SANTA CRUZ — More than 200 vintage Volkswagens, from bugs to buses and beyond, descended on the Santa Cruz Wharf on a sunny Saturday for the second “Wharf Invasion” car show presented by the nonprofit VDUBlicious.
“We just wanted to bring the Nor-Cal Volkswagen community together,” said VDUBlicious President Chris Kremer. “With Volkswagens, community is what it’s all about. Everybody has a story about their Volkswagen so it’s cool to see everyone come out and to hear their stories.”
Kremer grew up around the unique vehicles and owns seven different vintage Volkswagens. He said the appeal of old Volkswagens is that each seems to have its own personality whether they’re stock, custom or lowered. He brought his rare 15-window VW bus to the “Wharf Invasion” Saturday.
“It came out of a field in Colorado where it had been sitting for like 25 years,” said Kremer. “It’s been through it.”
The second vintage Volkswagen invasion of the Wharf serves as a fundraiser for local nonprofits such as the Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County, The Tim Brauch Foundation and the Veteran Surf Alliance, which had tents set up in the midst of the show.
The “Wharf Invasion” vintage Volkswagen car show on the Santa Cruz Wharf featured Bugs of all varieties. (Aric Sleeper/Santa Cruz Sentinel)
“We like to put them center stage,” said Kremer. “They all get an award and they all get to choose their favorites.”
Alongside Kremer was VDUBlicious Vice President O.J. Macias who was stoked about the turnout of vintage Volkswagens and people at the event. Macias, who brought his blue 1964 Volkswagen Bug to the show, mentioned registration for the event filled up in less than a day.
“We are so grateful to the community for coming out,” said Macias. “We’re all like family.”
The Wharf was filled with conventional vintage “V-Dubs” and some rarities such as Kremer’s 15-window bus and Castro Valley resident Kurt Burton’s 1968 Volkswagen Double Cab Pick-up, which is one of fewer than 5,000 ever made. Although it looked pristine, the rare red vehicle was well-traveled, according to Burton.
“We have rebuilt just about every moving part in it,” said Burton. “I live in Castro Valley and I’ve driven it as far as Chico and Clovis. I took it down to San Clemente once. It’s a lot of fun.”
Burton said that it’s the uniqueness and weirdness of Volkswagens that draws people to them. He said that like the German-born vehicles, he too is weird and unique.
“I’ve been told that many times by many different people” said Burton. “And in many different ways.”
Local Volkswagen owner and artist Arturo Mendez of Domino Engraving and Designs had a table of Volkswagen-inspired art pieces on display next to his VW bus.
“I have been doing art all of my life in different ways and I love cars,” said Mendez. “I like all types of old cars but when it comes to Volkswagens, there’s a different vibe. And they’re not really reliable like newer cars but that’s part of the fun. It keeps your adrenaline flowing when you’re not sure if you’re going to make it to your destination or not. But with this community, if they see you on the side of the road, they’ll stop and help out. You don’t see that often.”
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Santa Cruz resident Bob Ferraro rode his bike to the Wharf Saturday to check out the wide array of vintage Volkswagens after reading about the event earlier this week in the Sentinel.
“I have owned four different Volkswagen variations,” said Ferraro. “And if you ask people of my generation, they’ve probably all owned one at one time. In the ’70s, there was the oil shortage so big cars weren’t very appealing and Volkswagens are easier to work on. It’s a commonality of a generation.”
Now celebrating its second show on the Santa Cruz Wharf, Kremer and Macias hope to keep the vintage Volkswagen invasion going next year and already have plans for a show in Capitola Village this spring.
“Next year, we’re taking over the Village,” said Macias. “That’s going to be another great one.”