...VW Beetles in Cape Town?

Retro, yet practical car hire is quite the novelty in the Mother City

The Beetle is an economy car, first produced by German auto maker, Volkswagen, in 1938. Despite the fact that production stopped in 1979, there are still quite a few left on Cape Town’s Roads and the car remains one of South Africa’s best loved cars.

The Beetle is, in fact, the longest running and most produced automobile of a single design and has pioneered the modern, continental car. In a 1999 international poll for the World’s most influential car, the Beetle came in at an impressive fourth place and has even made an appearance in iconic movies including, Disney’s Herbie Movies, from 1968-1980.

We spoke to Deon Goosen, owner of Fun Car Hire and advocate for the Beetle, to find out why this car has stood the test of time.

A car with unique character

Deon started Fun Car Hire 7 years ago and has since grown an original fleet of 2 Beetles, to some 15 models. Deon’s models range from 1962-1972 and Beetle’s from this particular era are widely considered vintage and beautiful. The Beetle has unbeatable character on the road – the fleet are not always in tip top condition, due to Cape Town’s weather, but a little wear shows their age and gives them a retro, charismatic look. Modifying and maintaining his fleet of vehicles is an ongoing project that Deon is clearly very passionate about. Nicknamed the ‘Kewer’ (which literally means ‘ladybug’ in Afrikaans), this car boasts a mechanical design that has graced our roads for some 70 years, with very little changes.

Casual city drives, beach cruises and iconic photo shoots

What makes the Beetle so special is that, despite it’s age and retro feel, the car can still be used in a practical way. It’s a well known car that is often scarce in other countries, so many foreigners like to hire the car when visiting Cape Town, for casual city drives. The Beetle is synonymous with surfing culture as it affords a roof rack and plenty of luggage space in front facing luggage compartments. Because of it’s iconic range of colours and unique cosmetic makeup, the Beetle is often hired by models, stylists and production companies. It’s the perfect car for interns, students and contract workers who do not want to commit to purchasing a car, but want to hire a short-term, reliable vehicle.

Beetles to suit all tastes

Fun Car not only offers a rainbow of Beetles to match every mood, but the cars can be used for every practical situation, when visiting Cape Town. There are two Cabrio Beetles within Fun Car’s fleet, which Deon has modified to sport an open top, with a roof that is easy to put up and down. It’s a lovely city car for those who like to take it easy and take in the city views. The cars sport Boxer engines (the same engine used in the Porsche, hence it’s nickname: ‘The mini-Porsche’), located at the rear, so there is plenty of room for luggage in the front of the car.

Deon’s personal favourite is the 1976 Baby Blue Beetle, which is in perfect mechanical and cosmetic condition. Deon likens this car to ‘driving a brand new car’ and it’s very popular amongst visiting models, stylists and photographers. This stunning car is regularly hired out to modeling agencies and production companies for photo shoots.

The SB1600 was last produced in South Africa on a very limited scale and Deon is the proud owner of one of 2,000 ever produced. More powerful than the Cabrio Beetle, this yellow, sporty version of the Beetle is perfect for a scenic drive along Chapman’s Peak. It features twin corroborators, a rev counter and comfortable, sporty seats.

Fancy driving the Mazda 323 or the Citi Golf? Check out our feature on Fun Car Hire, for more information and rates.

By Lisa Nevitt