TOP SHOPTalk

In This Issue…

The VW Microbus is Back!

Badges of Honor

A Closer Look at Car Leaks

Autumn Recipe—Bacon-wrapped Jala-peno Popper Stuffed Chicken

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Top Shop Automotive Newsletter Fall 2017

Hi everyone & hello

autumn!

September is here, and soon

October, and we all know

what ’s on the heels of the

fall season… the holidays

and the busy days that come

with them. Now is a great

time to make sure your

vehicle is ready to go before

car care becomes really

inconvenient. Let us take

care of all your auto needs

at Top Shop!

FALL in Love… Put on long-sleeves,

jump in leaves, carve a pumpkin! Thanks for checking out our Fall Newsletter! In this issue, we’ll take a

look at the latest incarnation of the VW Microbus, the history and

symbolism behind some popular car badges, causes of car leaks,

and we have a fun fall recipe for you. Happy driving into the new

season!

You sure are

looking sweet

today pumpkin’.

You’re so

corny.

The VW Microbus is Back!

In 2022 that is...

Volkswagen has announced it’s bringing back the Microbus in the form of an all-electric van riffing on the classic

VW bus’s boxy shape, low platform, and wraparound windows. The concept model, named the I.D. Buzz, debut-

ed earlier in 2017 in Detroit, and since it’s introduction, Volkswagen has strongly hinted it wants to put the next-

generation Microbus into production. Now, it looks like that’s happening. The announcement was made in Mon-

terey, CA ahead of the Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance that the new Microbus will hit dealerships in 2022.

VW said North America, China, and Europe will be the I.D. Buzz’s target markets.

A forerunner of the modern van set to invigorate the market once again

The Microbus was introduced in 1950 as Volkswagen’s second car model after the Beetle. As one of the fore-

runners of the modern cargo and passenger vans, the Microbus gave rise to forward control competitors in the

United States in the 1960s, including the Ford Econoline, the Dodge A100, and the Chevy Corvair 95 Corvan.

However, for many of us, the VW Microbus is predominately a much-loved symbol of the 1960s, counterculture,

and So-Cal surf culture.

The Microbus’s popularity endures. After Volkswagen presented the I.D. Buzz concept, the automaker received

numerous letters and emails from customers asking “please build this car,” said VW CEO Herbert Diess. Ac-

cording to Volkswagen, the production vehicle won’t stray far from the concept. The platform will also allow the

production bus to keep its body shape that pays tribute to the iconic 1960s original.

At Top Shop, we repair vintage Volkswagens, like the Microbus—they’re one of our specialties—and in a few

years, we hope to be working on its latest incarnation as well!

1st, 2nd & 3rd Generation VW Microbuses, and the new concept model!

1

2

3

?

Badges of Honor

Have you ever wondered about the meaning of your vehicle’s emblem? You can likely recognize most car badges in an instant, but most people don’t know the often inter-esting story behind these emblems. Here’s the his-tory of a few well-known auto badges.

Chevrolet: The famous Chevy bowtie logo was inspired by a newspaper ad, likely for the Coalettes coals company.

Mazda: In the newest version of the Mazda logo, the oval represents the sun and the “M” the company. It also looks like outsretched wings to symbolize Mazda’s free-dom of expression.

Mercedes: The three points on the Mercedes star represent land, sea, and air.

Ford: Yes, that’s Henry Ford’s signature in the Ford logo, and it’s re-mained almost un-changed since 1909.

BMW: The black exteri-or circle comes from the logo of BMW’s predeces-sor, Rapp, and the blue and white checkered cir-cle represents the flag of Bavaria.

Toyota: The inner ovals symbolize the heart of the customer and the heart of the company, overlapping to represent a mutually beneficial relationship and trust, as well as form-ing a “T” shape for Toyo-ta. The outer oval is the world embracing Toyota.

Let Us See if Your Auto Leak is Cause for Concern

A Closer Look at Car Leaks

Is that puddle a problem?

Discovering a puddle in the driveway when you pull your car out causes

most drivers to pause and wonder, “Do I need to be worried about this?”

The answer is—it depends. (We know, so annoying.) A car leak may mean

many things. On one hand, it may be insignificant, and on the other, it

could indicate your vehicle is in severe need of maintenance.

As a vehicle ages, its gaskets, seals, and hoses tend to shrink, allowing

small amounts of fluid to escape. This is normal, and a slow and steady

drip usually isn’t a cause for alarm. However, you should continue to moni-

tor the situation because a leak can be an early warning sign of a more

serious problem to come. The first step is to identify the fluid that’s leaking.

Here’s our fluid identification guide:

Clear shiny liquid - This is most likely water, and nothing to worry

about if you just used the A/C.

Slimy, bright color - This is coolant. Modern cars have a system that

collects and recycles dripping coolant, so there shouldn’t ever be a

coolant leak. If there is, there may be a cracked water pump or hose.

Brown, black, or amber color - This is engine oil. If you have a large

puddle of oil under your car, you need to have your vehicle looked at.

Light brown color - This is likely transmission fluid. It’s generally

nothing to worry about unless you have a huge puddle.

If you’re concerned about a vehicle leak, please call us here at Top Shop.

Contact Us

Give us a call for more

information about our ser-

vices and products!

Top Shop Automotive

177 S. Patterson Avenue

Santa Barbara, CA 93111

(805) 964-6554

Visit us on the web at

www.topshopsb.com.

Autumn Recipe

Bacon-wrapped Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Chicken Are you going to be inviting friends and family over to watch football this fall? These are an easy and excellent crowd-pleasing treat!

Ingredients:

4 small chicken breasts, pounded thin

Salt and pepper to taste 4 jalapenos, diced 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 8 slices of bacon

To make:

1. Mix together jalapenos, cream cheese, and cheddar cheese 2. Lay the chicken flat, season both sides with salt and pepper 3. Place 1/4 of the cheese mixture on the chicken and roll them up 4. Wrap each chicken breast up in 2 slices of bacon and place them in a

baking dish 5. Bake in a preheated 400F oven until cooked, about 25-35 minutes

Top Shop Automotive

177 S. Patterson Avenue

Santa Barbara, CA 93111

PLACE STAMP HERE

Let us know if you’d like to contribute a project or recipe to Top Shop Talk!