HECTOR CICCONE of Timmins is a proud owner of the new 1998 Volkswagen Beetle. Ciccone, a Beetle fanatic since he was 16, says he's never owned two at once. Even though he's got the newest model, he admits he's reluctant to see his "old faithful" 1974 Super-beetle.
Timmins man says he can't shake 'the bug'
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Hector Ciccone caught "the bug" when he was 16 and happily enough, he has never found a cure.
When it comes to Volkswagen Beetles, the 49-year-old principal at Pinecrest Public School is an admitted fanatic.
And now after waiting 19 weeks his dream car has just arrived.
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The car is constructed on a VW Golf chassis and the five-speed, 115 horsepower engine has more than twice the power of the 65-hp of Ciccone's 1974 model.
Demand for these vehicles has been so great, that Ciccone ended up ordering the car while it was still on the production line in Mexico.
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Ciccone is one of 8,000 Canadians who owns one of the new Beetles.
"They only made 8,000 for Canada"
It's a unique opportunity for Ciccone since VW stopped making Beetles in 1978.
Since then, he has driven and maintained a gold 1974 Super-beetle.
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Hector Ciccone
becomes the
proud owner
of new-look
Volkswagen
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He put down a deposit but "they couldn't guarantee it's arrival from Mexico...They were backlogged on orders."
Eventually the car was shipped to British Columbia from where it was transported to Toronto.
As soon as it arrived in Toronto,
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"I've owned eight of them," he said. "I caught the bug and never outgrew that stage of my life."
The new Beetle, which he purchased for $27,000, is fully loaded with air conditioning, adjustable seats and steering wheel, four air bags, stereo and anti-theft features.
Ciccone said the new car is a stark contrast from the ealier models which came with no special features.
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Ciccone got the call he'd been waiting for.
Standing next to his new silver Beetle with black interior, Ciccone admitted "It's beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But given a choice between a Corvette and a Beetle, I'd pick a Beetle.
"It's a fun car. It's a happy car. It's really a sociable kind of car."
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