Did anyone from TEXAS own my Beetle? Mr Smithwick?

[Shamrockez]

Hi guys - I own a TDi Beetle who was imported to the UK from Texas! He was registered on the 31/12/1998 so I assume he was picked up by his first owner some time around then. According to the vast history I have on him, his first owner was Mr Smithwick.
This is what he looked like when I got him in 2005:






The next bill I have is Jan 99 for a 5000 mile service, then it jumps to Jan 2000 for new headlights (RHD ones I assume) in Scotland UK, belonging to Mr Shepherd.


I'd just like to know a little more history about my Robbie - why was he imported? What did he look like when he was new? What was his number plate when he was in America?

Thanks for listening

*Lucy*

[Lnzbug]

I like that his adoptive mom is looking for his birth parents. Have you done any mods? Lets see recent pics if you have, heck, even if you haven't

[Shamrockez]

hehe yes I'd love to find out more about him

Yeah I've done loads of mods doesn't look like the same car lol - this is his spec list:
Mods:

Style:- Retro

Engine:-
* 1.9 TDi American Spec.
* 90 bhp
* Colour coded engine cover
* Aftermarket sump for ground clearance


Performance:-
*Standard


Suspension:-
* Lowered 5omm on the front and 45mm on the back with H&R Springs


Bodywork:-
* EMPI style stripes
* V5 Sport front bumper
* MS Design twin spoilers
* Colour coded calipers
* Painted mirrors and wiper arms (white)
* Red and clear rear light units imported from States
* Chrome indicator bulbs front and rear



Interior:-
*Custom made grab handle cover and gear bag
* Silver gear ball with VW logo
* Colour coded Speedo surround
* Colour coded grab handle ends
* Colour coded steering wheel spokes with white stripes
* Lighted Bud Vase (blue)



Wheels & Tyres:-
* EMPI 5 replica 18in alloy wheels with 225/40/18 tyres

I.C.E:-
* UK Spec radio cassette player and Sony 8 disk CD changer in boot.






Even done a bit of racing:


Currently got his winter wheels on tho so he looks like this:

[Lnzbug]

Doooood I've ogled your car before I just didn't look at the posters name I like the white wheels with the white stripes on a red car

[marvins_dad]

No one I know...
BTW - is it a 98?
I'm trying to figure out why a car bought in '98 looks like a '99 because of the sidemarkers...maybe the later '98's had side markers.

Also, he looks really hawt now!

[Lnzbug]

It was registered 12/31/98. I say there's a good chance it's a 99 in 98's clothing

[Shamrockez]

He was built in 10/98 so is a 99 model year

[Shamrockez]

Originally Posted by Lnzbug

Doooood I've ogled your car before I just didn't look at the posters name I like the white wheels with the white stripes on a red car

hehe thanks - I'm getting the 18in wheels powercoated white soon and come coilovers are on the way to get him a little lower

[Shamrockez]

Ok I've written a letter to his previous owners in the UK to find out stuff from them and to see if they knew his owner in Texas:

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:







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.


Next to come was some new 18in EMPI 5 replica alloy wheels, a lowering job, number plate and I sprayed his mirrors (ears) white:


I took him round a track – which was great fun! Apparently I had him on 3 wheels at one point, hehe


Since then some friends came round and helped me and another friend with a Bug fit a V5 Sport front bumper.





Currently he is wearing his ‘winter wheels’ which are his original wheels which I’ve painted white:



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!!!!

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

[niki]

You're too cute! You're really trying very hard to know everything about your Beetle! Much luck to you.

BTW, Robbie looks INCREDIBLE!!!!! I love that you've powder coated the wheels and added the Sport front bumper! That looks great! And the white mirrors are very unique looking and very cool! I'd love to see some interior shots!

I'm not sure, but if you do some investigating (which you seem prepared to do!) you may be able to find out his American plate number by the VIN number. There are a lot of shady websites out there that will tell you things like that.

More photos please!!!

[Shamrockez]

Thanks for the kind words, glad you like him

I don't seem to have many pics of the interior - here's the ones I have:






What are these shady websites then? I wouldn't have a clue where to start with ones on your side of the pond!

[niki]

Your interior looks great! I like the custom grab bar handle! Your stripes look good too! What is that little red light you've installed there in the extra "button" by the hazard light?

As far as the shady websites, I don't know of any off hand, but I'm sure they exist. Do some Google-ing and I'm sure you'll stumble across something soon.

[Shamrockez]

It's the warning light to say the rear fog light is on - I think it was added when he was imported.

I love my grab handle - one of the best mods I've done I think

[callisto9]

wow! amazing beetle! i really like the white/red theme. looks really good. and i've also never seen white wheels like that. looks awesome. i love that you're trying to trace it's history. i wonder how a texas beetle ended up in the UK. weird.

[Shamrockez]

From his history i can tell he came over to the UK in early 2000. TDi Beetles didn't come out here till 2002 so the only way to get a TDi was to import it.

[squeebug]

I did a white pages search and 102 Smithwicks came up.

whitepages for smithwick

Good luck finding your buggies birth parents. If only bugs could talk

[Shamrockez]

Wow that's a lot! Hopefully one of his last owners will know -or at least know his first name!

[Breez]

Originally Posted by Lnzbug

I like that his adoptive mom is looking for his birth parents. Have you done any mods? Lets see recent pics if you have, heck, even if you haven't

I have TRIED to find BBs first mom like crazy with no luck.

I have what "might" be her address, so I think I might snail mail her something. I just want to let her know that I BB and that she is well taken care of