Love bug that took a Sydney couple across the world on their 1961 honeymoon finally retires after one last trip

THE Love Bug’s adventures began in London in 1961 and the little blue beauty has been around the world twice - only crashing once, reasonably gently, with a donkey in Turkey.

• Famous Balmoral couple selling their beachside home
• Couple share their 56th anniversary with a whole suburb
• Beloved VW to be donated to auto museum

BALMORAL couple Ivan and Beth Hodge have driven the Love Bug around the globe twice - its journey finally coming to an end when the car was given a heroes welcome to a museum in New Zealand.

For many years, the VW Beetle was the star attraction when Balmoral couple Ivan and Beth Hodge celebrated their wedding anniversary with a community party at Balmoral.

But the little blue car’s marathon journey began on their honeymoon in 1961 and in all its time on the road the car never broke down or crashed except for a minor collision with a donkey.

Now, after 57 years, the couple have decided to retire their Love Bug and donate it to the MOTAT motor museum in Auckland.

Ivan Hodge at the MOTAT museum in New Zealand with his famous VW.

Ivan and Beth Hodge and their Volkswagon in New Zealand with family members

The Hodges officially handed the car over on Easter Monday, escorted on the approach to the museum by a cavalcade of 45 old VWs.

But not before taking their beloved VW on a final spin around New Zealand.

“It is now probably the most famous car in New Zealand and was recognised everywhere,’’ said Mr Hodge.

“It highlighted the love people have for the Beetle and so many people in the world recognise the model.’’

The sentimental journey attracted media coverage across New Zealand and also media interest from Canada, Britain and the US.

They were even approached by CBS and Good Morning America.

In 1961, the couple bought the VW in London for 430 pounds for their honeymoon trip from London to Mumbai.

Ivan and Beth Hodge with the car during their 1961 honeymoon trip.

They converted the car, putting the back seat on the roof and allowing for the front seats to recline so they could sleep in the car (Mr Hodge is over 182cm tall). They also allotted a pound per day for their adventures.

They travelled through some rough terrain in countries like Iran, Pakistan, Turkey and India.

They ran out of petrol in the middle of Iran and in Turkey, they were warned of nearby attacks by nomads.

The donkey incident happened in eastern Turkey, on a mountainous stretch of dirt road - the car took a blind corner, skidded and came right upon a peasant walking his donkey - but no harm was done to car or beast.

And the car got them safely through their honeymoon and both the couple and the car were shipped home on a cargo ship to New Zealand.

Later the Hodges moved to Sydney and in 1996, they decided to repeat their honeymoon and shipped the car overseas, following the same route as their honeymoon.

Mr Hodge and the well-travelled car during another trip in 1996.

The car’s interior is in classic condition.

The couple say they learnt lessons about love and marriage from their road trips in the VW Beetle.

“There’s no point in having a squabble or disagreement because there’s only the two of you,’’ said Mrs Hodge.

“What are you going to do? Just forgive them and move forward.’’

On their recent trip around New Zealand, the Hodges, now in their eighties, didn’t contemplate sleeping in the car.

“We did not try to relive those memories — the mechanism in the car had rusted,’’ Mrs Hodge laughed.

The couple are originally from New Zealand and relived many old memories on the trip from Auckland to Wellington and back again, including morning tea at Mrs Hodge’s old school.

The bride and groom on their wedding day.

“It was a Taumarunui where I started school in 1939. Two ladies from my first class came to the tea and biscuits,’’ said Mrs Hodge. .

At a Rotary dinner on the trip, Mrs Hodge also was reunited with a man who walk her home after church hall dances.

These recent encounters added to the many memories, past and present, that the Hodges associate with their beloved VW.

The Hodges celebrate their wedding anniversary towards the end of each year with a big community party at the Balmoral Rotunda, where everyone is welcome.

Everyone is invited to the couple’s annual anniversary celebrations at Balmoral Beach.

The couple provide free ice-creams, a sausage sizzle, marching girls and the NSW Fire and Rescue Band.

Last year they had an extra party at the Balmoral Rotunda in April — a farewell party to the VW Beetle before it was shipped to New Zealand and there it remained until this March for its final journey with the Hodges.

The Hodges are now selling their home in Balmoral and plan to travel overseas.

So the Hodges are not sure whether they will once again stage their anniversary party this year but even if they do, it won’t quite be the same without the little blue car proudly parked at Balmoral.