There is something about the Volkswagen Beetle that brings out the Mr. Hyde in normally mild mannered people. Perhaps it is purgatory-slow speeds and clack-ity-rackity noise from the stock Beetle engine that drives its owners mad and convinces them to transform the egg shaped coupes into wheel-standing coffins.

It's a strange feeling when you kind of agree with something that Charles Manson did. It's not a good feeling. But I just learned that Charles Manson's insane "Helter Skelter" global race war fever dream used battalions of VW and Porsche-based dune buggies as key components, and I gotta say, at least in this one detail, …

Here's the most incredible thing about today: my prized Beetle has had its eyes gouged out, its hood and decklid battered, it bumpers mangled, roof rack stolen, radio gone, and the entire engine brutally extracted, and all I can think about is how amazingly wonderful people are.

Commenter Jake posted this comment and took the above pic of my de-headlighted and roof rack'd car. But with no address! Can anyone help me ID the location? Most likely East LA, Boyle Heights, Frogtown, Highland Park... Help!

My Beetle is still missing. I've called every impound lot, entered the license plate into databases, combed adjoining and sketchier neighborhoods, made and distributed flyers, Facebooked, Tweeted, placed Craigslist ads, and anything else I could think to try. I've tried to focus on other things, but I find myself…

I just walked out to the front of my house where my 1973 Volkswagen Beetle was parked and stopped dead in my tracks, confronted by an ugly void where my car was sitting. It's gone, and I'm on hold with the police as we speak, and I feel sick.

Move aside, whippersnapper.

Welcome to Sunday Matinee, where we highlight classic car reviews or other longer videos I find on YouTube. Kick back and enjoy this blast from the past.

Right off the bat, let me make something absolutely clear: this is only freaky if you're a hard-core air-cooled VW geek. Many of you won't even realize what the big deal is, but if you're a hard-core Beetle person, lay down a dropcloth since your mind is gonna be blown.

This week's Car Hacks is interesting because it's one of the very few that doesn't involve an actual car or part of a car at all. It does, however, involve a lot of creativity, novel thinking, and an unashamed love of cars.