Air-cooled Volkswagen Beetles are nothing new on the project/hobby car landscape. In fact, you could say they suffer from the sin of being familiar, and because of that, these charming Bugs rarely fly off the shelf once they come up for sale. However, there’s something to be said for finding an example in decent condition with strong cosmetics – for a reasonable price – that makes them a surprisingly appealing option as a starter hobby car. This 1977 Volkswagen Beetle listed here on craigslist was supposedly restored 20 years ago and it still looks quite tidy, all for just $12,000.

Now, I realize $12K seems like a lot of you’re accustomed to seeing Beetles on every major classifieds site listed for $5,000 and below, but that’s because there’s a lot of junk out there. The Beetle is really no different than a C4 Corvette in that regard, because there’s an awful lot of those in horrible condition but worthwhile projects at that price point or less. The Beetle is a worthwhile candidate for someone looking to get into classic ownership with the added bonus of being slightly iconic; after all, it is one of the foremost examples of a groundbreaking economy car that also has a significant place in pop culture. The black bumper treatment gives this one a slightly sporty vibe, along with the rain deflector / spoiler on the engine cover.

The later Beetles represent an interesting bridge between the older models and the 1980s, as the interiors were freshened up and the exteriors featured modernized bumpers and side mirrors. Gone were the days of chrome finishes and delicate turn signals, and the Beetle’s stance was also significantly wider. The interiors weren’t dramatically different but the painted dashboard panel went away and black plastic finishes were dominant throughout. The gauges and radio controls looked much more Japanese-like in appearance, especially compared to the older models with their ivory steering wheels and volume knobs. The interior of this ’77 appears to be in excellent condition.

Fuel injection also became a feature of the modern-era Bug, but the seller of this car notes that it has been converted back to a carbureted set-up. The top end of the engine was also supposedly rebuilt approximately 20,000 miles ago. The fuel injected engine pushed out a mighty 48 horsepower and 75 lb.-ft. of torque, but those numbers are likely skewed in this instance due to the carburetor retrofit. The seller notes that the VW is “…98 percent rust-free”, which means there’s some rot hiding somewhere. This Beetle looks sharp on its Empi wheels and doesn’t need much to be fully sorted. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Mitchell G. for the tip.