NATCHEZ &045; Sporting patriotic red, white and blue colors, Sybil Alford’s 1968 Volkswagen has made an impression on the local community over the years.

Alford said the car has been used on several patriotic occasions and rarely goes unnoticed when on the road.

&uot;There’s not a time I get on the road when I won’t get my picture taken,&uot; she said. &uot;You’d think some people would get used to it.&uot;

The car has been driven as far as Hattiesburg but is usually driven around locally, Alford said.

In the early 1970s, Alford’s father, Earl, bought the car from a friend who worked with him at the paper mill. The Volkswagen was originally used as a family car, but eventually became Sybil’s car.

Both Sybil and Earl said the car was originally green when they first bought it and had been repainted over the years.

&uot;You either took it green, or you didn’t get one,&uot; Earl said.

Both father and daughter spent time together working on the car, changing engines, buying new parts and repainting it.

Sybil said she redecorated the car, ironing 50 white stars on the roof, for the Fourth of July in the 1980s after troops came back from overseas.

Afterwards, the car remained on blocks for 10 years and wasn’t used.

After Sept. 11, 2001, Sybil repainted the vehicle into the patriotic colors on it today. Each star and stripe was carefully measured before Sybil applied them to the roof, doors, hood and trunk.

&uot;It took a while, but I did it,&uot; Sybil said.

Sybil said she would eventually repaint the car a black cherry color sometime in the near future.

The Alfords both said they do not like the look of the newer model Volkswagens but can’t rule out possibly purchasing one.

&uot;I don’t like the way the new ones look,&uot; Earl said. &uot;But after saying that, I’ll probably end up with one.&uot;