Viewfinder: A Bug's Eye View

It was 1972 — gas was 36 cents per gallon, movie tickets sold for $1.75 and the Watergate scandal had just broken — when a Seminole Heights native and young Vietnam War veteran bought his first Volkswagen.

Almost 40 years after falling in love with a 1970 red VW Beetle, Larry Olsen now owns a private collection of 14 vintage Volkswagens and runs a full restoration and maintenance shop in Seminole Heights that deals only with old models of the German auto manufacturer.

“It’s a passion,” said the now 63-year-old mechanic. “Once you have one, it is hard to get it out of your blood.”

Adjacent to popular hangouts, such as Cappy's and The Independent, Olsen's harlequin garage is hard to miss when driving on North Florida Avenue. It once hosted the Covivant Gallery.

Behind the bars of its purple gate, more than a dozen VW bugs, "hippy vans" and other antique modles await to be restored, sold or simply admired.

“I take some of the junkiest looking cars and make them look brand new,” Olsen said.

Aficionados from all over the state bring their Volkswagens to the shop for restoration.

Although Olsen does more buying and keeping than he does selling, sometimes he vends a Punchbug or a Kombi after giving it a makeover.

At the moment, fully restored 1962, 1969 and 1970 VW Sedans are up for sale at his garage, ranging from $5,200 to $8,500.

Olsen hunts for Volkswagens at shows along the East Coast, but some just find their way to him. Indeed, he bought some of the mobiles in his collection from his customers after taking care of the vehicles for some time.

He does not have a favorite in his collection, which won him some 30 trophies over the years — the Bug Jam Show award being an example.

“I try to get the unusual,” he said, “each one is a rare model.”

Such as the black 1955 European Bug with semaphore turn signals and oval back window. Or the “all original” 1962 Karmann-Ghia, a cream colored  2-door coupe sports car with saddle tan interiors.

When he goes to the beach, Olsen likes to drive his white and blue 1973 Thing, designed after the WWII Kubelwagen. But after the 7 awards it received, he stopped taking it to shows.

“I got tired of winning all the trophies all the time,” he said with a proud smile.

Although his collection is not for sale or rental, Olsen likes to drive brides to the altar on their wedding day.

Just two months ago, he drove a friend of a friend to her wedding ceremony in Ybor City. The bride body glitter can still be found on the seats of the “Wedding Wagon,” a 1961 white and green 15-window Deluxe Bus. According to Olsen, a Minibus with 13 windows is common, while one with 15 windows is rare.

Among his collection are also a tan 1969 Type-3 Station Wagon, a pistachio 1975 Super Beetle convertible and a stylish silver 1967 Type-3 Fastback with red interiors and a sun roof.

Although Olsen collects and repairs only old models, he appreciates the new ones as well, he said.

In 1999, he travelled to Germany to attend a Volkswagen show and visit the manufacturing factory and museum. 

He plans to open in the near future a show room to display his collection together with a parts sales section in the back of his garage. Anybody will be able to walk in and take a pick.

Next, Olsen would like to add a 1949 Beetle Deluxe European model and a Karmann-Ghia convertible to his collection.

“And then I’ll stop ... maybe,” he said bursting in laughter.

A fan of Jimmy Buffet and the Eagles, when he is not busy fixing up old Volkswagens, Olsen enjoys exercising, playing the guitar and the drum and drinking a nice, fine glass of cabernet sauvignon.

He is also an enthusiastic traveler and he has been to Russia, Costa Rica, Italy, Guatemala, the former Yugoslavia, the Baltic, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Australia, Panama Canal, the Caribbean, New Zealand, Tasmania, Japan and Vietnam.

Countries he did not wander with his Volkswagens.