In a celebration of loyalty and longevity, Volkswagen fully restored a 1967 Beetle known as “Annie” for its owner, Kathleen Brooks. Kathleen bought the car new in December 1966 in Riverside, California, and still drives it out every day—after more than 400,000 miles together.
Kathleen’s connection with Annie began at age 22, when she purchased the Beetle and gave her the name “Annie”. Over the decades, Annie carried Kathleen through daily commutes, milestones, and countless ordinary mornings. At 78, Kathleen still climbs behind the wheel every day, describing Annie not as a machine but as family—because, as she puts it, “She’s just old, not useless, and she’s never once left me stranded.”
When Volkswagen learnt of her bond with the car, the company offered to rebuild it free of charge at its Puebla, Mexico factory. The team stripped and treated the chassis, replaced about 40% of the parts, painstakingly restored 357 original components, and repainted the car using its original factory colour code so it would look just as it did when Kathleen first brought it home.
Volkswagen’s U.S. team recognised something rare—a car-owner relationship spanning more than half a century—and followed Annie’s journey to Puebla. There, the restoration crew completely disassembled the interior, drivetrain, and chassis to inspect every part. Corroded sections were cut out, rewelded, and treated for rust, while the paint was matched from the glovebox’s untouched interior panel. The goal wasn’t to create a modern showpiece but to return Annie to the exact condition she was in when Kathleen first met her. When the restoration was complete, Kathleen said that seeing Annie again made her feel 22 years old once more.
In a world where replacing cars is often easier than preserving them, stories like Kathleen and Annie’s show why some owners stay loyal for life—and why brands matter. Kathleen could easily have chosen a newer model, even from the same maker, but her loyalty and the bond she built with Annie inspired Volkswagen to honour that connection.
Meanwhile, other carmakers have dedicated customer loyalty programmes; for example, BMW has the “Excellence Club”, which rewards its most loyal owners. The programme offers exclusive experiences (fine dining, driving events, hotel stays) for long-time customers.
However, Annie’s restoration was a one-of-a-kind case. This kind of relationship, where human and machine evolve together, speaks to something deeper about trust, loyalty and identity.
