Rich,
As I was reading your post it really sunk into my soul. Since I am older now and look back fondly on my younger days, I can't remember most of them and that is why I can look back fondly, to the days of my youth as a "hippie". Driving around in my 1956 Beetle, 36hp, 50+mpg, 85mph top speed, of course I rarely exceeded 45mph, the trails on the passing cars was too disorienting. I think that I might follow your lead and return to my youth and buy myself another Beetle... Naw, who am I kidding. I traded that Beetle for a Mustang.
Burn Rubber,
Joe B.