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Shorty with a Tall History - Owner: Robert Basil
Every air-cooled Volkswagen has a story, but some are written in more
than one font. For the current owner of this unique "Shorty"
Beetle, the journey into the VW world began just after leaving the Army.
It was a 1972 Type 14 Karmann Ghia that first sparked the passion, though
the climate of Northern Idaho proved to be a difficult match for a rear-wheel-drive
classic.
"I became interested in VW's when I purchased my first VW which was a 1972 Type 14 Karmann Ghia after getting out of the Army," Robert recalls. "Unfortunately I owned it while living on Northern Idaho and it was not a practical 'only car' for the snowy mountain roads so I had to sell it." While the Ghia moved on, the memories remained. Like many of us, those early years were defined by the simple joy of the road and the siblings we shared it with. "I loved playing Slug Bug with my brother because I could hit him and not get into trouble by my mom."
Finding the right car often requires a bit of digital scouting and a lot of help from friends. While looking for a classic Austin Mini shorty, a lead appeared on Facebook Marketplace. The car was located in Port Orchard, Washington, a long way from the owner's home base in the Phoenix area. "As soon as I saw the photos I knew I had to have it." The car itself is a marvel of garage surgery performed decades ago. "I bought it from the original builder. He built it with his son around 1991 from a 1959 (Dash forward) and a 1968 (Everything back from the dash). Both donor cars were wrecked before the surgery." After the builder's son grew up, the car was sold to help fund a grandson's college education, passing the legacy to a new garage.
Since arriving in Arizona, the Shorty has already seen its first set
of modifications. The stock blade bumpers were swapped out for classic
T-Bars to lean into that custom look. However, the real work involves
preparing a vintage machine for the harsh desert environment. "I'd
like to add an oil cooler and maybe a temp gauge (without cutting the
dash of course). It gets hot in the summer here in Phoenix and I plan
on driving it year round." Comfort is also on the list, as Basil
plans to swap the current bench seat for more supportive buckets and find
a new set of wheels to round out the stance.
Owning a vintage VW isn't about setting land speed records; it is about the experience of the drive and the community that keeps these cars on the road. This Shorty represents a second chance to dive into a hobby where technology takes a back seat to mechanical simplicity. "I've always enjoyed small low HP classic cars and I've owned quite a few. They remind you that you don't need to go fast, have a bunch of tech or have a lot of power to have fun with a vehicle. I love that it is easy to work on and with a willingness to learn (and listen) to the wealth of knowledge in the VW community you can do anything needed in your small two car garage."
While everything is for sale for the right price, this Beetle is currently
a keeper. The only thing that could tempt a sale would be the opportunity
to fund a Type 1 T1 us. For now, the plan is simple: attend the first
of many local cruises and enjoy the unique character of a car that is
literally two Volkswagens in one.
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