Volkswagen enthusiast reacts to Beetle cancellation

The last Volkswagen Beetle rolled off the production line at a factory in Puebla, Mexico, on Wednesday.

The iconic cars have been around since 1938.

They were ingrained in pop culture in the 1960s as a symbol of the hippie movement. A Beetle named Herbie even was featured in the 1968 film “The Love Bug.”

Todd Penn from Saskatoon is the owner of Air Cooled Classics, a vintage auto shop. He said collectors won’t let the Beetle fade away.

“Time marches on for those people. The industry has continued to grow, (and) the obsession about keeping them on the road is even stronger today than it was in the past,” he said.

He thinks the fact that vintage Beetles are still being driven today shows how loyal their fans are.

“It’s the new Beetle that’s coming to an end; the old Bug was the classic car that everyone fell in love with. They’re still here. (It’s) hard to make them go away,” Penn said.

He said they’re cars that have a unique charm.

“It’s fun. It’s got a short wheelbase, you can roll down both windows and put your arms out both sides of the car. It’s just a car that makes you giggle,” he said. “It puts a smile on your face.”

The last Beetle will be displayed at a museum in Puebla.