Gonna write to Robbie's old owners - tips?

[Shamrockez]

I've got the addresses of all his UK owners so I'm gonna write to them and see if I can find a little more about him - why he was imported, what his American number plate was, if they have any pics etc.

So anyone got any tips as to what I should put in the letter?

[Blue_Smoothie]

i did this with marge - managed to track down and meet/speak with 6 out of 8 previous owners and got lots of pics when she was green :)

[Shamrockez]

Cool 8-)

I did with Bert and one guy replied - the chap who owned him before the guy I bought him off. He and his Mum had owned him for 12yrs and he sent me a load of pics 8-)


So far I've waffled on about when i got him, what i've done to him and included a shed load of pics. Think that's ok or should I stick to "I have your old Bug - give me more info/pics" lol

[Shamrockez]

Ref: T677 HTS / P30 DWS Volkswagen New Beetle TDi

Hi there my name’s Lucy and I bought the above Beetle in August 2005 and christened him ‘Robbie’. Since I bought him I’ve done lots of things to him – changed his wheels, lowered him, changed the front bumper and lots of other things. I bought him from a small second hand car dealer in Peckham, London and bought him home with me to Bristol. He was registered as T677 HTS altho an HPI check and his reciepts revealed he has also been P30 DWS. My parents bought me M16S VW for my 21st birthday so that’s what he is now due to my apparent obsession with all things Volkswagen. Between my boyfriend, Steve, and I we have 8 of them. I’d wanted a New Beetle ever since I first saw a picture of the concept. When I was learning to drive I couldn’t afford a ‘Newbie’ so bought a 1971 classic red Beetle who I named ‘Bertie’. I decided then (2001) that the New Beetle I’d eventually own would be red and called ‘Robbie’ as they were both short for Robert.

Anyway, back to Robbie – I did a straight swap for him against a Seat Leon which I bought in May 05. Robbie was for sale at that time but I was worried about driving a LHD car as I’d never driven one before, so bought the Leon as I couldn’t afford a RHD TDi, and the petrol versions weren’t economical enough for my (then) commute from Bristol to Cardiff each day. However I couldn’t shake the need for a Beetle and in August some of my New Beetle friends urged me to go and take a test drive of a LHD Beetle to see how I got on. Steve and I set off to London to test drive a red TDi Beetle, a blue one and a yellow one. We decided to see the red one first – and of course I fell in love with Robbie and we convinced the garage to swap him for my Leon. The next Saturday we picked him up and the following day took him to a New Beetle meet which involved driving from Bristol to Weston Super Mare to take pictures of our Bugs on the beach. Back then he looked like this:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/f4ae3642.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/c48d6930.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/d1c08741.jpg

I had a picture in my head of what I wanted him to look like. The first step came in September when a set of stripes landed on my doorstep. Steve and I put them on one night at 10pm after coming back from a VW show.
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/Robbie/2b393b28.jpg

Next to come was some new 18in EMPI 5 replica alloy wheels, a lowering job, number plate and I sprayed his mirrors (ears) white:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/Robbie/d7ec5eb0.jpg

I took him round a track – which was great fun! Apparently I had him on 3 wheels at one point, hehe
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/Robbie/795ec853.jpg







that's what I've got so far....

[BarneyBug]

Luce thats an awesome letter, if it came through my door i'd have a visable smile and a little chuckle! people won't be able to help themselves but reply with details! i'd just ask them what you want to know now see what happens!

[Jampot]

I'd be inclined to be specific about what you actually want to know, so that you give them a framework for a reply (which will make it easier to start one). Presumably the people who imported him must have had a good reason for doing so, which makes me think they are more likely to reply than most.

Good luck - hope you get some replies :)

[Shamrockez]

Yeah at the end of the letter I'm gonna ask if they know why he was imported, what his old number plate was in America, if they have any pics, if they went to shows etc with him and if they modified him ever :)

[Pure]

give them your email address because there are people like me who are loathed to write real letters!!.... especially to vw nuts who are blatently off their rocker! haha

[Shamrockez]

Since then some friends came round and helped me and another friend with a Bug fit a V5 Sport front bumper.
http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b379/alison34/bumper%20day/nakedrobbie.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/Robbie/97212fe3.jpg


Currently he is wearing his ‘winter wheels’ which are his original wheels which I’ve painted white:
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a309/Shamrockez7/Meets/ac8b34a9-2.jpg


Current plans are to get his 18in wheels powder coated in white and to fit coilovers so I can get him a little bit lower!

Since I’ve had him he’s done 25,000 miles, been on for a ride on the RAC truck twice – once cos I filled him with petrol – what a numpty! And then because when I had his timing belt changed they didn’t put it back on right so it half came off – so neither were his fault. When I got him his air con didn’t work because the condenser was holed so I’ve had that and the radiator changed cos it didn’t have too much life left in it.

Anyway – that’s how he is now and what I’ve done to him. I love him to bits and he has a home for life with me as I couldn’t part with him after wanting him for so long – he can’t escape from me that easily!!!!


(still writing)

[BarneyBug]

if you're gonna send it in letter form to might be an idea to put stamped addressed envelopes in with it just incase they don't do email! more even more likely to reply then well that or send a white van round for you ;D :D ;D

[Shamrockez]

Current plans are to get his 18in wheels powder coated in white and to fit coilovers so I can get him a little bit lower!

Since I’ve had him he’s done 25,000 miles, been on for a ride on the RAC truck twice – once cos I filled him with petrol – what a numpty! And then because when I had his timing belt changed they didn’t put it back on right so it half came off – so neither were his fault. When I got him his air con didn’t work because the condenser was holed so I’ve had that and the radiator changed cos it didn’t have too much life left in it. But it was all worth it.

Anyway – that’s how he is now and what I’ve done to him. I love him to bits and he has a home for life with me as I couldn’t part with him after wanting him for so long – he can’t escape from me that easily!!!!

The reason I’m writing to you is that I’d like to know a bit more about his history. I have a file full of receipts for work done on him and parts, but none of them answer ‘why’. I'd really like to get in contact with his owner in America but I don't have the address so if you do, I'd love to be able to write to him. Why was he imported to the UK? I’d love to know what his American number plate was. Also do you have any pictures of him when you had him? Did you modify him at all? Did you take him to any VW events? How did he end up in London from Scotland? I assume he must have been to auction or something?


I hope that this letter reaches at least one of his previous owners as I realize that people may have moved house since they owned him. I’d really love to know more about him and I hope you’re happy that he’s got a loving home and that you like what I’ve done to him.


Many thanks for reading this letter, hopefully it made you smile.





Lucy Vaughan

















Finished - anything else you think i should add?


Good idea about the SAE - I'll do that :) I've also included my email, address and mobile number for a variety of ways they may like to contact me.

Hopefully someone will reply :)

[Vickie]

I think that's so cool luc!! I remember the feeling when I found out about Petal's history it was amazing - and that letter would def make me smile - good idea to put the pics in too! :D

[billybug]

LOL! Made me smile too! I'd reply to it if I received it :)

[Blue_Smoothie]

its a good letter, but maybe a little on the long side. :-?

[Shamrockez]

yeah there is a fair bit of waffle. dunno what to cut out tho.

[Vickie]

Leave it! I think it covers everyhting which is good - plus it's funny and you don't wanna lose that!

[virgobugs]

I done this with my karmann cab and found out so much history its unreal.
The first owner was an american goverment worker who bought it in germany while working out there. One of the from new options was "American Specification" he had later shipped it to the states.
It stayed with him until 1990 and covered just 60k when some one bought the cab and shipped it to the U.K.
Im still tracking two of the uk owners but its only covered 16k since 1990. Most of the History came from writing to the owner of the "Tag" who was the wife of the first owner above.. She is now 86 and still lives at the same address??

Anyway if you do the american thing include the words "family" alot and part off, they love all that ****!!

As for your letter, I would personally shorten it and only get out of it what you want to know!! If they want to know what its like now, they will ask??

Do it though ;)