There was a mix of the classic with the new, the common with the rare, the odd with the normal and the practical with, in some instances, impractical at the 12th Annual Lakeland VW Classic.
LAKELAND — There was a mix of the classic with the new, the common with the rare, the odd with the normal and the practical with, in some instances, impractical.
The 12th annual Lakeland VW Classic set up shop at RP Funding Center on Saturday and Sunday, drawing about 10,000 people over two days to see a variety of about 850 Volkswagen automobiles and thousands of VW-related gear, parts, accessories and gadgets. Held in the parking lot on the south end, it was all things VW, with everything from iconic Beetles and Bugs to rare and unusual VWs such as multi-windowed microbusses and sleek rail buggies parked with their owners close at hand.
Near the east end of the parking lot, Gary Crull of Jacksonville stood with James Steele as they looked at Crull's 1972 VW Type 147 Kleinlieferwagen "Fridolin" postal delivery vehicle. Crull said 7,000 German and 1,200 Swiss Fridolins were built between 1964 and 1974 and many were abandoned when more efficient postal delivery vans were developed. He said he and some friends bought three in 2006 from a man in Germany and had them shipped to Jacksonville. The Fridolin he intended to use for parts ended up being restored and is now one of only about 18 Fridolins in the United States, one of about 200 left in the world.
"Most people don't know what it is when they see me driving it. They think it's custom-made or a Toyota Scion or a Nissan. Then I tell people what it is and all they can say is, 'A what?'" said Crull.
Finding out how diverse VWs are is part of the appeal of the VW Classic, said organizer Eddy Varela of Lakeland. The owner of Dixieland Import Auto Parts on South Florida Avenue, he said he has had VW fever since seeing the movie "The Love Bug" as a child in 1968. He said although the Classic focuses on vintage VW, new models are often found at the shows.
For 2018, Varela said 40 trophies were awarded for the 2018 VW Classic and about 375 vendor spaces were sold, making it one of his largest shows yet.
"We've had a great turnout this year. It's a real family show; it's about family and cars and the love of anything Volkswagen," said Varela, 57, who was assisted at the show with wife, Karen, children and grandchildren. "There are always a lot of quality cars here. People love their cars and really take care of them — this is a lifestyle for some people."
That lifestyle brings out a host of VWs no longer or rarely found on the roads of America these days. A walk down first row and guests could see a 1959 maroon Beetle with a early car-cooling air conditioner attached to the passenger window, a 1965 rail buggy made for riding in sand dunes, a 1962 aqua-green Beetle with a luggage rack on top and the front hood filled with a picnic basket, an uncommon Type III Notchback and about 30 VW vans, including Chris Burns' 1987 Vanagon with a German license plate on the front.
Varela said two other rare and exotic models at the show was a 1962 single-cab pickup and a 1964 double-cab pickup. He said the common and the exotic VWs came from throughout Florida and as far as Oklahoma, Texas and Georgia and Canada, Germany and England.
Now living in Bradenton but a native of New Zealand, Ken Clark sat underneath a tarp behind his green 1974 Brazilian-made VW Brasilia, a rear-engined compact car manufactured and marketed by Volkswagen in Brazil between 1973 and 1982. It was first made as a possible replacement for the Beetle.
"It was made in Brazil and it's amazing how many people from Brazil come up to me and start speaking to me in Portuguese because of that car," said Clark, who paid $2,800 for the car when it was new.
But around the parking lot Sunday, it was mostly the language of Volkswagen that was being bantered about among lovers of the automobile. For some, it was the chance to get technical, trade or buy parts and get tips on restoration or customizing. For others, it was a nice day in balmy weather, looking at classic VWs — including Sciroccos,Things and Karmann Ghias — under a clear sky.
"You can really see a lot of different cars here, some old, some new. To me, it's amazing how long they've been around," said Jeremy Swan.
Along with his wife, Jillian, cousin Mandy Flores and 5-month-old daughter Jahliyah, Swan visited the VW Classic on a trip to Florida from Boston. He said he had no idea of the scope of VW models until he visited the Classic.
"I've sure seen a lot of interesting cars, some very old, some newer. It's been a nice family day, too, to enjoy the nice weather," he said.
Sundays awards included best of show, Gary Crull, $300; best engine, Abraham Quintana, Miami, $50; best paint, Henry Martin, $50; and best interior, James Steele, $50. The winner of a 2018 VW rail buggy was Eric King of Sarasota.
The VW Classic began at 5 p.m. Friday, at Burger King at 3590 Harden Blvd., in Lakeland. There, a joint show was held with The Lakeland Cruisers all-car show. Saturday was the VW bus show and Sunday was open to all Volkswagens.
Paul Catala can be reached at paul.catala@theledger.com or 863-802-7533. He can be reached at Twitter @pcat0226.