For Christmas this year, I bought the chica something she had showed me two years ago: a limited-edition toaster in the shape of the legendary Volkswagen Kombi, the split-window bus that's the dream car of every baby boomer and their son. We own a '68 (first year with bay windows–BOOO…), and have previously owned a '71 and '74–needless to say (and I just said it haha), we're fans.
But trying to find the toaster was near-impossible. Volkswagen's Japan outpost gave them out a couple of years ago as a promotional gift for customers, and people in that Kombi-crazy island quickly bought them up, not just because of how they look but because the toast comes out with the VW insignia. They're now collector's items, going upward of $400 on eBay for A FUCKING TOASTER–and I was able to nab one, from some local cat (we met at Mitsuwa, of course).
It's cute, of course, but does it toast well?
]
As you can see from the above photo, wonderfully well.
Just a word of advice for anyone who takes the plunge: make sure to put regulation-size toast pieces in there. Too big, and the bread will burn; too thin, and they'll remain stuck. Otherwise, the best Volkswagen collectible since the 21-window Deluxe…
Follow Stick a Fork In It on Twitter @ocweeklyfood or on Facebook! And don't forget to download our free Best Of App here!
Dear sir/ madam. Where can I purchase the toaster and for how much?