FZC 555 ENTRY # 1,200

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WARNING.— The person in whose name this vehicle is displayed may or may not be the current owner of the vehicle. Readers are warned, therefore, that this entry is not proof of ownership.

Details

Registration Mark
FZC 555 ENTRY # 1,200
(a) Type:
Type 1
(b) Year:
1961
(c) Colour:
Pearl White
(d) Paint code:
L87
(e) Engine CCs:
1200

History

(a) Country of origin:
Ireland
(b) County first reg'd:
Dublin
(c) Current or last known location:
Carlow

Model information

1200 Beetle Deluxe

Info

As we have done all the way through the Beetle.ie Census, we try and keep something a little bit special for the ’roundies’ so for entry number 1,200 we are bringing you a very special Beetle.

FZC 555 was Brian Kehoe’s rally and test trial Beetle. Brian was a haulier by trade but his passion was motorsport and he was a genius behind the wheel. Brian’s friend and co-pilot (in the 1990s) Brendan McCoy must be thanked for this photo and for providing the information. Brendan also submitted 9871 ZA to the Beetle.ie Census and that Beetle follows right behind as entry number 1,201

Brian’s Beetle was a Pearl White (L87) Deluxe model, registered in Dublin in April 1961 but this Beetle’s time in the limelight didn’t happen until Brian got hold of the keys and worked his magic behind the wheel. When they say a picture tells a thousand words, they must have been referring to this photograph. Just look at the array of trophies Brian had on display. The car was smothered in silverware which is testament to Brian’s skills behind the wheel so in reality, can any words say more than this one photograph? In one word, NO!

Brendan told us about Brian’s skills, saying that “he had one of the quickest brains I had ever seen. He could maneuver a Beetle in and out of situations rapidly and more importantly, successfully”. Brendan wasn’t Brian’s only fan because in the course of our research for the book on Volkswagen in Ireland we have met countless people who have asked us did we know about Brian, had we seen his trophy collection, were we aware just how good he was. Everyone commented on Brian’s driving prowess and although Brian died suddenly in the 1990s, we feel we have gotten to know a little bit about him from those that knew him.

Motorsport back in the 1960s was a fledgling sport that was run very much on an amateur and enthusiast basis but for people like Brian, this was a very serious sport and one that he was determined to be the best at. Well done Brian, you certainly achieved that.

Submitted by: Brendan McCoy

Additional Photos

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