Wagons in vintage Street scenes

It may be skewing the numbers a bit, since I'm reposting pictures from similar threads on VW sites...

 

Oh! That makes sense but owning several older beetles when fairly new, there really were a lot of them in the midwest. And whatever we own, or owned, we seem to notice.
For instance, I've had my wagon since end of 80's but really never paid much attention to other wagons till I joined this site. Now they are everywhere. just got back from our little town and must have seen several dozen 80's wagons, and a few old VW's.
Love this thread.

 

Wagons ARE growing in popularity again.. very "Americana"... and it's a good thing to see. Man, when I think of the wagons my Dad had when I was growing up.. my favorite was a 1960 Plymouth fury wagon... Black with white highlights.. square translucent blue steering wheel.. BEAUTIFUL. Pontiac Safari, Buick Vista Cruiser.. even a little Vega wagon in '74... I was blessed!

As far as the Beetles go.. heck ya.. everybody had one in the 60's and 70's. I've owned several too.. makes you appreciate the big American cars even more when you don't have heat in the morning. Now.. my son all of 16 years.. wants one.. I'll surprise him with one at the end of the school year.

Good stuff!

 

My first VW beetle was a 1957, then a few others till I bought a squareback wagon. I owned other cars between but seemed to go back to VW's. All were great and dependable except that damned squareback thing!
About VW's and heat. ?????? We lived in central Illinois and I dorve around 15 miles to work. The heaters usually melted a small spot on the windshiled and were putting out warmish air about the time I parked at work or back home.
But all got in excess of 35 MPG on regular. A few near 50MPG under normal driving !

 

Your's must have been a dud.
My 71 Squareback has been my daily diver since 2007.
It has only failed to get me home once, when one of the sump plate studs fell out and drained all the oil onto the road...

With a Q-tip, JB weld and fresh oil, I was able to drive it home.
It's still holding 2 years later, too.

The Type 3 heater is superior to the Bug's, but still not up to par with a water-cooled car's heater.
I let mine warm up for several minutes before driving. It's tolerable, but not 'warm'.
Maybe if I installed some carpet, it would have better insulation...

My old Beetle got around 40 mpg on the highway, My Square gets 31 (bigger engine, bigger car)

On one trip, I got 34mpg in a Bus, driving easy with the carb adjusted too lean and timing too far advanced.
That lasted about 600 miles before:

"Knock, knock"
"Who's there?"
"Rod."

 

August 19, 1955 Riverbend, corner of St. Charles and Carrollton, outbound. On the St Charles line. Note the price of gas.

 

1952. New Orleans Belt Railroad.