Puerto Vallarta, Mexico is home to THOUSANDS of classic Volkswagen Bugs or Beetles. Why? Since 1996, the last and only Beetle factory in the world cranked out the durable little car for the Mexican market…because it was the only place in the world where sales still warranted it. The Beetle was everywhere and served nearly every purpose. You’ll see Beetles in Puerto Vallarta with their tops chopped, Beetles converted to mini-pick-ups and dune buggies, and Beetles fitted with roof racks for carrying lumber, pipe, or other building materials.
Mexicans knew they could depend on the rugged little car, and spare parts were plentiful…to this day, it is not uncommon to find fuel pumps and other parts in the hardware section of the supermarket. "Mexicans know the Beetle," says Volkswagen spokesman Israel Victoria Diaz. "They know how to fix it. They know they can find parts almost anywhere. And they know they can depend on it when driving on the country's rough road conditions."