Rides from the Readers: 1964 Volkswagen Beetle

Hagerty readers and Hagerty Drivers Club members share their cherished collector and enthusiast vehicles with us via our contact email, tips@hagerty.com. We’re showcasing some of our favorite stories among these submissions. To have your car featured, send complete photography and your story of ownership to us at the above email.

Today’s featured car is a 1964 Volkswagen Beetle. This particular Bug belongs to Martha McNeil, and it isn’t her first—nor her second. The blue ’64 followed two green Beetle convertibles with beige tops (one a replacement for the other, which was totaled). McNeil actually picked up the ’64 featured here from the factory in Wolfsburg, motoring around Europe and even traveling into East Berlin via Checkpoint Charlie. Back stateside, the Beetle led a more mundane life as McNeil’s daily driver for over 10 years, after which it served as transportation for McNeil and her two dogs to their favorite walking spot.

Sometimes we adopt classics into our lives—vehicles that didn’t catch the eye of enthusiasts until years later. And sometimes those same cars have always been a part of our lives, independent of the “classic” label.