The 1967 Volkswagen Beetle Jolly-style, now part of the Ron Sturgeon Collection at the DFW Car & Toy Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, represents a unique blend of automotive history and leisure culture. Originally a Brazilian-market Beetle, this custom vehicle pays homage to the Ghia-built Fiat Jolly and similar conversions from the 1950s and 1960s, which were designed for relaxed, resort-style driving. Its presence in the museum underscores the enduring appeal of whimsical automotive design and the global reach of the Volkswagen brand.
Jolly-style cars were typically stripped-down, open-air vehicles with wicker seats and minimal weather protection, intended for use in sunny locales such as beach towns and golf courses. This Beetle, modified by a previous owner, captures that spirit with wicker seats and wood plank flooring, transforming the utilitarian Beetle into a playful, luxury-oriented cruiser. The interior also features walnut dashboard trim, rubber floor mats, seat belts, a dashboard-mounted figurine, and a three-spoke steering wheel. Functional upgrades include a replacement fuel-level gauge and ABS wiring loom wrap, blending vintage charm with modern reliability.
Under the rear hood, the car retains its 1.3-liter air-cooled flat-four engine, fed by a single downdraft carburetor and topped with a classic oil bath air cleaner. The engine tins are painted to match the body color, and the intake manifold has had its heat riser tubes removed, simplifying the engine bay and aligning with the car's leisure-focused aesthetic. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transmission that has been refreshed with new outer gaskets. The five-digit odometer on the 140-km/h speedometer reads 97,000 kilometers (approximately 60,000 miles), indicating the car has been driven and enjoyed rather than kept as a static display.
Ron Sturgeon, founder of the DFW Car & Toy Museum, emphasized the car's joyful character: "There's a joy to this Beetle that's hard to describe—it doesn't take itself too seriously, and that's what makes it great. It's a one-of-a-kind piece that makes you want to throw on your sunglasses and hit the coast." This sentiment reflects the broader mission of the museum, which houses over 200 unique vehicles and 3,000 vintage toys and cultural artifacts celebrating design, innovation, and automotive history.
The museum, formerly known as the DFW Elite Toy Museum, was founded by Sturgeon in the 1980s and recently relocated to a 150,000-square-foot facility at 2550 McMillan Parkway in North Fort Worth. It offers free parking and admission, secure climate-controlled car storage, and event facilities for car clubs and board meetings. The museum is dog friendly and encourages photography. For more information, visit the museum's website at dfwcarandtoymuseum.com. The 1967 Volkswagen Beetle Jolly-style serves as a reminder that automotive history is not just about transportation but also about the joy of driving and the personal touches that make each car unique.
