Ludwig's Friends and Neighbors

Here are some VWs and other interesting cars we've seen around Missoula, so far. Later I'll post pictures of some cars from SoCal.

This is a mid-1960s VW bus--a "Splittie"; note the two-piece, or "split", windshield--in North Missoula. Truly a beautiful working example of the type. Those giant rearview mirrors are not stock.

This well-worn mid-70s Westy was parked at the house next door for a few days.

I have owned three of these cars so far in my life, the very underappreciated VW Type 3. Honestly, I think the Type 3 is a superior car to the Beetle in many ways, interior space being foremost. This one, with an unfortunate paint job (tough to see in this picture, but it is covered with a toothbrush-applied splattering of black and gray), was at the Missoula Skatepark opening a few months ago. The Idaho plates read, quite inappropriately, "DETHBOX".

Another Type 3 Squareback (viz., station wagon), parked at a restaurant near our house. The 1968 VW Type 3 was the first factory electronic fuel-injected car in the world. I once achieved nearly 40mpg in my 1970 Type 3 ("Anne"), making one wonder why cars that are nearly 40 years newer struggle to attain such good mileage.

This 1920s (?) Ford Model A was parked in front of the Missoula County Courthouse. Notice that it has regular Montana plates, indicating that this is someone's driving car, not a museum piece or parade-only car. Awesome.

A brutally butchered early bay window seen in the UM homecoming parade. Send in the clowns.

I think this is a Nash Metropolitan from the 1950s or 60s, with Wyoming plates. It is often parked on the block North of us.

This early bay was spotted in North Missoula, not far from the Splittie pictured above. Ah, the pains of being a drivable canvas.