History:

Where and when did DHP first start?

In 2003 a group of three friends wanted to start a club that featured pre-1967 restored and customized Volkswagen cars. When it came time to choose a name for their club, the friends wanted something that had historical significance and paid homage to the origins of their German-made cars. They looked to the elite Der Kleiner Panzers (DKP) for their name and to the historical German Africa Korp insignia for their logo. Being residents of Tucson Arizona, famous for its “Dry Heat”, the friends wanted to modernize and localize their club name and logo. They decided on the name “Dry Heat Panzers” (DHP) and designed a logo that incorporated the classic palm tree (used by the original German Africa Korp). They added the cog-style VW symbol to their logo, a recognizable and yet (to their knowledge) unused symbol in the world of VW club logos. Thus was born DHP!

Membership:

The original founding members of DHP want to maintain a specific look and feel to the cars in the club, so they have decided to retain strict control over who is offered membership in DHP. DHP elects new members based on the individual candidate’s personality and the style of his or her car. DHP is a close-knit group of VW enthusiasts who have been interested in VWs for many years. It is rumored that a true DHP is one who plans to be buried in his VW. We have driven our VWs daily for years and have experienced the ups and downs that come with VW ownership. In spite of all the challenges or perhaps because of them, we are still here giving our love to these truly unique vehicles. Quality rather than quantity is what we want from both our club members and their rides. So, what does it take to become a Panzer? It’s fairly simple; you need an official invitation from the club and an undying commitment to VWs.

In early 2008 DHP merged with mega company Globadine Industries and DHPVWco was formed.