Board Logo

VW collection lost in bushfire
BenettonVW - January 4th, 2008 at 04:39 PM

I heard this, but they were 'antique cars' and my heart dropped.. No idea who it is but to say that this is devastating is an understatement.


mackaymanx - January 4th, 2008 at 05:09 PM

Looked like a split kombi and 2 beetles plus more from what I saw:td::(


MISS VDUB - January 4th, 2008 at 05:53 PM

My heart goes out to you Graham.
Doug, if you read this, can you please send him our condolences. I'm an ex W.A fire-fighter and have a few mates who have been out there and sadly quite a few houses have been lost. The high temps and wind aren't a good combination.
Truely heart-breaking, and such lovely cars too

Ash n Bob


vwkg - January 4th, 2008 at 05:55 PM

Very sad to hear. Feel very sorry for the guy.:td::td:


Joel - January 4th, 2008 at 06:38 PM

geez poor guy
2 ovals, a an early big window and a splitty and thats just what u can see in 5 secs of footage
enough to make a grown man cry


shaihulud - January 4th, 2008 at 10:32 PM

I've just spoken to Graham about his loss.

He lost a splitty Kombi, a 59 oval, a big window Beetle and another Beetle as well as a couple of 1920s Austin 7s.

He's being stoical and philosophical about it, but he's clearly devastated.

He's full of praise for the fire fighters who only just saved his house.

I've conveyed the condolences if the WA VW Club and I've offered our help if he needs it.

Richard.


h - January 5th, 2008 at 06:49 PM

:( sooo sad..


shaihulud - January 12th, 2008 at 09:54 PM

There's some good which is about to come from this mess.

The fire was caused by the electricity supply company, Western Power, which has accepted responsibility and is now promising compensation to everyone who suffered loss as a result of the fire.

Hopefully Graham will get enough to start another collection.


Doug Sweetman - February 17th, 2008 at 04:57 PM

Hey guys,

I havent been on this board in a long long time.... like about 18 months since I sold the red 73. Work has been hectic, and I'm sure you all know how difficult it is to find time.

Firstly, many thanks to all here who offered condolonces to Dad. I will pass them on (Richard, he had already mentioned that you had called, many thanks). Ash, we all have nothing but praise for the firies, they did a fantastic job. Any body who has a shed like dads would know the once a fire started in there, it would be nearly impossioble to extinguish. Its just simple bad luck that mum and dad were away (Dad at work, mum on hoidays) at the time the fire went through, else they may have been able to save the shed.

He did lose his 61 Splitty which was a well used, original, fully licensed road going affair, his 62 'green meanie' which had had full resto, disc brake front end, 1700, custom interior etc. Additionally he lost his retirement project, a rust free dead straight 56 oval, and another 67 which, while a touch rusty, was a good resto opportunity. His two Austin sevens were a 37 Ruby (restored) and a 28 Chummy (so, officially, no 'Vintage' cars were destroyed.... lol they were 'Post Vintage' to be correct !). Many thousands of dollars of spares, tools, benches, shelving etc etc also was destroyed.

Having said all of this, Dad is very philosophical about it all, and has nothing but praise for the firies. The shed and cars may be gone, but the shed and contents were insured, and Western Power has admitted liabilty and is settling claims with everyone who had uninsured property damage (Such as dads VW's). So out of the ashes will arise a new shed, with new tools, and new old cars to work on :)

To sum up dads attitude, less than a week after the fire, he told me that he had decided on his first restoration project - his Hazet toolkit (which was in the kombi when it burned). He is definitely looking on the bright side.

So on the up side, if anyone knows of a real nice, original low light Karmann Ghia or a very clean, well presented pre 67 beetle, then let me know and I will pass details on to the old man, seeing as he is in the market again.

Cheers to all who thought of Dad and his loss, just another sign of the goodwill in the VW arena.

Doug