Veteran VW Club

It was the Veteran VW club in Røyken, Asker and Bærum that organized a drive for pre-registered members. The trip started at Sætre and went around Hurum.

Still used cars

Veteran VW club is for people's cars that are 30 years or older, i.e. proper vintage cars according to the old system. But when you see a people's car, you don't always think of a vintage car - at least not if you're a bit older yourself. In my neighborhood there are a couple of Volkswagen 1300s in daily use. They are used cars, not for decoration. When several people's cars are gathered, as at Sætre before departure, one can hardly avoid thinking that many of these cars could have functioned perfectly in daily use. If you place a beige Volkswagen 1300 in an ordinary car park, it will not attract attention. It should. After all, it is over 50 years old.

Is it really a veteran?

It is special for Volkswagen that many models are actually older than one would think. If we draw the line for veteran at 30 years, cars such as the T3 (Caravelle and Transporter) fall under the term, although they actually look newer, especially in Caravelle design. Until next year, early editions of the T4 Caravelle and Transporter will be able to join the procession as "veteran cars". Likewise the Golf III.

Type-3 endangered?

There is no danger of the public transport bubble disappearing. Not only was it very widespread, but it gained cult status early on. As you know, Volkswagen's Type-3 was supposed to replace the bubble. It came as fastback, notchback and variant. Today it undoubtedly has cult status, but it may seem that it took longer than the bubble. Considering how many Volkswagen 1500 Variants were sold in Norway in the 1960s and 70s, it is strange that so few are left - compared to the folkcar bobla. The explanation may be that the Volkswagen (Type-3) 1500 was used to a greater extent as a family car - and was driven in tatters, while many of the contemporary bubbles were bought by grandparents and old aunts. Maybe they are still simmering around?

The pictures are from the attendance area at Sætre. Further in the post is a YouTube clip from the start of the excursion.

Many say that it hardly ever rained when you were a child. The truth is that it rained just as much, but it is the sunny days that stuck in the memory.

Public carriages in rainy weather bring back many memories. In the "old days" people didn't have big SUVs. They went on a road trip in public transport. Exotic trips to Valdres and Telemark. The largest luggage was safely placed on the roof rack. It rained almost every day, so the tent and bags on the roof were wrapped in plastic. Everything was held tightly in place by a so-called "octopus", - an eight-armed rubber band with metal hooks at the ends. After a few miles on the road, the plastic always started to flutter - Short, frequent "flap-flap-flap". The triangular windows were in the ventilation position. Mother had just left the window open because she had lit her third cigarette. In the back seat, all the children sat unsecured, shrouded in cigarette smoke and the smell of petrol, together with a wet dog. The entertainment was making lines with your finger in the fog on the side windows.

Because it always rained

I took the liberty of taking some photos of nostalgic folk wagons last Saturday. The small car encounter was announced on social media in Veteran VW Club for people who were on their way home after the car crash at Espa earlier in the day. The place was Nebbenes kro in the northbound run of the E6. As I approached Nebbenes, the gates of heaven opened. It was not possible to stay outdoors. Everyone had probably sought shelter indoors at the inn, or left.

Public carriages in rainy weather bring back good memories

As I moved on, I hoped that all the old folk wagons would stay dry in the rain. Maybe everyone got a hangover on the way south? Because the terrible rainy weather followed me all the way home. When I came in the door, my wife said, “How strange! It started raining just a few minutes before you got home…”

It is often said that you bring the weather with you.

Good summer!