These days, an antique VW bus is considered a collectible car, especially if the vehicle has an interesting history. And “interesting” only begins to describe the history of one newly-discovered Volkswagen.
(Photo Credit: US Customs Service.)
Produced in 1965, the van was stolen from a Spokane, Washington auto repair shop in 1974. For 35 years, no one heard anything about the missing VW. Then this year, the van was discovered in a shipping container scheduled to travel from Los Angeles to Germany.
On October 19, customs officials were performing a routine inspection of the cargo, which contained several Volkswagen automobiles. When they ran the vehicle identification number of the VW bus, it was still tagged as stolen.
Customs spokesman Jaime Ruiz was as surprised as anyone by the news.
“Pretty amazing, isn’t it?” he said in an LA Times article.
An Arizona restorer was shipping the van to European customers, but police say the restorer was a victim himself and is not connected to the 1974 theft.
When the vehicle was reported stolen in 1974, the owner was lucky to have good auto insurance. When Allstate settled the claim, they paid her $2,500, the value of the vehicle at that time.
Now in fully restored condition, the van is worth $25,000. After the claim is paid, the van officially belongs to the insurance company, Allstate. There is no word on where Allstate will be store the classic car or what they plan to do with it.
Fortunately, you don’t have to stumble upon a stolen VW van in order to drive a car that’s fun. Exotic car rental and exotic car sharing clubs give the automotively inclined the chance to drive the cars of their dreams for a day or a weekend.
Exotic car rental give car enthusiasts the chance to drive classic vehicles like a 1959 VW Beetle or a 1971 VW Karmann Ghia, both perfect for special events or just having a good time. Cars like this are also available to members of exotic car clubs.
Mike Maleta, a California Highway Patrol inspector, plans to research the history of the stolen VW bus.
“I’m going to try my best to find the crook,” he said.
Kate Miller-Wilson is a professional freelance writer specializing in cars, crafts, and genealogy. She recently wrote content for a Saginaw Auto Insurance quote website.