Lions Club to raffle off '69 VW Bug

Leslie Dixon/Staff Writer

Barry Smith of Mechanic Falls peers into the recently restored Volkswagon that is displayed at Dad's Place on Route 26 in Norway.

- Leslie H. Dixon/Sun Journal
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That's what the Norway-Paris Lions Club is raffling off this year to raise money for the organization's charitable causes, such as eyeglasses for the visually impaired.

"They were awesome automobiles. They were a fun car," said Terry Twitchell of the local Lions Club decision to find the unique little car with the engine in the trunk.

Twitchell said that traditionally the club has purchased collectible cars like Mustangs each year to restore and raffle off. Because collectible cars have become more expensive, Twitchell said the club started to look for an economical car for the driver and one that would be cheaper for the club to purchase.

"Looking at the gas mileage, we thought a Volkswagen would be the smart thing to do," he said of the purchase.

The "bug," as the Volkswagen Beetle was affectionately known, was purchased from a 31-year-old Paris woman who bought it after seeing an advertisement in Uncle Henry's.

"I don't know. I just liked it, I guess," said Shelly Everett of Paris when asked why she sought out this type of car in 2004.

Everett said the history of the car is vague. It was found in a barn in Old Orchard Beach by a couple who had purchased the property years ago. The couple never drove the car, which still had a 1998 inspection sticker on it, and finally placed an ad in Uncle Henry's to sell it.

Everett purchased the car with intentions to restore it. While the renovation never occurred, she drove the car. "It drove well," she said.

The "bug" was first seen in the United States about 1947 and had its heyday in the 1960s and '70s before being discontinued in 1978. In 1969 the makers of the Beetle boasted the addition of a double-action, day-and-night, rearview mirror, an electric rear window defroster and wider range of seating adjustments in the tiny interior.

The car's odometer reads about 50,000 miles, but Everett said it is unclear whether the odometer had turned over at 100,000 miles or whether it was even accurate.

The car, which can be seen in the parking lot of Dad's Place on Route 26 in Norway, was restored by Randy Jones of West Paris and his son, Justin, to its original condition. The body was repaired and painted red and new bumpers were added. The old torn-up interior was replaced with its original red and white colors using vinyl that Everett had purchased but never used.

"When I purchased the car, the back seat had been sun damaged. We bought all new vinyl for the front and rear seats. They took vinyl and installed it," she said.

The car will be raffled off on Sept. 19, Twitchell said. Tickets are $5 each or three for $10.

ldixon@sunjournal.com