When Ed rallies the troops, this is what happens! Fifty Volkswagens of every shape and color showed up to hang out in Gadsden, Alabama.
When Ed throws a party, he throws a PARTY! With less than a week’s notice, he got more than 50 VWs to show up — on a day when his shop wasn’t even open!
SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY What started as a simple stop on the “Where in the world is Dan Leadbetter?” tour turned into an impromptu open house show and shine! • By DG Leadbetter
We had the best time meeting all of Ed’s customers (or friends, as he prefers to call them), taking selfies and just getting to know this awesome group of people!
I
absolutely LOVE the South! And not just when I rolled up to Ed’s place on Saturday for the sweet tea … although that’s a big morning! draw for me. It’s the people that make it Ed’s shop is filled to the brim with every awesome. Everyone is super kind, friendly VW part you could ever need, including just and willing to lend a hand. So, let’s narrow about every EMPI part imaginable (two that scope to the Southern VW community! stories worth — you should see the baseWithout question, the VW crowd in the ment!) And he has a full-blown machine South loves to party — and if there’s no par- shop where he builds some of the best VW ty happening, they’ll make one! That’s exmotors around (several people called him actly what happened in April in Alabama. The Wizard.) When I was at Bug-a-Palüza in Tennessee, The VWs started pouring in, and I was told by someone that I HAD to meet when it was all said and done, there were Ed from Ed’s Foreign Car Parts in Gadsden, about 50 vehicles. And we’re talking some Alabama. Long story AMAZING VWs — short, I met Ed and Bugs, Buses, Trikes, Ed’s Foreign Car Parts we hit it off. I told him water-cooled, and 535 Locust Street about the tour I was more. Ed made sure Gadsden, AL 35901 (256) 546-9279 doing, and how I’d love people were well fed, facebook/edsforeigncarparts to come by his shop as grilled hot dogs, the following Saturday chips and soda were as one of the stops. He the order of the day. said, “Let me see what I can pull together.” Four winners were picked to split the I texted Ed in the middle of the week. money from the sale of raffle tickets. Tons He told me he decided to do an open house of fun! in conjunction with my visit, and that a few The bottom line: My stop at Ed’s Foreign VWs might be showing. I thought, “Well Car Parts was awesome, and one for the rethat’ll be cool. Make a little more of a party cord books! Everyone had a great time, tons out of it.” To be completely honest, I was of selfies were taken, no one left hungry, not prepared for what was going to happen and a good time was had by all.
You can’t have a proper party without some food! Ed made sure the crowd was well fed with hot dogs, chips, and soda.
When we said all types of VWs showed up, we meant ALL types! Check out this cool truck conversion.
VW TRENDS • SUMMER ’23 59
