Rhett Nankervis fell in love with the Beetle Oval Window, but his father had to sell it at some point. So, he spent nearly three decades searching for it
For Rhett Nankervis, growing up around Volkswagens didn't immediately spark an obsession with cars. His father, Ian, always had several VWs parked around the yard and was constantly working on one project or another, but as a teenager, Rhett's main passion was BMX bikes. Cars were part of everyday life, but they took a back seat.
That changed the day Ian drove home in a Volkswagen Beetle Oval Window.
"It was the wildest thing I've ever seen," Rhett recalls.
By modern standards, there wasn't much that was wild about the little Beetle. Built between 1953 and 1957, Oval Window models were powered by a rear-mounted 1.2-liter engine making just 36 horsepower. Still, their distinctive rear glass, which replaced the earlier split-window design, gave them a unique look and improved rearward visibility. Today, genuine Oval Window Beetles are highly sought after by collectors because they were produced for less than five years.
But for Rhett, the car's value had nothing to do with rarity. It was the machine that sparked his love of Volkswagens and eventually brought him into the garage alongside his father.
In 1993, the Nankervis family moved to Bendigo in Victoria, Australia, and Ian had to part with several vehicles, including the Oval Window Beetle. While his father moved on, Rhett never forgot the car.
Ironically, Ian would later run into the Beetle by chance. While driving with his wife through Wodonga, he spotted the familiar Volkswagen.
"I said to my wife, 'I’m gonna follow that bloke and pull him up'," Ian recalls.
But instead of a confrontation, the encounter took an unexpected turn. The other driver admired Ian's Mazda, which he had spent years trying to track down, and the two men ended up trading cars on the spot.
Years later, Rhett decided to search for the Beetle that had changed his life. Beginning in 2009, he repeatedly posted online in hopes of finding it, armed with nothing more than a small photograph taken at his parents' home in 1992. His first attempts led nowhere.
Then, years later, a message finally arrived from Jason Rigby.
"I have it, Rhett!"
According to Rhett's son, Brodie, the message brought an overwhelming wave of emotions. After more than two decades, the missing Beetle had been found.
Rhett immediately hit the road, driving three and a half hours to see the car. But when he arrived, he couldn't find it. Jason pointed toward a massive blackberry bush and assured him it was hidden inside.
Rhett's excitement quickly turned to disbelief.
Fortunately, Jason had come prepared with pruning tools. Together, they cut through the overgrowth until they finally reached the long-lost Beetle. Years of neglect had taken their toll, and the car had practically become part of the landscape. It took considerable effort to pull it free and load it onto a trailer.
The emotional moment proved overwhelming.
Rhett hadn't laid eyes on the car in 27 years, and when it finally emerged from the brush, he broke down in tears.
After agreeing on a price, he and Brodie brought the Beetle home and immediately began the restoration. Rust had destroyed the floor pan, but the body itself had survived remarkably well considering how long it had sat abandoned.
Father and son tackled the project together while Ian proudly watched from the sidelines, happy to see the family's automotive passion carried into another generation.
Once the restoration was complete, they brought the Beetle to the Bendigo Squadron, a local Volkswagen enthusiasts club known for organizing shows, community events, and charity activities.
"They're not just cars. I live and breathe it every day," Rhett concludes.
For him, the Oval Window Beetle was never just another classic. It was the car that started everything—and after nearly three decades, it finally came home.