Hal and Sandy Shevers of Sporty’s Pilot Shops sit in the new Red 5 fashioned after Red 3, Tom Poberezny’s personal Beetle. Photo by Jim Koepnick

Red 5 in its original state.

Sunday afternoon EAA President and AirVenture Chairman Tom Poberezny handed the keys to a newly restored 1960s-era Volkswagen Beetle over to Hal and Sandy Shevers of Sporty’s Pilot Shops.

The car is patterned after, and painted the same as, Red 1 and Red 3, for decades the AirVenture transportation for EAA Founder Paul Poberezny and Tom Poberezny, respectively.

A package including use of the Beetle for the entire EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2011 event, two rooms at the Hilton Garden Inn, and use of a courtesy car will be on the block at the annual auction at the Gathering of Eagles dinner Thursday evening.

The Shevers will use the car, which has the same access to the convention facilities as Red 1 and Red 3, for a day. According to Poberezny, a different long-time EAA Foundation supporter will drive the car each day in order showcase it for prospective bidders.

Kocourek Automotive of Wausau, Wisconsin, donated the car and much of the restoration work.

“We searched across the country for [a Beetle] that wasn’t all rusted out,” Keith Kocourek said, “and we found one 100 miles from home.

“The pressure is on,” Tom’s wife Sharon Poberezny said as the Shevers prepared to drive away. “Don’t return it with any hangar rash!”