He learned to drive in one, which also became his very first car as he fell in love with their distinctive shape, the way they drove, and their character.

Mr Parianos now owns three of the vehicles, two dating from 1961 - one of which he's done extensive work on to ensure he can use it as his everyday car - and a pristine 1956 Beetle which had only 46,000km on the odometer he purchased in Pennant Hills.

There are some 20 or 30 of the cars owned in and around Orange - some in storage and some undergoing restoration - but the community of drivers were saddened this week as the final Beetle rolled off the production line on Wednesday.

"Everyone has a story about beetles ... every time I fill it up with petrol I get someone coming over. Everyone has a family member or friend who's had one," Mr Parianos said.

"Beetle owners band together and there's a genuine friendship, there are a couple of us in the Central West."

However, he wasn't overly surprised Beetles had reached the end of the line, seven decades on from being produced in Germany in the 1930s, with the car becoming a pop culture icon as well as a beloved vehicle.

"The steering column could go through your chest if you crash, the fuel tank sits above your lap and the engine's in the back, you drive a beetle with respect," he said.