…AND THEN SOME!

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When it comes to Volkswagens, we all know at least one person who excels in a particular area. We know an engine guy, a guy that does body and paint work, or an upholstery dude. But it’s not often you find someone who can do just about everything — a onestop shop, if you will. Shanna Dewsnup is not only a die-hard VW enthusiast, but she also jumps in and gets her hands dirty in every aspect of putting a VW together!

Shanna was born in California, raised in Arizona, and has been a fan of all things air-cooled for as long as she can remember. Her father is Rick Mortensen, who started the Phoenix Bug-Run and Phoenix Bugo-Rama. A longtime friend of VW Trends, Rick has always been a mainstay in the VW world. Rick was hoping his son would take up the VW torch, but life has a way of throwing curveballs, and Rick ended up with a fanatic automotive enthusiast in his daughter instead.

Shanna’s first VW was a ’75 Super Beetle convertible that became her project car for auto-body and paint classes in high school. One VW is never enough, so she quickly found a ’73 Bug for a paltry $200. She took it completely apart in her parents’ driveway and sold the parts at local swap meets to finance her next car, a ’63 Karmann Ghia.

Shanna had several close calls driving that KG around town — one time, the master cylinder went out while she was driving — so she sold it and found her dream VW: a ’59 Beetle.

After high school, Shanna moved to Utah. She drove the ’59 back and forth between Utah and Arizona multiple times before its life was ended by a newbie driver turning in front of her at a light. Luckily, Shanna was unscathed.

Over the years, Shanna has kept the VW fires burning, but life threw another curveball: When her two sons were young, Shanna found herself being a single mom. Her oldest son had special needs, so she decided to return to school to become a doctor specializing in audiology to help with his hearing difficulties. She had to put the VW world on hold while she was going to school full-time and pinching pennies to take care of her boys.

But we all know it doen’t stay in hibernation for long. During her doctoral program in Cincinnati, Ohio, she found a ’74 Westfalia and a ’65 Beetle for a smokin’ deal that was way too good to pass on. As most of us know, wrenching on a project VW is always good stress relief. Shanna had one day off per week during grad school, so she worked on her Beetle “Ruby” on that day while the boys were at school.

But she only had six months to get the VW finished before moving out of state for her residency. Two days before the deadline, her dad, Rick Mortensen, flew out to Ohio. They pulled a 48-hour marathon to assemble the Beetle and move Shanna to Colorado.

At the end of Shanna’s Colorado residency, her son was diagnosed with a devastating syndrome that would eventually cause him to become deaf and blind. Shanna decided to move back to Arizona to be closer to family. She sold the beloved Bug that she had just completed to help pay for trips she took with her son while his vision was still adequate.

During this time, Shanna met Kevin, who’s now her husband. Another rabid car enthusiast, Kevin didn’t quite understand Shanna’s VW obsession, but soon enough he was bitten by the Bug. Kevin is a woodworker and car stereo installer, so he knows his way around a car or two.

Kevin lovingly pushed Shanna to start what would become a successful audiology practice in Phoenix called Happy Ears Hearing Center. Their business plan incorporated Volkswagens as promotional vehicles and VWs graced all the office brochures.

They say opposites attract. Kevin’s had a passion for custom cars and Shanna has always been in

VWs Shanna formerly owned:

’75 Super Beetle Convertible ■ ’73 Beetle ■ ’73 Thing ■ ’63 Karmann Ghia ■ ’59 Beetle ■ ’63 Beetle ■ ’65 Beetle ■ ’74 Westfalia Camper ■ ’04 GTI ■ ’09 Tiguan ■ ’12 CC

VWs Shanna and Kevin currently own:

’57 Oval Window Beetle ■ ’61 Beetle (original paint and very original inside; to be restored) ■ ’65 Beetle ■ ’65 21-window Bus (to be restored) ■ ’68 Type 34 ■

’68 Double Cab ■ ’70 Karmann Ghia Convertible ■ ’74 nine-passenger Bus ■ ’78 Westfalia Camper Subaru Conversion (Kevin redid all the cabinetry and added solar lighting inside) ■ ’79 Limited Edition “triple white” Super Beetle Convertible with only 1,609 miles. Still has all the original stickers, original paint, the VW-stamped factory fan belt, and original tires from the factory.)

Shanna and Kevin on Instagram: @azvwgirl and @dubsanddewses love with the stock, classic look. With their combined skills, they’ve built an amazing collection of unique Volkswagens! They’ve also designed and hand-built an amazing sanctuary at their home where they can work on VW projects to get their minds off running their business.

Shanna still loves to paint VWs, and is currently working on a ragtop headliner for a Bug they gifted her father Rick for his retirement.

As we all know, you never really finish a collection, and to that end Shanna and Kevin just added a rare ’79 triple-white Super Beetle convertible with 1,608 original miles! That one has been garaged its entire existence. They also have a rare and very original ’61 Bug which they acquired from family friends in Phoenix.

You’d be hard-pressed to find someone with the VW pedigree that Shanna has, and she’s not resting on her laurels. I’m sure this collection is just getting started, and VW Trends will be there as it grows!