"This story could be lengthy.  I hope it will keep your interest.  Actually my husband, Tim Hall has been involved with VW's for 25 years +. We have had many daily drivers over the years.  In our younger days we were in to off road riding.  We both had our own rail buggies. His was a one seater and mine a two seater. They had big motors and I could go where ever the guys lead me. My buggy was awesome. I do miss those days.  But life does change as we age.

    Now Tim is mainly collecting vintage cars.  It all began with a purchase of four vintage cars at once. I have attached a pix of them when we got them home. Tim knew of these cars for 20 years before he had an opportunity to purchase them. He got these (4) cars and (8) truck loads of NOS parts. I said that he won the "Volkswagen Lottery". Our friend Larry called it the "Mother Lode". No matter what we called it, it was the talk of the VW world around here. People were calling and dropping by just to see what all Tim got. 

    The green car is a 1951, Red is 1952 Zwitter and the Carmel & Creme is 1955. The 1955 is the first one he completed because it was in the best shape of these (4). It was a one owner. It is mine, then he completed the 1952.  These cars are restored to original but the 1951 is a different story. This one is the "fun" car. It has his dune buggy motor in it. He had sold everything to do with off roading, except the motor.  It is a 2165.

       He has many other in line to be completed.  The last of the "Mother Lode" collection is a 1947.  It started out in pretty bad shape. It would not be worth restoring if it were not his oldest car.  It is in progress, but it is about 75% complete. He also has a 1959 Karmann Ghia, it is at a body shop and has been there for a long time. Our friend that is working on it, he just works on it between customer's work.

Here is a list of all the cars he has right now. The ones that are not restored are in line to be. It may take him the rest of his life. But that is his plan. These are the collection cars, and they are not for sale.
1947 
1951 The Surf Board car.
1952 Zwitter the red one.
1953 Zwitter
1954
1955 Slide sunroof
1955 this is the Carmel & Creme one.
1956 Slide sunroof
1957 Slide sunroof
1959 Low light Ghia"

This car is owned by Neil Baker of Keresley,
Coventry, West Midlands, England
Note that on this VW the parking lights (indicator bulbs) are inside the headlight assembly, not on top of the fenders.
Neil doesn't know if the car was manufactured this way or if they were changed at  a later date.

Since I had only 1 car then till year 2001 my Beetle worked exceptionally 
hard. It has been to Thailand, Singapore and even by boat to Sarawak 
and in Kuching (the state capital) where I worked for 4 years in the 1980's. 
 It has been through the worst of roads. 
 Now its quite old and tired...but I try to look for parts and repair when 
I am able.  It is more than a car. 

Click on this image for a larger view in a new window

He had the following to say about his car

Is a five generation VW. There would not be a great notice talking about a VW beetle. I think thousands of VW around the world are a five generation vehicle.
The difference is that mine is five generation in the same family.
In 1978 my Father in Law bought it. Is a mexican standard 1600 model.
He used it a few months, and then gave it to his father in law.
That man (my grandfather in law) used "my" VW 
until he died 5 years later.
After that, my wife's brother bought the VW to his father.
He used it until 1989. In that year my brother in law sold it to my Father.