With more than 21 million copies made across 65 years, the VW Type 1 (aka Beetle or Bug) is likely the most built car in the world. Back in the day, they were everywhere, yet you seldom see one today except at shows. This 1966 edition is said to be a one-owner vehicle with very low miles and is either a beautiful survivor or a quality restoration. Offered by a dealer in Pompano Beach, Florida, and here on eBay, the current bid for this German sedan is $4,250 with an unmet reserve.
Conceived as the “People’s Car” in the late 1930s, the Volkswagen Type 1 didn’t see much production activity until after World War II. The first Beetle was imported into the U.S. in 1949 and would remain a fixture until 1979 (although production continued in Mexico until 2003). The little econobox became so popular that U.S. automakers finally got into the game in the 1950s, but it was not until the 1970s that they marketed true subcompacts. Changes were few on a year-by-year basis, so it’s hard to tell 1960s Bugs from one another without a playbook.
The big news for 1966 was an increase in the displacement of the air-cooled engine from 1200 to 1300 cc, thereby increasing horsepower by 10% to 40. A few safety features were added, and only a couple of trim pieces distinguished the ’66 from the ’65. Because a dealer is involved in the sale, minimal history is provided, relying instead on “marketing-speak.” So, we don’t know if the car’s single owner treated it like gold for nearly 60 years or spent big bucks on a restoration.
The body, paint, and interior all present quite well, and the Beetle looks barely used. A stark contrast to the rest, which were used up by students, secretaries, and others on a budget who simply viewed the Type 1 as cheap but fun transportation. If the reserve isn’t set too high, this Bug should find its second owner fairly soon.
I don’t know how well that radio will work with a busted antenna.
As you note Russ, “marketing-speak.” Possibly (likely?) written by AI. It does a good (I’d say too good) of a job describing the car in overview, with precious little information about the details of this specific car. Which does look good.
I don’t think the car’s single owner treated it like gold OR spent big bucks on restoration. Lots of red flags in those photos…
The windshield and rear glass at least have been out if not replaced, and the engine has had the pulley replaced with an aftermarket one, along with a new coil. Someone has put a firecracker fuel filter in line, as well. That’s without looking at the original listing, just from pics. Depending on how one defines “survivor,” this might not be one. Def get someone familiar with Beetles to take a careful look at it. Like Phil C. says, there are red flags on this pretty little Bug.
Considering it’s a 60-year old car, someone may have replaced the old rubber due to cracking/perishing (or possible repaint). Interior color is incorrect for this model year (should be black seats/door cards). Engine is correct serial number for 1966 1300cc, so could very well be the original engine with some minor items replaced/upgraded. Wheels have been painted black, which is incorrect for this model year.
All in all, seems like a solid survivor that needs some more detailed photos to determine true condition (ie floor pans, front trunk etc), but wouldn’t take much to get this one back to true original condition.
The windshield, rear window and quarter windows should have chrome trim so they have been replaced. Not a bad thing but not original.
There are other things not factory but looks pretty good as a whole. I’d check it out carefully though before bidding.
I was going to point out the interior, the mont green came with black vinyl or (effectively special order only) slightly darker teal cloth and vinyl.
Had 4 of these. Got to a point where I could remove the engine, solo, in 30 minutes. Great cars.
My first was a rusty ’59. I’ve probably had at least 10 bugs plus a few Type llls and one 412. Never a Bus. Deliberately. I got so familiar with the Type 1 bugs, I could drive one into my garage, drop the engine and replace the clutch, pressure plate and TO bearing, reinstall the engine and drive it back out in a half hour.
Yeah, those low back seats exude a nostalgic vibe, especially in a wreck. No head restraints to protect you from a bad case of whiplash.
We have become a safety obsessed culture resulting in people driving tank like SUV’s. To what end? Life is risk.
Granted after driving modern cars, driving a ’66 bug can seem like you’re in a go cart that is very slow…. and s c a r y!
As for this car, what bug has only 18 K miles on it unless it has been buried in amber somewhere! Dealers. Pfftt!
Amen! Mountainwoodie.
All this “saftey” crap and “it’s for your safety” is sickening.
People knowing there are airbags everywhere and seatbelts and head restraints makes them drive like they are invincible. I hate it.
I know i’m at risk driving my 66′ Mustang with just lap belts here in the retirement community.
I’m not seeing any seatbelts. No thanks on bouncing around the interior in a wreck.
As a kid in grade school, we used to go to the library once a week.
I used to always gravitate towards the magazine’s, “National Geographic,” “Life,” etc. to look at the ads specifically for Cadillac, but also Volkswagen as they would tell you the year by year changes of the VW bug.
The biggest changes that stick in my head and I don’t remember the years, we’re the fuel gauge. Before that there was none and you had a reserve tank should you miscalculated and run out of gas.
Other changes that stuck out were changing the license plate light from a narrow “nose” type thing to an elongated light, covering the length of the plate. And lastly, changing the hood over the rear engine. If you will notice on this 1966 model, the hood is sloped as is the license plate. I distinctly remember a VW ad telling the new redesigned hood so the license plate was flat so the police could read it better. (Sorry)
The ad actually said “sorry.” Again don’t remember what years those were but I always enjoyed reading about the little changes they made and every year it wasn’t major, just one or two little changes.
1949 had the split oval rear window. 1950 had just an oval window. Later changed to a big rectangle window.
1949 the taillights were tiny round lights. Then they went oval. Then they got bigger. And then bigger again and again.
Ive never owned one but my BIL let me drive his 1968 Squareback one time. I was around 15.
The oval window started in March 1953. The smaller vesion of the large window started in 1958 then got bigger in 1965 and stayed the same for the rest of production.
Here we go again.
I concede to Steve i was wrong. The 1950 still had the split window. That went from 1949 (in America) to 1953. In 1954 it was changed to just an oval window when it changed again in 1958 to the large rectangle window according to Google.
1949 split oval
1954 VW
Long list of red flags here. Almost zero chance that this is really a 19k mile “surviver”. Wrong interior seat material, windows have been removed (repaint), carpet floor mat (not rubber), worn looking engine (Wrong crankshaft pulley) on and on and on. If you know these cars well, you know.
I’m 61 and rode in 3 different 70s bugs. I remember that distinctive smell they had inside along with that ring sound when it was going down the road and my ears always popped if I was in the backseat and someone slammed the door closed. Really cool little cars!
1958 VW
When all is said and done, I bet this little guy will pull some decent money. Close to 1000 folks watching it already.
My first car was a ’67 Beetle my dad picked out for me. It was either this color or a similar one. It was the last year for the “pretty” bumpers like this car has. I can attest to whiplash from those lowback seats from getting hit while sitting at a stoplight. My ’67 did have lap belts, which I was wearing at the time, but the crash sent my ribs right into the steering wheel. I was a sore mess for a while, but fortunately, the car was fixable. I only kept it for about a year, because I ultimately wanted a convertible. I traded in my ’67 for a ’68 Beetle convertible I kept for four years.
I have one funny memory of the ’67. I had to carry an allen wrench in the glovebox because the windshield wipers were always coming loose at the base and would only make spastic movements across the windshield until I tightened them. It literally happened on the way to the dealership to trade in the car. I left the wrench in the glovebox for them.
While this is a nice looking very old VW, looking at the photos and write up, it is difficult to believe that this VW has 19K original miles. That is said because I have a ’67 Euro VW that has 29K kilometers or 18K miles and is much, much cleaner, and far more original than this one. I bought it from the original owner in Germany about 45+ years ago. Even back then it was treasured and basically only driven on sunny weekends to car shows or cruises. It has been seriously babied its whole life. In the past 20 years it has been driven about 25 miles so it is time to let a new caretaker have the fun of preserving it and enjoying it into the future.
Okay, I think we can all agree that
this is a really nice bug with 118K
miles on it. But that’s not why I stopped by this morning. I stopped by to stand up for a dear
friend of mine who got nit picked
off this post Friday night. Granted, we all have a vehicle that we have an intimate knowledge of, but you don’t need
to run someone down because
their knowledge of a certain vehicle isn’t up to your standards.
In my 71 years of life on this planet, I’ve run across my share of know it all’s who think they know everything and know absolutely nothing. Well, that’s what happened to Angel Cadillac
Queen Diva Friday evening. All she did was comment on this car
and share some knowledge with us. And for that, she got nit picked off this post and lemme tell Ya’ folks, it just wasn’t right!
She was almost in tears when she got in touch with me Saturday morning and to me, it would be shameful to let a few
know it all’s run her off this site.
And while I won’t name names, you know who you are though.
She brings a breath of fresh air into this site with her comments and I find them to be very refreshing. And with all that being said, I’ll do my best to persuade her to remain here with us, but she’s still smarting over
what was said to her. And that, folks, is what a friend does for a
friend. Nuff said…
Since I’m the only one I see who posted a comment to her letter, I’m guessing you are referring to me. All I did was correct a mistake so people wouldn’t get wrong information. Isn’t that one of purposes of this forum. To pass along infromation. I reread my comment and it wasn’t insulting or mean or meant as an “attack”.