-back sunroof which was available through 1964. The '57 is the last year for the smaller, oval rear window, old style dash and bullet stlye blinkers, (which only existed in '56 and '57). The large white-wall tires were a factory option and this was also the first year for the VW tubeless tire.
It has a mohair headliner, dealer installed Motorola radio, pop-out rear side windows and many original German accesories.
The engine is a stock original 36 hp with correct Bosch distributor and NOS vacuum advance. The electric system remains a 6 volt wonder as everything on the car functions as it should.
It has been awarded on occassion and was an invitee at the Kemp Auto Museum representing the VW class at the all German Show last Father's Day.


Mike Richardet and Terri Ward

1975 VW Standard Beetle Sedan

Owner: Mike Richardet and Terri Ward
Year: 1975
Body Style: Sedan
Uniqueness: Car originally belonged to a friend of mine 30-some years ago. It was his first real (new) car.

All work (mechanical and cosmetic) on this car was done at home in my driveway. It was painted entirely with aerosol spray cans, specifically, Rustoleum, from Lowe’s; the cost was about $300.00. Labor to paint was a little more than 100 hours most of which was sanding. There is an imitation canvas slider sunroof and matching material was used to recover the running boards.

It’s good to have a unique car and play toy; but it is infinitely better to have unique and loving spouse that let’s you play with you toys and understands what it means to do so ($ $ $ $ $ $).

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