Raspbernie Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 Who Won The Raspberries Rollswagen Contestby Ryan Richardson In early 1973, Capitol Records embarked on a Raspberries promotional campaign aimed squarely at the lucrative youth market, girls in particular. In conjunction with Star, the Raspberries Rollswagen sweepstakes was announced in the magazine's debut issue and was promoted through its fourth issue with entries accepted through the end of May. The Rollswagen was yet another over-the-top Barris Kustom creation, complete with "foxy fur" upholstery and a Quadrasonic 8-track player (natch). One issue later in June 1973, Petersen abruptly ceased publication of Star. I couldn't help but wonder... whatever happened to the Rollswagen? Dedicated dozens of Eric Carmen fans wanted to know, too. In November 2014, while looking for Star ads in another teen mag issued by Petersen, a piece of the puzzle popped forth: A cursory Google search turned up a Billboard announcement that the winner was from Florida and that there'd been 31,000 contest entries. Having logged many years sleuthing for long-lost band members, I felt confident I could find Teena — and maybe the Rollswagen. The uncommon spelling and surname helped narrow the search in a hurry, though experience told me maiden names often go by the wayside. Eventually a search by family name and the tiny Florida hometown led to a newspaper piece where Teena's married name was mentioned. A few minutes later, I jumped onto this era's one-stop-shop for people finding, Facebook, and sent off a message. That evening a reply appeared: "I will give a call tomorrow." For a town with fewer than 4000 residents, Teena's big win was a big deal. There was a parade. The mayor presented a key to the city to Jim Bonfanti, the Raspberries member Teena deemed "foxiest" and who'd flown in along with Capitol execs for the hand-off. With Teena being three years shy of driving age, the Rollswagen wound up with an older cousin, though she did wind up learning how to drive a stick-shift in it! And so I had to ask: where's the Rollswagen now? Her answer was nothing short of thrilling: "it may still be in my aunt's backyard." With four decades elapsed in the coastal outdoors, the best case scenario would be a rusted-out Rollswagen, a shadow of its former glam glory. Still, I was already imagining a roadtrip to see the thing. After no word from her cousin and a month gone by since we'd first spoken, Teena decided to drive the half hour to her aunt's place. A look around revealed no sign of the mythic vehicle, inevitably vanished in the gulf between way back when and way too late. Her cousin later confirmed the Rollswagen had been junked long ago. Could it have really turned out differently? Probably not. But, hey, a little dreaming never hurt. In fact it's almost required for some things — like morphing a Volkswagen Beetle into a souped-up Rolls Royce or, well, sending off a sweepstakes entry. Just ask those guys who sang Let's Pretend. __________ The most often asked Raspberries question... What happened to the Rollswagen... All of the answers here (in full color!)—Wow! Bernie 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Kiwi Connection Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 Great story. Sorry the ending wasn't the one we were all hoping for!!!! 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Ellen Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 I used to drive around in a '69 Firebird convertible which I loved. If I'd won the Rollswagen, believe me, I'd still be driving it. Lucky Teena for being the winner of the contest -- and for hanging out with "foxy Jim B." 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batman Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 I was just about ready to start searching the dark corners of the Batcave to see if the Rollswagen was tucked away somewhere when I read the link that said it was junked. How sad. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GirlFan Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 At least now we know what happened to the Raspberries Rollswagon but of course if I were alive back when they had the contest I would have picked Eric as the foxiest Rasperry Tammy Quick 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeC Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 What a great story. I wonder which junkyard it went to. It couldn't be too far from her aunt's house. The junkyard must have thought it was just a fan who painted the words, if they were readable, from rusting. But, it would have stood out, because of the front of the car. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susie b Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 So crazy to junk it. Vintage VW's, customized or not, are SO easy to restore! Hopefully, someone junkyard picked it. Maybe it's a project car in someone's garage. If it gets restored, you can bet that it will appear at one of the vintage VW rallies like the big one in Effingham, IL. I'll ask around on my air cooled VW forums. Still love driving my 1974 Karmann Ghia, but only in nice weather! 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Nice sleuthing by the author...in a way, it's good to know, but, it takes away the faded hope that I might still find the car intact someday- Oh, Raspberries!! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Lee Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 I remember a photo of Walley with a big tire 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneNR Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 It would be very interesting if the story could be picked up from the junkyard drop off to someone else possibly wanting to restore it, as Susie B speculated. Until it is known for certain that someone acknowledges it was scrapped or crushed, somebody could very well have cherry picked it out of the lot to revive the poor thing. . . so there is still a glimmer!! You would think, though, that something that was that big a deal for that small town, that whoever was keeping the vehicle would have taken better care of it than let it "go to seed" and end up in a junkyard ! . . . wahhh!!! I hope Susie B can ferret out a more definitive conclusion, if that is possible. . . here's hoping it ain't over yet. AnneNR 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paperdoll82 Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 What a shame. I admire the author's tenacity, though, and a big thumbs-up for the nod to EC.com fans. Teena was a cutie. Awesome that the town gave Jim the red-carpet treatment. Cheryl 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Lee Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Jim looks way cool in that photo with Teena 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneNR Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 I think Teena should have had the Raspberries Rolls for sure when she was of age, it sounds like the cousin got what she entered for and won instead of Teena (?) AnneNR 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Lee Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 And you know there was an adult there leading the way, should have been her car 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Lee Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Kind of happened to Raspberries , didnt get what they deserved 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raspathens Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Jim had the Rock Star look down, for sure; and Ryan's a time traveler, past and future! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raspbernie Posted December 31, 2014 Author Share Posted December 31, 2014 On 12/30/2014 at 9:05 PM, Jim Lee said: Jim looks way cool in that photo with Teena Foxy! Bernie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susie b Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Possibilities...... A friend of a friend of a friend responded to my VW post... Apparently there is a guy who is a junkyard picker, and this friend thinks the picker may have our car, BUT, this time of year the picker is usually in South America...Brazil...picking old Dubs. This picker warehouses 100's of old Dubs for parts & restoration and may not know what he has....if he has it. I've got my VW guys in pursuit....we'll see. Will keep you posted!!!!! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 Always the flicker... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneNR Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 QUICK!!!! SOMEONE CONTACT THE "AMERICAN PICKERS" TO HELP SLEUTH THIS THROUGH ---- THEY LOVE THIS KINDA THING!!! AnneNR 6 6 |__/ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Lee Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Slow the video down, there was a dark red car in with all the buses at the begining 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susie b Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 Hey Jim, Good eye! I see the car and am looking hard at that rear quarter panel to see if it had a mod at one time...hard to tell???? Also looking at roof to see if that is dirt on a hard top or the remanents of a canvas sun roof cover. Again, hard to tell. I believe it is a Super Beetle and not a Beetle. Poor thing, no running boards. Would love to see a better shot of the vehicle. Please pardon the car geek enthusiasm! Ready for some "axel grease embedded 'neath her fingernails". Brian Wilson/ Roger Christian Susie PS Good find, Anne!!!!!!!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raspbernie Posted June 12, 2020 Author Share Posted June 12, 2020 *bump* 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waverunnr Posted August 11 Share Posted August 11 The Raspberries VW is available as a Revell Model Kit! Did the junkyard picker ever recue the original?? Great post and research! Jim https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/raspberries-barris-kustom-rolls-vw-134121534 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susie b Posted August 14 Share Posted August 14 A couple of ads from the fabulous 1960's VW advertising campaign that predate the Barris creation of the Rollswagen... one as a stretch limo, the other shows a Bug all dolled up in classic Rolls Silver Cloud/Phantom two-tone paint & chrome. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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