Although still in his teens in the 1990s, Oliver Attard had already amassed an encyclopaediac knowledge of statistics, facts and figures on Volkswagen cars.

“While others had eyes only for the Minis and Escorts, I was fond of Volkswagen, collecting and collating anything that had to do with the German marque. I was seduced by its style and simplicity, and although my friends teased me about my preference, I persisted in my perception. The fact that a number of family members drove VWs may also have been an influencing factor. In fact, I learnt to drive on a VW belonging to my uncle Joe,” Attard said.

As soon as Attard got his driving license, he lost no time in starting a VW collection of Beetles, vans, and transporters. At one time, Attard, now living in Pieta, had 15 VW models, ranging from the 1950s to the late 1980s. Most of them were housed in three garages, and a few were parked outside his home.

Attard later became a founder member of the V-Dubs Club Malta, an organisation that got together local VW car owners together in the late 1990s. Together with his wife Daniela, he twice visited the VW factory and museum in Wolfsburg to amass more information about the marque. It was in the early days of the club that Attard saw a rare VW K-70 in Birzebbuga.

“My heart skipped a beat when I first saw it,” he admitted. “Together with a friend, I went looking for its owner to buy it. As happens in such cases, we were first told that the vehicle was not for sale, and when we persisted, the price was too high. Considering that the car was in quite a bad condition, we turned away, and never gave it another thought.”

In 1998, Attard heard that a rare VW was going to be sold at an auction in Corradino by an insurance company. He thought it might be the K70, but did not attend. He found out later that it was acquired by a mechanic who specialised in German cars.

A couple of weeks later, he was in Mrieħel at a mechanic friend of his. The mechanic told him that he had just bought a very rare VW. Attard was quick, and surprised the mechanic by revealing details of the model, its source and price. Surprised, the mechanic told Attard that it was not for sale – and Attard told him it was the last thing on his mind.

Three years later, Attard was asked by a friend to give him a lift to Mrieħel to pick up a car from a mechanic. While there, he went to his friend mechanic to see how the restoration project on the K-70 was progressing. To his surprise, the mechanic explained that he had no time to work on the car and was interested in selling it.

“I suddenly felt it was time to embark on another challenge. I made him an offer, and a price was agreed on the spot, before I had actually seen the car – something which I do not recommend,” Attard said.

The K-70 was a sedan developed by the German car manufacturer NSU and sold by VW from 1970 to 1975. This model was the first VW to have a front mounted water cooled engine, as well as the first to have front wheel drive. Designed by Klaus Luthe, the K-70 was originally developed by NSU as a smaller brother to the more famous RO 80, the main difference being that the former used a conventional piston engine instead of the latter’s more sophisticated Wankel rotary engine. NSU aimed to launch the K-70 at the 1969 Geneva Motor Show.

As the new car was about to appear, its unveiling was called off at the 11th hour. This was owing to rumours that financially troubled NSU was to be taken over by VW, as well as because of management concerns that the K-70 was too close in price to the Audi 100.

Eventually VW took over NSU, and saw the K-70 as the perfect vehicle to forge deeper into the family sedan market. Thus the company removed the NSU badge from the car, and replaced it with VWs, launching it in 1970.

Attard took the car to a specialist in Luqa, where it was found that the engine had overheated and seized. This was not good news, as parts for this model are extremely hard to find. Initially there were instances when he thought that the K-70 would not make it to the road again, or at least not with its original engine.

However Attard managed to secure parts such as gaskets, rings, carburetor kit and a water pump. Having been involved in a slight accident, the K-70 also needed a left front side wing, a bonnet, headlights, front bumper, indicator and expansion tank.

Again, overseas contacts came to the rescue. With the help of people in the UK, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland, the vehicle could undergo a thorough restoration project – which was completed in less than six months by the engine specialist and an auto repairer.

Attard is proud of his metallic light blue K-70, being the only model on the road in Malta. Its number – VWH 201 – denotes the first water cooled VW. He enjoys his vehicle and the other VWs as much as possible during the events organised by Old Motors Club as well as trips to Sicily.

He keeps abreast of news on this model through membership in the K-70 Freaks Club based in Dortmund, Germany. Being the owner of a 1974 VW Sirocco, he is also involved with the Sirocco UK Club. Another VW in his possession is a 1981 Golf Mark I.

At the moment Attard, and two of his friends are helping his brother Robert restore a 1973 VW Type 181 military trakker.

His VW vision – which his wife and daughters Nicole and Julia also share with him – does not end there.

He looks back with nostalgia on the many Beetles that were in his hands in the past and went away, and he would love to get some of them back into his fold. And a VW Combi would be the jewel in his crown!

Attard, who runs a company that imports medical equipment, has for the last few years been harnessing his organisational skills as secretary of the Old Motors Club. Besides helping out on the committee, he is a regular participant in various events, including static shows and runs.

www.oldmotorsclub.com