We picked up our newly revamped 1974 VW Westfalia last night and I couldn’t be more astounded by the changes. The color I chose is perfect, and our company logo magnets are going to set it off perfectly.
We still have a lot of things to do before it’s complete: New tires, front end alignment, new seats, new interior, new pop-up tent, check fuel lines, some electrical work, insurance, updated plates, etc. but it is all minor stuff compared to what we’ve already been through with this baby.
Check this shiz out. Try not to be too jealous, Loca Lisa…we’ll take you for a ride. I need suggestions for names for this beauty. M. thinks it’s a boy and while usually I think cars should be women, I think in this case he might be right. What do you think?
I spy with my little eye a kickass combi! And in a mechanic’s shop that will probably horrify my US American friends and family, woohoo!
I couldn’t wait for them to put the hubcaps on before I started snapping pics.
Eventually we will have a spare tire on the front.
Lovely from any angle
I was too nervous to drive it, so M. drove (our friends Sara and Steve came along for the ride) while I followed closely behind him like a grandma (no brake lights right now, so I was skeered of someone else hitting our baby).
We had only gone two blocks…
When the owner of THIS Westfalia…
…excitedly came running up to the van to gush over its beauty and to talk about how we should all get together and talk about Westies. This guy just drove to town from DF and is living in the van while he decides whether or not he wants to stay in Playa. We’re part of a hippie club now.
Ol’ Blue gets his first sip of gasoline in a long time.
I wore a peasant blouse in honor of the occasion, and made a peace sign once we got him safely home.
Saskatchewan Plates?? What’s that about?
By: karenj on September 23, 2008
at 12:04 pm
The van originally came to the area from there. It does have Mexican plates but they are expired, so we are going to fix all that this week. In the meantime, the mechanics just put the old plates back on.
By: heatherinparadise on September 23, 2008
at 12:07 pm
My first thought was “She’s a beauty!!”
I like the name Bette Blue. But Skylar Blue jumped to mind too…
I sooo wanna ride in that thing!!
By: Vanessa on September 23, 2008
at 12:09 pm
Oh and that last picture of you brought to mind that Soho song “Hippy Chick”.
By: Vanessa on September 23, 2008
at 12:13 pm
Very cool!!!!!!!!
By: karenj on September 23, 2008
at 12:20 pm
hey – before you wrote it i was thinkin’ “ole boy blue baby” or “ob cubed.”
By: Herb on September 23, 2008
at 12:35 pm
LOVE IT! And the first thing I thought was that LisaLoveLoca was going to drool with envy.
Name? Errrr, Cheech? Chong? Peace, Love and Understanding? CoolAzul? Paz y Amor? Pancho?
By: CancunCanuck on September 23, 2008
at 12:50 pm
She’s a beauty (sorry M, but the she just came naturally)… what about Pitufina? or Pitufo? I like ol’blue as well actually…
I’m a sooooo for a Westie fan club!!
Fned.
And by the way, I made a mistake yesterday, my bro’s van’s name is Woodstock (Snoopy’s yellow companion — NOT Tweety Bird! Jeez, Lewes would kill me if he knew I got that wrong! LOL)
By: Fned on September 23, 2008
at 1:07 pm
She’s beautiful!! I also think cars and especially ones that you can live in are female.
I’ll have to dig around in our Tortuga for a camping gift for her. What fun it will be to do the inside and then… your first trip!! Cool! Maybe we can caravan somewhere, Tortuga and Azulita
By: Jonna on September 23, 2008
at 1:35 pm
It looks amazing! I was honored to be included in the maiden voyage, and oh yea, you are so NOT a hippie!!!!
By: Sara on September 23, 2008
at 1:38 pm
This rocks – How cool does it look. These photos make me smile and reflect…. No Hippie just fun and Jimmy Buffett retro”ish”..
By: Cathy - wheresmydamnanswer on September 23, 2008
at 1:58 pm
hippy.
I can almost smell the patchouli…
By: trucker on September 23, 2008
at 1:58 pm
Oh…Jonna! I love the name Azulita!! It’s beautiful and perfect for Heather’s baby!!
By: Vanessa on September 23, 2008
at 2:07 pm
I like the name Chris.
By: James A. on September 23, 2008
at 2:20 pm
Can we call it the Frijolero? Sweet ride, party at the moon tower!
By: bufante on September 23, 2008
at 2:21 pm
Beautiful!! I like the name SKYY BLUE – after vodka… or you could name her Mary Jane!!!
By: Barbara on September 23, 2008
at 2:25 pm
Azulita gets my vote! Peace out.
By: rasa on September 23, 2008
at 3:18 pm
I’m with azulita, too. How about a road trip visiting all of your blogger buddies?
By: Nancy on September 23, 2008
at 4:27 pm
I LOVE it. I used to date a guy many moons ago who had an orange one that looked similar to the make-over version. We lived in San Clemente, CA then and everyone used to stare as we drove by. VERY fun.
By: Kristy - Where's My Damn Answer on September 23, 2008
at 5:24 pm
I can just here a Mama Mia CD blasting out ~~ ok…..maybe its just me
By: Shelli on September 23, 2008
at 5:46 pm
I LOVE IT!!!!
How about the name “VEGA” cause I totally see a vegan hippie driving that thing!!! Its kinda a masculine name, no?
By: Amy on September 23, 2008
at 6:07 pm
Hippie.
By: Jerry on September 23, 2008
at 6:09 pm
You are SUCH a hippie! It looks great!!
By: Becky on September 23, 2008
at 6:16 pm
I love all the names, people…keep them coming! I suppose I will HAVE to let M. have a say in it, though I do NOT like the names he’s come up with. Maybe I’ll do a poll, now how did I do that last one again??
BTW, no patchouli-wearing people will ever be allowed in my van. EVAH!
Jerry Seinfeld whimpering voice, “But I don’t wanna be a hippie!”
By: heatherinparadise on September 23, 2008
at 6:48 pm
Hiya Heather….Boy did they do a great job , and I think a car that looks like a rolling freezer should have a male name too…. , and given the local and if you have a lead foot…. how about.. JUAN BLUE BAYOU
By: barry on September 23, 2008
at 7:24 pm
Gorgeous! What a difference. Can’t wait to see her in person. Blanking out on names though.
By: islagringo on September 23, 2008
at 9:06 pm
Wow what a change. That’s great.
I like “Big Blue”. I know boring and all that but when I looked at it it spoke to me and thats what it said.
By: Elizabeth on September 24, 2008
at 12:06 am
Heather, you are so not a hippie or you would have immediately thought of Stella Blue – a song by the Grateful Dead.
Nice ride!
By: Inez on September 24, 2008
at 7:05 am
Wow! Extreme van makeover!!! I think you should call him Frankie after old blue eyes but do you have a dog named Frankie? I can’t remember.
By: Nan on September 24, 2008
at 8:20 am
Oh, I just thought of another. How about Babe as in Babe the Blue Ox?
By: Nan on September 24, 2008
at 8:21 am
I love Azulita!!! Maggie(Rissask) would be so proud it came from Saskatchewan. You are hippish with a really cool modern twist thrown in. I like that!!!!
By: Jackie on September 24, 2008
at 10:24 am
Ooooo!! She’s absolutely lovely!! Just think of the adventures ahead!!
By: Michele on September 24, 2008
at 11:46 am
I am too young to have been a hippie so Heather you don’t have a chance! I was a mere 11 during the summer of Love (that’s 1966 to the rest of you). I actually gasped out loud when I saw the work done on her!
It would be worth our while to drive to Playa to have our car restored by this guy! We need paint and body work and are leary,
You are going to have so much fun!!!
regards,
Theresa
By: Theresa in Mérida on September 24, 2008
at 11:48 am
here’s another one,,, Since “he” is no Spring Chicken in Car years…SENOR KABLUIE…
By: barry on September 24, 2008
at 1:22 pm
Love it, and I especially love the colour. You guys will have so many good times with “Bluebird”.
By: Darla on September 24, 2008
at 2:07 pm
ohhhh, these suggestions are so good. This will be tough.
By: heatherinparadise on September 24, 2008
at 4:24 pm
Theresa, I can get his contact info for you. He really was fantastic and gave us all receipts for the parts, etc.
By: heatherinparadise on September 24, 2008
at 4:25 pm
I think the lines are more boy than girl. How about True Blue?
By: John on September 24, 2008
at 7:46 pm
I agree, it’s more male than female. I like Toby. Or Tobias. Or Peri-winkle (kidding). If you go with a female name it’s gotta be Stalla Blue…sorry but I am a deadhead…
By: RiverGirl on September 24, 2008
at 10:06 pm
How bout AZUL-MOBILE .. what a GREAT makeover.
By: KW from Michigan on September 26, 2008
at 6:20 am
Dulce Azul? Does that mean Sweet Blue? Looks great!
By: Trixie on September 26, 2008
at 9:26 am
omg – how awesome.
Just love it
By: Tappy on September 28, 2008
at 12:36 am
OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG I’m dying OMGOMG OMGOMG OMG!!!!!! I totally heart the color! That’s the color I was dreaming of! I’m totally drooling over here!!! OMG! I’m so glad you’re not standing next to me right now- for as much as I love you I might scratch your eyes out with jealousy! I say that with fondness and admiration, you know!
OMG!! I can’t wait to see it! oooooooo I’ll let you drive Carmen Carr if you let me hotbox yer ride! LOL!!
By: lisaloveloca on September 30, 2008
at 4:26 pm
oh, i’m jealous! its awesome!! you need to have a christening party once you get er all fixed up! and if there is hotboxing involved, i am begging to be invited. when i was small i used to dream of living hippie/surfer style in cali . . . that’s changed a little bit, but i’m not complaining! congrats on the new awsomeness that is your vehicle! it will look greeeeat (as tony the tiger says) once you get the curtains! have you considered some dangly fringe to hang in the front window . . . tee hee! and maybe a peace sticker somewhere . . .
By: wonderguera on September 30, 2008
at 10:28 pm