Knowing her husband’s tendencies and intentions, and knowing that they would likely leave the Kissimmee auction with a new car, Aurelie said the first thing they did upon arrival was register to bid. Having driven the family’s Bonneville when she was younger, Aurelie knew she was not a fan of driving such a large, boat-like automobile, so she said one of her first considerations when looking at cars was finding something more compact. The next consideration on her list was getting a car built in the convertible body style, something that would be great for some top-down cruising in Florida’s milder winter months. “I wanted something much smaller, but still a little vintage,” she said. “And like most people, it’s a type of car I would’ve liked to have as a younger person, but never got to have. So, I think there’s always a little bit of nostalgia when you collect something.” With her preferences in mind, the couple turned their attention to several Volkswagen Beetles on that opening weekend in Kissimmee. They bid on more than one example, each varying in color and vintage, but after a handful of tries, they still hadn’t found success on the auction block. “We bid on a couple other ones, because there were multiple Beetles,” she said. “There was plenty to choose from.” In the end, their persistence paid off when the couple finally placed the winning bid on a yellow 1979 Volkswagen Super Beetle Convertible with a black convertible top from the Joe Bradtke Collection. “We loved that it was a light yellow color and it was in good shape,” she said. “It was well kept, it was a collector’s car for many years, and I think that’s why we ultimately decided on this one. This one was the right price … we’re very happy with it.” After winning the bid, all that was left to do was finalize the sale, which Aurelie said was an incredibly quick process and allowed the couple to drive their new Beetle off the auction grounds and home that very same day. “I was very impressed,” she said. “It was the fastest way we’ve ever purchased a car. It was a very pleasant way to buy a car, because you know what you want, you know what you’re paying, and then you go to meet with staff, and within 30 minutes, you’re done and you can take the car home. It was awesome, and I wish all the ways to buy a car were like this.” Aurelie said the couple plans to touch up a few items on the car, mainly cosmetic changes and personalizations, such as placing a period-correct spare in the trunk and refinishing the seat upholstery, and from there, the car is set to be a weekend cruiser for the family, something to roll around town in for various fun activities, all the while bringing a little joie de vivre to all it passes. “It’s not a muscle car, so it’s a perfect beach car, perfect for going to brunch and just driving around town,” she said. “It’ll be fun. It’s not about what speed you can go; everybody that sees a Beetle convertible in yellow: it makes them happy. It brings a little sunshine wherever you drive.” After experiencing the Mecum magic in person, Aurelie said the Mecum Kissimmee auction is most certainly an event that she would recommend to others with a similar passion for the automobile world and culture. “It’s nice even if you don’t intend to purchase something. Some people can’t really purchase a car every year, but it’s still well worth it, just because it’s like going to a car museum or car shows,” she said. “It’s so worth it, even if you’re not planning on bidding on anything. It was a great experience, and we had a great time.” And with such a positive first-time experience, Aurelie said it’s an event that she and her husband definitely intend to add to their own schedule in the years to come, whether they plan to buy anything or not; the enjoyment of attending the live auction event was enough to leave them wanting more, and they now know exactly where to find it. 54 • MECUM.COM
