My greatest love of all is an old, boxy lump of metal with a weezy little 1600cc motor. It screams early 1970’s middle class suburbia family wagon. I’ve seen molasses in winter move faster. It has a face only I could love and yet I lust after one, each and every day. This one here is a prime example of why.

While I’m allowed to look at her when I visit, my specific Eleanor (read 1970 Volkswagen Type 3 Variant aka Squareback) will never truly come into my hands short of a miracle. This little beauty is owned by co-VW enthusiast and friend, Ron Mann.  I have been assured he is not giving her up in this lifetime and I can’t say I blame him. Talk about a barn find!  She was parked in a garage in Colorado with around 9,000 miles on the odometer some 20 odd years ago.  Since Ron acquired her in 1999 he’s put a few miles on her, the current odometer reading is 19,570 and 7/10 miles. Still not too shabby for a 40 year old car.

Aside from a little touch up on the body, Ron didn’t have to do much at all to get her road worthy and show ready. No dents, no major dings, no fuzzed up carpet or cracked vinyl. Even her little pancake motor is in near perfect condition and starts up without a hitch every time.  Her mirrors and chrome are shiny and her dash is showroom clean. She’s about as perfect as they come; the reams of awards that hang on the shop wall prove I’m not the only one who feels this way.

I know I’ll never own this gem.  So alas I search the great sea of used Type 3’s trying to find one that speaks to me, begging me to buy her, take her home and make her my own.