June brings the highlight of the year for SoCal air-cooled enthusiasts — from Long Beach to Riverside, six events stack back-to-back into the unofficial "HotVWs Week." Here's the full schedule, plus an exclusive 50% off event entry for HotVWs subscribers.
Koa trees are native to Hawaii, and grow nowhere else in the world. Seeing the custom Koa wood trimmings on this 1955 Oval Ragtop must mean you're cruising Bobby Garcia's hometown roads in the Islands!
For the HotVWs Bus featured in this series, the goal was straightforward — build a strong, reliable 2054cc engine that delivers improved torque and drivability without sacrificing longevity. This 1962 Panel Van is meant to be highway-capable, comfortable, and driven loaded at modern traffic speeds, so every component choice reflects a balance between performance and durability.
Few names in the VW community carry the same recognition as Randy Carlson, the voice behind the Grinding Gears column in HotVWs since 2014. His interest in air-cooled German tin was shaped in part by a Porsche 356 B coupe, which his father purchased in '64. Randy recently got it back on the road...
Oregon-born and raised in the presence of a 1953 Zwitter Beetle, it was only natural that Keeth Colton desired a VW when he came to driving age. The search began and resulted in a 1955 Beetle purchased as a father/son project for his 16th birthday. We'll let Keeth continue the story…
Ray Thom always wanted a Volkswagen Bus; however, he didn't know the one he finally purchased was as special and rare as it was until it made the four-month journey from Belgium to the United States. Only 30 Buses of this configuration are known to have been made, and this example has been brought back to showroom specs, with a few upgrades.
Imagine cruising the back roads of America in an Okrasa-powered Lowlight Ghia in the summer of 1958. The sleek body cutting through the wind as you grab gears and push the dual-carb engine to its potential. That's the essence that the team at the House of Ghia captured for Gene Langen in the restoration of his rare 1958 Ghia.
When trouble occurs, there is no way past it without going through it. I've never been a fan of trouble. I've led a quiet and safe life, have kept my nose clean and have avoided the wrong crowd and poor choices pretty well in my almost 60 years on this spinning orb we call Earth....
Have you ever attended a VW show or event that felt like heaven - or simply too good to be true?
This month's mailbag: an intermittent stumble at freeway speed, a generator-to-alternator conversion, and the trade-offs of each.
Hot VWs Magazine May 2026: Patina Special. Get yours now! ON THE COVER: Randy, Alicia and their nicely aged 1965 Beetle, plus a deep dive on weathered finishes done right.
Hot VWs Magazine April 2026: Hawaii Seven-O Aloha Attitude. ON THE COVER: A beautiful day in Hawaii with island-built VWs.
Hot VWs Magazine March 2026: Working Type 2 Special. Buses that haul, work, and still look good doing it.
Hot VWs Magazine February 2026: The California Issue. Coastal cruisers and canyon carvers.
Hot VWs Magazine December 2025: jaw-dropping builds and unforgettable details.
Hot VWs Magazine November 2025: ARMADILLO. A build that turns heads and starts conversations.
Hot VWs Magazine October 2025: fall features and event coverage from across the country.
