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Bought New in Netherlands: 1959 VW Beetle

This 1959 Volkswagen Beetle is a very nicely preserved example with a great history, having been purchased new in the Netherlands and shipped to the United States. The seller claims it remains in original condition with just over 100,000 miles and the body seems to be in great shape. The color-matched steel wheels with hubcaps are a great look, and all the chrome features look to be in sound condition. At $16,449, the asking price isn’t particularly cheap, but the nice ones rarely are. Find it here on craigslist in Seattle where the seller notes he uses it as a daily driver. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Ikey H. for the find. 

The Beetle isn’t the earliest of examples as it has the larger rear window, but it does still retain lots of pretty details that always made the earlier cars more attractive to my eyes. The chrome bumpers with overriders; the svelte taillights; the sloping fenders; the big VW mudflaps; the list of things that catch my eye goes on and on, but it’s why I love the Beetles produced in the 50s. They just seemed to lose some of their style as the years wore on, obviously in an attempt to keep the design looking as modern as possible. I love the details that remain with the car, like the NL badge that it likely wore when it was new. It says a lot when those artifacts survive, usually indicating a chain of owners that truly loved the car and strove to keep it preserved.

This includes details like the original radio still affixed in the dash, which looks to be in great condition. The seller doesn’t include any specific photos of the seats but does feature a snapshot from a photo album of the car, which appears to show a very pretty upholstery pattern featuring a two-tone scheme of blue and white vinyl or leatherette. One would hope with a painted dash that still looks this good that the seating surfaces have survived in a similar fashion. The documentation of this Beetle doesn’t necessarily include service records, but it does show the car as it moved from the Netherlands to the U.S., and the seller notes he still has the shipping documents related to the car’s overseas transport. Those are records that have typically been lost by now.

The engine is described as being the original unit, complete with the six volt system and 36 storming horses under the lid. Everything looks tidy here and the paint matches nicely, and it actually borders on looking lightly restored rather than completely original. Hopefully, the claims of originality can be proven with a paint depth meter and by confirming engine and VIN numbers, as finding a survivor Beetle in condition like this is worth pursuing. Throw in the details of being bought new in Europe and those records staying with the car and it would seem likely you’re buying a Bug that’s been loved. What do you think – is the asking price fair for how it is presented?

Comments

  1. Avatar Bob McK

    No pictures of the interior or the bottom of the car. This is an interesting find, but I would have to see this one in person before I would make an offer. Price seems a bit high to me anyway.

    Like 3
  2. HoA Howard A Member

    Pretty amazing, considering my friend bought a ’58 in 1972 for $65 bucks. This has an aftermarket Dehne gas gauge. I read, ’62 was the 1st year for factory ones. Sure beats the old “fuel tap”. Again with these, absolutely amazing condition, BUT, I believe a rude awakening is in store for someone that just shelled out 5 figures for a ’59 Bug, regardless of the condition.

    Like 5
    • Avatar Phil Parmelee

      I bought a ’58 in late ’69 as my first car for $75. Never could drive it, because the transmission needed repair and being 15 at the time as well. Had a blast with anyway and later sold it for $85 to a guy who wanted to make it into a dune buggy. After that, I purchased a ’62 Beetle as my first driver, though I still had to turn 16 to drive it…..legally. :)

      Like 5
  3. Avatar Sciguy58

    Love the gas gauge. The wheels have been repainted. The fender welting is black instead of body color. Still a beautiful beetle!

    Like 1
    • Avatar Bob McK

      The fender welting was always black. If it is the body color it has been painted.

      Like 9
      • Avatar doug

        Original welting is body color. Replacement is black. Has wrong centrifugal advance distributor, should be vacuum.

        Like 1
  4. Avatar F Again

    My first Beetle was a Netherlands import- as was the family I bought it from.

    This one’s a sweetie and appears to have led a charmed life.

    Like 1
  5. Avatar Dougie

    I’m curious as to why it doesn’t have semaphores. It’s my understanding that European cars had them through 1960. I know because I have a 1960 European bug with them. Also from what I know 1959 was the last time they were on cars exported to the U.S.

    Like 3
  6. Avatar K Acheson

    My first car was a white 1959 bug with semaphores. I paid $300. for it in 1971 and sold it for $300 four years later. I would love to have that car back today!

    Like 2
  7. Avatar jeff

    Beautiful Bug – but what makes me curious is that the Beetle has american bumpers, as far as I’m concerned the european ones never came with overriders; and the front blinkers have white glas on them, while the european ones are usualy orange.
    Bit confusing also the description of it’s origin: “…the Netherlands, Denmark…”, cause the Netherlands and Denmark are two different countrys, so, where is it from now?

    Still, beautiful car, would love to own it!

    Like 5
  8. Avatar Del

    Surprised that anyone would pay to have it brought accross the ocean. Would not have been cheap.Even it was done a while ago.

    Guess those costs are figured into price.

    Like 1
    • Avatar FrankY

      My guess would be someone in the military or government where your goods are shipped for free. My Father brought his German Mercedes 190 3 on the tree back to the states in 1965. I still have the official red USA plates that came with the car.

      Like 3
  9. Avatar dyno dan

    L S swap. aftermarket semaphores.
    worth 50k

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Frank Y

    When I was in Germany I sent several pictures and contact info to BF of a nice old Beetle at a small used car dealer/Garage in the town
    I grew up in and was visiting again. Don’t ever think it made the cutting room posts. But it was very clean, original and for sale.
    Since cars and gas are very expensive in Europe they hold onto their cars longer than we do.

    Like 1
  11. Avatar Bob McK

    Doug, that is weird. Every new VW I bought had black welting. Maybe I am losing my mind. Now I need to do some research. Not that it really matters..

    Like 1
    • Avatar Mike B

      A ’59 should have black fender beading. Color-matched beading didn’t begin until the ’60’s…..

      Like 1
  12. Avatar sourpwr

    I had a 1974 bug. Don’t know what a semaphore is but if it had any I would have used bug spray and gotten rid of them

    Like 0
  13. bobhess bobhess Member

    Restored a ’59 for a friend. No semaphores and black fender welt. Had some hail damage. Toughest metal I’ve ever worked on. Nice old car.

    Like 3
  14. Avatar type2vw

    It was probably purchased thru the tourist program. You could pick up your U.S. version VW at any European dealership, drive it thru Europe then have it shipped home when your vacation was over. That’s why it has U.S. bumpers and turn signals. Strange he shows a few pages from his owner’s manual but no interior, under the hood, or pan pictures.

    Like 2
  15. Avatar jeff

    Thanks type2vW – never heard of this program befor – that explains everything!

    Regards Jeff

    Like 1

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