Jack's '60 Beetle

Jack Hess, our Sergeant-at-Arms, moved to Boca from the Boston area (his accent leaves no doubt about that). Jack is another of our members who has joined the KMA Club (meaning that he either is retired, or is eligible for retirement, and he can tell you to kiss his ring if you hassle him).

All our VW's are special, But Jack's is even more unusual. It is a 1960 European Beetle with a canvass sun roof AND semaphore directional signals. His grey Bug also has a steering wheel lock and the owner's manual in the original German.

This Bug is not a new member of Jack's collection, as he bought it in 1973 for the outrageous sum of $254. Jack wrote to the factory, which informed him that his Beetle was produced on June 8, 1960, and was shipped to a lady in Stuttgart, its first owner. Her nephew brought the car to Boston in 1970.

Jack's VW has traveled quite a bit, having been driven in Germany and throughout the New England States. But it did not travel to Florida on its own wheels.

Jack reports that the engine is very religious, having been born again at the hands of Bruce at West McNab Foreign Car. While the car has been a bit of a pain at times, Jack is delighted with its over "enjoyability" (We have to invent words to describe our VW's) for the last 29 years. Jack says, "It has been a fun car."