The things you say bring a tear to my eye.

One bright spot in all this?  The very last Beetles to be produced will roll off the assembly line on a set of tires EXACTLY like the set we gave away at Bug-A-Paluza 5!  I saw someone post this on the shop talk forums and thought y'all would be interested (The original post is on Coker's web site):

COKER TIRE TO SUPPLY AUTHENTIC WHITEWALL RUBBER FOR "LAST EDITION" OF THE ORIGINAL VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

Company Plays Major Role in Final World Production of "Old Style" Classic VW Beetle Chattanooga, Tenn. (May 2003) ­ In January 2003, Coker Tire Company, the world's largest supplier of collector vehicle tires, was approached by a representative of the Volkswagen automobile factory in Puebla, Mexico (VWM), the only remaining factory in the world that produces the "old original style" VW Beetle. VWM is closing out the Beetle production at its plant in 2003 and producing a very special model to mark this final chapter in the long and storied history of the car lovingly known to enthusiasts as "The VW Bug."

The single most important feature of VWM's "Last Edition" VW Beetle designed with the general characteristics of the "old style" version of the car, is the inclusion of Coker's whitewall radial tires. VWM wanted tires with the right nostalgia look to complete the package, and Coker Tire offered the right answer an impressive selection of whitewalls including an appropriate option in the necessary 165R15 size.

As the exclusive worldwide distributor for BFGoodrich® Silvertown® Radial whitewalls, Coker Tire is supplying the new 165R15 tire with a 2 1/4 inch wide whitewall to VWM. Coker first made this whitewall radial available in 2002. An excellent option for the Last Edition Beetle, the BFGoodrich® Silvertown® Radial was designed especially for automobiles like the Beetle. Speed rating, load and endurance capacity, wet steering, exact dimensions and pricing are all within VWM's essential and stringent parameters.

"Volkswagen of Mexico initially requested a number of sample tires to use at an internal marketing demonstration and our tires apparently were an immediate hit," says Corky Coker, president of Chattanooga-based Coker Tire Company. "Following some rigorous performance, handling and braking tests, VWM approved the tire choice and we've begun supplying the official rubber for the last of the classic VW Beetles. It's a real honor for us to be involved with the final production of one of history's major automotive icons."

VW de Mexico expects to produce at least 3,000 "Last Edition" VW Beetles through the remainder of 2003, each equipped with BFGoodrich® 165R15 wide whitewall tires, supplied exclusively by Coker Tire.

BFGoodrich® 165R15s can also be ordered by VW aficionados in the USA through Coker Tire's Vintage Tire Hotline by calling 1-800-251-6336 Monday through Friday, 8 AM. - 7 PM (EST), or Saturday, 8 AM - Noon (EST) and on the web at www.coker.com. Coker's International sales department can be reached from outside the USA directly at (423) 648-8506.

Coker Tire Company, Inc. of Chattanooga, Tennessee is the world's largest supplier of collector vehicle tires, with distributors in more than 30 countries. The company offers vintage bias-ply and nostalgia-style radial tires for collector vehicles from the late 1890s through the mid 1970s, including products for hot rods, sprint and dirt-track race cars and motorcycles. Coker Tire was the first company to introduce a wide whitewall radial tire - the Coker Classic -for collector vehicles. Coker Tire also markets vintage-style wheels and rims, novelty bicycles and unicycles, as well as a variety of tire dressings and collectibles. For more information, to request a catalog or to place an order, call (800)-251-6336 or visit the Web site at www.coker.com.

I read today that the final "final edtion" Beetle will roll off of the assembly line at a ceromony on July 12, 2003.  I don't know how reliable that source was though . . . he said they had Goodyear wide whitewalls, but they are actually Coker Tire supplied B.F. Goodrich.

Here's another good story:

http://www.msnbc.com/news/933184.asp?0ql=c7p

There was an article in the Chattanooga paper yesterday. I believe it was in the business section, page 2.  

This was posted on vwvortex.com:
 
VW Beetle: Production of the "Ultima Edicion" Starts

Volkswagen announces the final version of the venerable air-cooled Beetle

July 10, 2003 | Source: Volkswagen AG & Volkswagen of America

With the start of production of the "Última Edición", Volkswagen de México in Puebla today marked the last phase of production of the legendary Beetle. The last Beetle will leave the factory on 30 July. Of course its 21st century namesake, the New Beetle and the New Beetle convertible continue to be built at the same factory and sold in the U.S., Europe and other parts of the world.

In the presence of Melquiades Morales Flores, Governor of Puebla, Rocío Ruiz, Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, and other representatives drawn from public life, Dr Jens Neumann, Member of the Management Board of Volkswagen AG and head of the Region North America, and Reinhard Jung, Chairman of the Volkswagen de México management board, gave the signal to start production of the “Última Edición”.

Neumann emphasised that, with the "Última Edición", the Beetle would be showing itself at its best and added: "True stars, and their fans, know when it’s time to quit." He went on to say that for many years, Volkswagen in Mexico, had been about more than just the Beetle. Since it was founded in 1964, VW de México had almost always been market leader in the passenger vehicle segment. Currently the Group is at the top of the table with a market share of some 28 percent across the three brands Volkswagen, Seat and Audi.  

Jung reminded those present that in March 1954, the first imported Beetle reached the shores of Mexico, prior to the start of production in an assembly plant near Mexico City in 1955. In total, he said, 1.7 million Beetles had been built in Mexico, of these, 100,000 vehicles had been for the export markets. Additional best sellers, such as the Golf, Jetta, New Beetle and New Beetle Cabrio, had contributed to a production total of 5.7 million vehicles, of which 2.6 million had been exported. He added that Volkswagen de México, with some 14,000 employees, was a major factor in the economic development of the country.




Edited By Zen on 1058161014

There was a special report on ABC News last night about the last one to roll off the line today.  They interviewed a club in California and asked how many VW's they had...4,4,3,20.  Kinda sounds like our group.  They had some nice cars.