The Student News Site of Marshfield High School

The Marshfield Times

The Student News Site of Marshfield High School

The Marshfield Times

The Student News Site of Marshfield High School

The Marshfield Times

Jensen Chase: VW Enthusiast

Junior Jensen Chase has a niche for sweet rides.
The owner of two Volkswagen VW Beetles, Chase is a straight-up VW junkie. Chase’s profound love for the VW Bug originated when he was in first grade.

“In the first grade I saw the movie ‘Herbie Fully Loaded’ with Lindsay Lohan and I fell in love with them,” Chase said.

Beetle fever runs in Chase’s family. Both Chase’s mom and aunt own VW Beetles. Jamie Holly, Chase’s aunt, has owned Beetles since before Chase was born and eventually passed one down to him.

“My mom got one when I was in the fifth grade,” Chase said. “She was letting my aunt drive it and then it would be my first car.”

Holly is a VW veteran, having owned a total of seven VW Beetles in her life.

“My first one I bought back in 1993, and since then I’ve owned seven of them, four vintage and three new Beetles,” Holly said. “Let’s put it this way: I would not and could not see myself owning any other car.”

Holly appreciates Chase’s admiration for VW Beetles. Holly said he even has fondness for unsightly Beetles.

“I think it’s great that he loves them, and I’m also guessing at his age it’s pretty rare,” Holly said. “He sees VW Beetles for what they could be no matter what condition they are in presently. I think if he had it his way, he’d save every last one of them,” Holly said.

Although a sizable Volkswagen fan, Chase never thought his first car would be a Volkswagen Beetle.

“I always thought it probably wouldn’t happen because they’re a manual and to me they were pretty expensive, but everything just worked out,” Chase said.

Chase stepped forward and took the responsibility to fix the broken black VW Holly passed down to him.

“It was my aunt’s, and I offered to buy it from her, but she gave it to me and I fixed it,” Chase said.

Holly said she was initially unsure of the black VW’s fate.

“I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with Black Betty, I just knew I didn’t have the heart to junk her when she was broke down,” Holly said. “That’s when Jensen asked me if he could have her, and I knew he’d love her as much as I did, and he does.”

Chase often alternates between driving both his 1967 and 1999 Beetles. The older 1967 Volkswagen sports a light blue finish, while the newer 1999 model is black.
“The blue one I usually drive in the summer and then the black one during the winter,” Chase said.

Chase does all of his own maintenance on his vehicles.

“I go to the junkyard to get parts,” Chase said. “It’s really addicting and fun.”

In the future, Chase plans on getting more vehicles, such as other variations of VWs.

“I’d like to have a bus someday,” Chase said.

Chase often finds himself in the company of more than one person when driving his Volkswagen.

“I have the smallest car in my group of friends but everyone squeezes in my car,” Chase said.

Junior Jessica Kohl said Chase has always had a niche for vehicles in general, not just Volkswagens.

“I have known Jensen since seventh grade at Sunset,” Kohl said. “He’s always been into cars and worked on cars.”

Driving an old Volkswagen Beetle has not been without shortcomings, according to Chase.

“It would break down at red lights when traffic was really busy and then no one would help me push it and people would flip me off and honk at me,” Chase said. “I’ve had to have it towed probably two or three times.”

Regardless of some issues included with owning an older VW, Chase continues to drive and appreciate them. Chase is even a member of a local Volkswagen club.

“It’s the South Coast V-Dub Club,” Chase said. “There’s probably about 10 members, and we go on cruises and we have a meeting every month at Gino’s.”

Chase has also participated in the annual Cruise the Coos during the Bay Area Fun Festival.

“We drove the blue one two years ago,” Chase said. “It was fun and we gave people rides.”

Chase is fond of the positive attention his Volkswagens bring.

“I always get people smiling and waving at me,” Chase said.

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Jensen Chase: VW Enthusiast