Special colors can make all the difference when deciding whether or not to rescue a given vehicle. This 1975 Volkswagen Beetle has clearly been laid up for a while, but there’s a part of me that’s very curious if this is an exceedingly rare “Cliff Green” model. This bright green paint job looks fantastic when it’s fully shined up, and very few U.S.-spec models were ordered with this color scheme. The Beetle is a fuel injected model and is listed here on eBay with bids to $1,125 and no reserve.
Now, there’s a good chance I’m wrong, as the correlation between online paint reference samples and what a car actually is leaves accuracy to be desired. It is, however, encouraging to see that the paint work continues to the inner door jams, under the engine cover, and other spaces on the car that would be unusual to see repainted on an old Bug without much in the way of resale value when it was just a tired, used car. The rear spoiler and “Thrasher” stickers on the doors suggest this may have been a young person’s Beetle at one point in time.
The photos aren’t great, but what I referenced above is fully visible here: bright green paint in all the hard-to-reach spaces, including the door jams, dash, and even what looks like the under dash area. The interior is in surprisingly decent shape for a car that has clearly been sitting for years, and it doesn’t have mouse nests spilling out for every corner (that’s not to say they aren’t there.) Given this Beetle is in New Jersey, mice are certainly a possibility. The seller notes it has been in this spot for at least 20 years.
The engine is still attached to the Beetle, which is a small miracle in and of itself. It seems that when Beetles sit like this, they almost immediately become parts cars. I don’t know enough about Beetles with fuel injection to know whether this is a decent system, but I’m sure it’s more complex than it needs to be. That being said, it only becomes a choice to keep it after you determine if the current engine is junk or not. The rare color and decent condition make it worth the current bid price; does anyone else agree with me on my guess about the paint code?
The green color, Cliff Green or not, also helps it be seen by those on the road who are busy checking their social media accounts while driving. Having owned 2 Bugs back in the 70’s I can say they’re fun little cars.
The first Beetle I ever drove! A girl at college had a green ’75, just like this one. I tried to buy it off her, but her dad wouldn’t let her sell.
Rough and rusty and surrounded by junk. Can’t see buying something like this when you could take the buy in and repair money and get one in good shape.
Oh, I had a yellow ’75 Beetle w/fuel injection. It developed
a rough, loss of power engine.
Not being a VW mechanic I replaced plugs, checked wires, and replaced the coil. None of this completely cured it. Then I got the idea to start replacing the many
vacuum hoses. This fixed the problem and it ran so sweet. I often think if this fun ride and wish I still had it. Rd
I have owned and drove hundreds of VWs. . . The Beetles are great (over 21 million produced from 1939 thru 2003). My favorite VWs of all time are my water cooled Vanagons. I am a very lucky guy = JAH JCC
The fuel injection on the 75 and later Beetle was pretty reliable. Head temp sensors were the only high failure rate critical item in the system. If the sensor fails the engine will not run. Early analog Bosch L-Jet had no limp home capability like later digital EFI. Not sure if there was a workaround but the sensors are no longer available last time I checked. Many systems were removed because of the lack of understanding of how the system operated. When they worked they drove nice.
Mine broke two airflow sensors. The portion that protruded into the flow snapped right off. Had to replace the entire component. Fixed it, sold it and got a carburetor model. No problem after that, great fun cars!!
They broke airflow sensors when they backfired from being too lean. Vacuum leaks or just an engine that was getting tired were 2 reasons they ran too lean. We used to pop the lid off of the sensor and adjust the return spring tension to compensate for engine wear.
My mom owned one of these in the 70s. Hers was green too, and was fuel injected. I think hers was a “Super Beetle” if I recall correctly. It had some sort of automatic transmission, that you still had to shift, but no clutch involved. She loved that car and it was the only car she would drive in the snow.
I sure wish that sellers would take the time to pull their car outside and at least spray them off with a hose before taking photos. This car is a long way from me, but I might have tried to buy it if they had better photos.
He would have to drag it out because th brake hubs are rusted tight. Just hope the emergency brake wasn’t st either.
I Had A 1967 Bug in 1978 My DaD Told me when he gave It to me U Burn the Tires off of it U Replace them I wore them tires out drove it 18Yrs couldn’t get no parts for it that’s what my dad said, I Think he just got tired of working on it , I Loved Bug, It was A 4-Speed Stick Oversized Heads &Pistions &Rings 1800 Heads it was suppose to have just 1200MM. Daddy gave Me The Power. Then it Quit he refused to work on it . He said I Give Up.He sold it.
Parts are readily available and fairly easy to work on for cheap transportation. At this price clean it up get it running and double your money
Troy, good idea. Or, fix it up and give it to a daughter to drive while she’s finishing college.
I had 1974 bought new it coast 2,4730 back then I drove that car for years in the winter you had go fast because that was how the heater work but loved that little car I put 70/14 made it more safe had a lot of fun and memories
I grew up less than 30 miles from Millstone. In that barn, in that location, mice are a certainty, and quite possibly the least of your worries. Assume the interior is a complete write off once you get to smell it, due to urine, mold, and 50 years worth of dead insect debris. Pray that the floors are solid (they probably aren’t given how much NJDOT loved to spread salt on the winter roads, but maybe the god of nearly lost causes will smile on your automotive dreams). Assume the wiring is gone in terms of service, if it’s even still there at all (a ground hog once took a liking to the wiring in my aforementioned MG money pit; tore the entire front end of the harness out and dragged it into his hole beneath the car). In fact, just assume it will need new everything (which thankfully is available). And keep the color, not just because it’s original but also iconic.
In the end you will probably have more into it than it’s worth unless you can do it all yourself (which isn’t that difficult) but you’ll have a desirable model of a car everyone should own at least once in their lives.
That spoiler on the deck lid will keep the car stable at high speeds!
That looks like a Herod Helper; 80s vintage “speed” equipment
I owned 2 VW Bugs. Both engines failed, were rebuilt by VW and FAILED again (dropped valves and embedded into piston heads). VW should have been named Hitler’s Final Curse. I was way tooooo stupid way back then and should have walked away after the 1st FAILURE! For me the only place for a VW Bug is in the CRUSHER!
Look, Ma, an actual barn find!!
I can smell the mouse pee from here…
Next door girl had a green convertible in the late 70s to early 80s…Rhonda was her name..beautiful beach blonde and tan skin that glistened from the baby oil she used. I was a youngster then, but she made me smile…a lot ☺.
I bought a 1975 Deluxe Beetle after graduation from highschool. My first new, but 4th beetle. First year for the fuel injection. MSRP was $3248.50. Vin was 1152023458. Yup, I know it by heart. The fuel injection in this car was the worse thing VW could do. Car was in and out of the shop 16 days within first 2 months. No loaner car because I was 18. It took a test drive by shop manager almost getting wrecked to force both the EFI and “brain” to be replaced. The brain was something like $300 back then.
The color is legit! The earlier carb engines were easier and cheaper to run, or you could convert the F.I. to carb. = JAH JCC
Good basis for a modified hot rod Beetle. Not worth restoring to original because for the price of a great pain job, you can buy a driver quality round tail light bug