Funkengroovin Wednesday- 21 Days Till Christmas

Have you done your Christmas shopping yet? Looking for that special gift, for that special person, like say, Vagabondblogger? Well, look no more. Here are a few places where you can find that perfect gift for your Funkengroovin love.

Below: Pink Bug ornament from Pier 1. VB found this at the store, but could not locate on the Pier 1 Internet site.



Perhaps you would like this "eclectic treasure," from goantigues.com." Place your bid anywhere from $2,750.00-$4,000.00 (replacement value $9,569.00.)



goantiques.com also has model cars, ads, and an assortment of miscellanea for the VW lover. VB personally likes the ad below, available for $7.00. It's different.




Or, also from goantigues, VB's favorite -  (Love that skirt!)



More ornaments, Christmas items, gifts and cards here;

TheSamba.com
Has Bug ornaments, VW Christmas cards, and an assortment of vintage gifts.

ebay has ornaments and accessories galore.

Automania Specialties.com has Christmas Cards for a variety of car models, including VW Bugs and one for a Bus.

From autoblog: eBay Find of the Day: VW Toaster Van


THE NEWS (covering what VB omitted last week.)

VW minibus an enduring classic with a feel for real surfer culture

In a 40-year-old split-screen VW minibus, anything over the 55mph limit is a terrifying mix of adrenalin, absent brakes and meandering steering. For six decades the VW minibus has been the machine of choice for California surfers, globe-trotting Australians, rock’n’roll stars such as The Who’s Pete Townshend, and TV chef Jamie Oliver. This year it celebrates its 60th birthday.

2009 Volkswagen Minivan - Auto Shows

A new Volkswagen minivan, to be unveiled for the first time in February at the 2008 Chicago auto show, will be VW’s second-largest-volume vehicle in the U.S., says Stefan Jacoby, CEO of Volkswagen of America.

The VW minivan is based on the fifth generation of Chrysler minivans, the 2008 Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan, which are on a platform known as RT. The deal between VW and the former DaimlerChrysler was reached two years ago, when VW had Chrysler alumni Wolfgang Bernhard in its executive suite. Since then, DC broke apart and Bernhard left VW, but work on the VW minivan continued.

Get the tissues out for Hidden wallet uncovers sad story:

Guys who love old cars love knowing the provenance of the vehicle as much as the specs. A clue to the van's back story was hidden under a back seat, revealed during prep work for reupholstering.

There, among dust, rust and candy wrappers, was a wallet. There wasn't much inside, no money, just some pictures of a girl, some military ID papers and a Nevada driver's license with a profile picture of a blue-eyed man too young to have the full-face photo. His name was Michael Reid.

From autoblog: Essen 2007: Phantoms inhabit VW

Artist William Burge has found a way to artfully reattach all of the little pieces that have fallen off his 1968 Volkswagen Beetle.

Tweety to Auction VW Bug to benefit JFC

Tweety Fine Jewelry, the brand which bills itself as a provider of "fine jewelry for hot chicks" and takes its identity from the Looney Tunes cartoon character, is auctioning off a one-of-a-kind VW Bug, appropriately bejeweled and with Tweety-yellow flare, to benefit Jewelers for Children. The custom built car with blue and white leather interior and sparkling details is valued at more than $60,000.

The Tweety VW Bug auction is being held online and can be accessed at www.TweetyFineJewelry.com. The auction closes on Feb. 15, 2008, at 12:01a.m.

Classic Cars: Volkswagen Karmann Ghia

By contrast, few VW fans ever considered the Karmann Ghia to be a sports car, but, as a tourer, it had few peers. The Ghia coachwork was some of the purest of the decade; it also offered comfort for two and the reliability of the Beetle. During its 18-year production run, nearly half a million buyers considered these to be more important attributes than out-and-out performance.

Volkswagen drivers wanted

Nothing highlighted the hippie nature of the occasion more brightly than a restored Kombi/Transporter Type 2 van, body-painted with the very livery of Fillmore, the environment-friendly character in Cars. There was a Country Buggy, or Sakbayan, in nearly mint condition. About three car lengths from it sat a Type 181 wagon, more popularly known worldwide as the Thing. Of course, there were the countless Beetles and a handful of Karmann Ghias and Brasilias. To say that Filipinos have a sentimental love affair with the Volkswagen brand is to point out the obvious.

Elderly Beetle puts Porsche to shame

DRIVING a 42-year-old Volkswagen Beetle, Bournemouth's Martin Greaves beat all on the drag strip at Santa Pod.

Alaska trio tries rugged Baja race

Alaskans Patric, Kolt and Kash Bell participated in the 40th running of the Tecate Score Baja 1,000 -- some 32 years after their father Pat Bell did the race in 1975, driving a stock Volkswagen Beetle.

The race from Ensenada, Mexico, to Cabo San Lucas crosses mountains, desert and beachfront. Some competitors drive stock VW Beetles, others race $2 million trucks.

Before a bum clutch forced the Alaskans to scratch, they traveled 147 miles.

The Baja 1,000 is expected be aired on NBC in late December. The Bells hope to race the Best In The Desert race series next year.

A tribute to the humble Volkswagen

Or if I was alone, I would just park it on a hill. Those were the days. But in the snow, until front-wheel drive came along, nothing could beat a VW. There is an old TV commercial I’ll never forget. It’s dark and snowing a blizzard. All you see are headlights moving through the pouring snow. After a bit a voice says, “Ever wonder how the guy who runs the snowplow gets to the snowplow?” Then the camera pulls back and shows a lone VW Beetle tooling along in the blizzard.

Volkswagon Type 2

Lately we have reviewed some of the worlds most expensive super cars, The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 and the Lamborghini Reventon to be precise. This week we will have a look at something more affordable, the Volkswagen Type 2 which is generally referred to as the "Transporter". The phrase "Volks wagen" which is German for people carrier was the name given to the company who are the forerunners for today's people carriers.

It's been a little difficult for VB to concentrate on the blog while training the new pup, Lotus, and trying to Christmas shop, and all that other stuff that goes along with the holiday. So, here's one of The Boss Man's favorite songs. Quite appropriate, except VB doesn't really have anyone to talk to right now, except for Lotus, who isn't exactly always in listening mode (a major problem with these independent minded Springer Spaniels.)

Mose Allison - Your Mind's On Vacation

Note: There have been problems with Blogger's photos, so VB's last post is messed up. VB will try to reload the photos for easier viewing in a few days.