The first time Brian drove a Bug was in 1983 when he test drove a potential purchase but it was "a diabolical experience in the dark and in heavy rain".
Nevertheless, in that year he bought a 1971 model, a wreck which had had a wiring loom meltdown and had been parked up for many years. It was otherwise almost intact, although the chassis was very rusty. He began work on it, but barely a year later the work had to be put on hold as he moved into a new house, the refurbishment of which began to take all his spare time.
When he could work on it, the first job was to obtain and modify a galvanised Reliant Rialto chassis.Other work, apart from refurbishing all mechanicals, included making a complete loom with many additions to standard, such as reversing lights, fog lights and steering column switches for indicators, lights and horn. He has fitted an ignition cut out, alternator, repositioned fuses and relays, fitted a two speed and two directional heater motor (see additional note below), electric washer pump, vacuum gauge, boot light and other sundry modifications, including warning flashers and two speed windscreen wiper motor.
The Bug was completed in 2006, has appeared at several classic car shows and has been used as B's personal transport when his wife has the main car.

Bi-directional heater motor: This was an experimental precaution, the idea being that if the engine showed any tendency to overheat while standing in traffic, additional cooling could be had by using the heater, reversing the motor and blowing the hot air out of the car.