Anyway, to return to the original topic for a second... (sorry)
There are some people who certainly do look down on the Beetle because of it's origins, top gear for example. Also, I remember seeing a Robbie Coltrain program once where he was in the states looking through a scrap yard of old cars - he pointed at the Beetle and then spat on the ground... :rofl: But it seems to be individuals rather than everyone, you can tell that by the many positive comments people have got at classic car shows.
My father-in-law is very much into British things, I remember being slightly aprehensive about his reaction the first time I showed him around my car - it was a very pleasant surprise then when he told me that he used to have a couple of old Beetles with the small back window with a bar down the middle.. :rofl: Turns out he was in the REME :thumbup:
It's one of the reasons I love to see the REME getting involved for the Ivan Hirst show, educating people in the importance of the British in the cars survival.
There aren't many 1945-1948 Beetles around, but what about finding a later CKD Beetle made in Ireland - wouldn't that count?
Rob Amos
Happiness is a stock VW