I grew up with Volkswagen Beetles but I have always wanted a Type 3 of any variety: a Fastback, Notchback, or especially a Squareback. This 1968 VW Type 3 Squareback Baja is on Craigslist in Hesperia, California with an asking price of $5,000 or offer. This is one hip, urban Squareback!
I almost always prefer an original or restored-to-original-specs car, but this one would be fun to own. The amount of work that has been done here is, needless to say, both large and quite personalized. And unless you’re like Edd China and you aren’t charging for your own labor/labour, you couldn’t come close to this level of customization for $5,000. This one also has front disc brakes which will help to stop those rolling giant tires.
You’ll need this grille bar for your trips to the mall; I mean, through the desert. Although, technically there’s no grille on these cars; but you know what I mean. The wheel/tires are 33″ and you can see that they provide some much-needed clearance for those trips to Whole Foods, I mean, those trips through the desert.
Like this one was made for.
There are no engine photos but the seller says that this car is packed with a 2,100 cc motor with dual Weber carburetors, which would would all be packed under the rear compartment like this one. It also has a bus transmission, bus reduction gear boxes, a manual transmission, and a remote oil cooler and fan.
Then there’s this: a custom bamboo interior. I know, I’m not sure what that has to do with a jacked-up, custom “Baja” VW either, but it’s there none the less. All in all, this is a super-personalized car that obviously won’t appeal to everyone. But for the entry price, you’d have a hard time finding a Squareback with more personality and one that would draw a bigger crowd at the Co-op; I mean, at a desert rally. Do you like your Volkswagens as they were when they left Wolfsburg or do you give customizers some slack with these cars?
Kinda cool.
The reduction boxes will limit top speed, which is probably a good thing as there sure isn’t much room for suspension articulation. They were needed to get the ride height out back. This is definitely built for trips to Bed Bath and Beyond rather than the desert.
Still pretty cool.
I really dig that bamboo interior! But it looks like wicker to me. Either way it’s way cool.
Would be great here in Florida, on all of the rural dirt roads.
Looks well done and price is very fair. Although it won’t float everyone’s boat I like it and it is surely capable with the 2100 & dual carbs. Saw a Beetle that looked like it was built by the same builder in Seattle last night when we went for burgers.
What does the non op registration imply? (I’m Canadian, what do I know?)
In California (I don’t know about other states) it costs for registration each year and also a smog check every two. If one knows that the tires won’t hit any public roads a yearly Non-Op (Non Operation) registration is possible. For about forty bucks your car is still in the state computer. Non-Op of a car can be for any reason, including frugality. I’ve got a car on Non-Op that runs fine that I imported from Canada that I just don’t want to insure or drive it until later.
Thanks … so it doesn’t impact on the transferability of the ownership, just means that it would have to be trailered away and any pre-sale road test would have to be on private property?
AlanB…
No impact whatsoever. And the DMV will issue the registered owner a one day driving permit for Non-Op cars. Most folks will use the special permit to get the car smogged, or such. The permit comes from the DMV office directly. The registered owner gets to stand in line. The permit is red, and measures approximately 3.5″ x 3.5″, maybe a bit bigger.
If there are no issues with smogging the car it should be no problem to get the car off Non-Op status before purchase.
But getting the car off non op is not necessary.
There is another type of Permit available in California, called a “One Trip Permit”. It costs twenty bucks and can be picked up at any California DMV. It can be used for moving a car for a circuitous route of up to sixty miles, or moving a car in, out, through, or within the state.
Attached (I hope) are pictures of the one trip permit, front and back.
Here is the back of the One Trip Permit…
Cheers, Jeffery
I knew it had to be Scotty G. If there ever was a VW on steroids, this is it. That freakin’ interior blows me away. Certainly does nothing for me, but you would fit in with the 4×4/SUV/Pickup highway crowd. ( Scotty, I’d still rather have the 4×4 Volvo 122S wagon) http://www.vintagemudder.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/1968-Volvo-122S-Toyota-Chassis-4×4.jpg
I bought this car. It’s nice.
Mitch, give us an update! Congratulations!
I own this car now..