Austin Johnson
Sandy, Utah
Engineering Technology, CAD/CAM
I chose the creative engagement track.

 

Engine-uity

My EDGE project was the restoration of a 1967 Volkswagen Dune Buggy. Dune Buggies are a variation of a Volkswagen Beetle, that has been customized for more rugged terrain. The very first Dune Buggies were made by Volkswagen fans, who wanted something unique and fun. Essentially they took a Beetle, and cut the frame in half front-to-back, shortening the vehicle about two feet. They would then reassemble the car, and put larger tires on the rear wheels for off roading, as well as adding a custom body on top instead of the meta shell we are all familiar with Beetles having. After several years Volkswagen, and several other companies, decided to create its own version to sell to the public and they produced a new style of fiberglass “tub” to put on top that gave it a more sleek look. The buggy my father in law and I bought also came with a fiberglass hard top that was a fairly exclusive add on that Volkswagen offered. We couldn’t have been more happy.

The work that would be required to complete the restoration was fairly unknown when we began the project, but we were extremely excited to begin. It seemed like every time we fixed something, we found something else that needed to be fixed. We put in a lot more hours than we originally thought we would be able to, and often spent nights and weekends working long past our scheduled time. The real turning point as far as feeling like we were making progress was when we painted the body of the Buggy. All at once, it became very real, and very apparent that we had turned something broken into something beautiful. There is no way to describe how wonderful that feeling is. It was worth every penny, and every minute we spent on this project for that feeling. Not to mention the feeling of driving it around town, and getting the thumbs up and smiles from fellow travelers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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My father in law, who worked tirelessly along side me was the inspiration for this project. He ahs always been a great example to me of someone with passion for what he does, and someone who knows how to work hard. He owns an Autobody shop in St. George, and I have been trying to learn as much as I can from him for the past three years that I have been married to his daughter. I absolutely love to build  things, and it was his love for cars, and specifically Volkswagens, that inspired me to suggest that we do this project together. I am not ashamed in the least to say that I would not have been able to do this without him. Not by a long shot. His expertise, experience, and of course his workshop made this project not only possible, but wildly successful.

Although we both enjoyed the time we spent getting to know each other better, and the thrill of creating something, we definitely had a couple frustration along the way. Like I mentioned before, we weren’t really sure what kind of work we would have to do, but we had talked to the previous owner, and were confident that we could handle what we assumed would need fixing. Unfortunately, the previous owner wall slightly less than truthful when it came to the repairs he said he had made. We frequently ran into things that were supposedly fixed recently, or had been repaired very poorly, and needed to be redone. It started out somewhat frustrating, but it was very relieving in the end to have been able to essentially start from scratch, and know that everything was done correctly. 

A project like this definitely holds a special place in your heart when you are finished, but it was almost more fun when we share our success with others. I mentioned above how it seems to attract thumbs ups and smiles while we drive the Buggy, and it really has been one of my favorite parts of the project when we stop and talk to someone about it. We have had countless conversations with delivery men dropping off parts, or autoparts store employees, or random people at the gas station about how its coming along, and what we had planned for a final product. It was really cool to see how many new people we met, and how many great contact we made for my father in law’s business as we shared our plans, and listened to what goals and projects our new acquaintances had. Its my opinion that creativity is wasted unless it is shared, exchanged and shaped by the people around us. That’s where we find the joy in creating.

I am glad to say that although there were many others involved in making this project a success, I was by far the greatest benefactor. I learned countless tips and tricks from my father in law about autobody, and what makes the difference between good and great. I also learned more about the internal workings of a car that I ever thought I would understand. It was very eye opening to learn a specific trade, and to see what it is that my father in law does every day. I have gained a new respect for him and the mastery required to do what he does. Though it was not necessarily intended when I suggested this project, one of the most valuable things I gained during this experience was the relationship I built with my father in law. I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything. You can fill your life with as many “things” as you like, but when it comes down to it, it’s the people in your life that fill the holes.

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“The paint went on fantastic! I finally feel like we have a car.”

“Sometimes you have to stop thinking about what you know, and start thinking about who knows what you want to know.”

- Austin Johnson