My friends nicknamed the beetle "Kraco." (FIG2)Īftermarket alarm systems have improved immensely since those early days, and they are still a part of the automotive upgrade pathway but most are now installed by professionals that have an understanding of modern vehicle electronic systems and know how to integrate a third-party alarm correctly. I spent months trying to get at least the basic functionality operational but spent more time repairing the damage the installation was creating, rather than enjoying what the system could provide for me. They came in a box full of wire and an installation manual that couldn't be more confusing if the sellers wanted it to be. (FIG1)įor those of us who cut our automotive teeth in the early 1980s, you'll remember these systems. There wasn't a weekend that I didn't fix, break, or add something to it, so eventually, I ran out of common-sense things to do and decided I needed to have an alarm system. Once running, I installed a radio, 14" tires (taken from a Buick that rubbed the fenders if anyone rode in the back seat) and white seat covers from J.C. I rewired it with spools of cheap stranded wire purchased from Murphy Mart, and it was a great learning experience for this 14-year-old. I spent the next year "polishing" this pile, but boy was I proud of it. It was a $50 1970 VW Beetle that had caught fire, burning most of the harness in the front trunk. I remember my first car just like it was still sitting in my driveway.
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