Owning a desirable classic that you can use as a practical daily driver is a great experience, and that is what the owner of this 1959 VW Beetle has been able to do. The car came to the US via an interesting route, and while it appears that the owner has a real soft spot for the little Beetle, he has decided that the time has come for the car to head off to a new home. It is located in Seattle, Washington, and has been listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $7,500, but the reserve hasn’t been met. If you would really like to park the Beetle in your driveway but don’t want to go through the stress and hassles of an auction, you do have the option to hit the BIN button, which would see you paying $13,900 for a car that has become a worldwide legend.
The badge on the back of the Beetle is a giveaway to its early life. These were spent plying the roads of Denmark and The Netherlands. From there it made its way to the US, and the owner holds all of the documentation tracing the car’s journey from country to country. The Fjord Blue VW looks to be in extremely nice condition. The owner claims that there is no rust to be found in the vehicle, with the panels appearing to be very clean and straight. The paint has a nice shine to it, while the trim and glass looks to be in good condition. Due to the way that they protrude, the hubcaps on these Beetles could be prone to damage, but these ones appear to be free of any issues. Included in the sale is a roof-rack for those owners who want to carry more luggage than they can fit in the trunk.
The originality of the Beetle extends to what you find lurking in the engine bay. What we get is the original 1,192cc flat-four engine, producing 36hp. That power finds its way in typical VW fashion to the rear wheels via a 4-speed manual transaxle. The first thing to note here is just how clean everything remains in the engine bay. There are no signs of any leaks or old oil buildup, which is always a good sign in a Beetle. The electrical system remains the original 6-volt configuration, and this does tend to be very reliable. The owner says that the VW runs and drives beautifully and that he does use it as his daily driver. The design brief for the Beetle was an interesting one because the car’s official top speed was stated as being around 68mph. However, they were quite capable of sitting on 60mph on the German Autobahns for hours on end.
Generally speaking, the interior of the Beetle has survived fairly well. At first, I thought that the headliner was quite dirty and stained, but viewed from different angles, it appears that this is just a trick of the light. The only obvious issues are the tear in the driver’s seat and the fact that the carpet is looking very dilapidated. Otherwise, the remaining trim looks to be in very good order, and the steering wheel, an item which can be very prone to wear and cracking, appears to be close to perfect. The beauty of the classic Beetle is that because they were built in such high numbers, and because so many have managed to survive, most parts are not only easy to obtain but are also extraordinarily cheap. To give you some insight, new front seat covers and a full carpet set should set the next owner back around $400, which is an inexpensive way to have the interior presenting beautifully once again.
I used to own a 1964 Beetle that I used to commute to and from work, and it was a fun little car to drive. It was also extremely cheap to run and was essentially bulletproof. The evidence of just how robust these are mechanically is best demonstrated by just how many remain in active duty on our roads today. This car is 61-years-old, and it remains original and in good condition. I don’t see any reason why we couldn’t be saying the same thing about it when it is twice that age. So, this is a classic that the next owner could quite conceivably pass on to their children…or their grandchildren…or great-grandchildren! That’s an interesting thought.
“The electrical system remains the original 6-volt configuration, and this does tend to be very reliable.”
Way back in 1973, a buddy of mine had one of these. If you wanted a ride you had to get out and push. The only time it started on its own that I can recall was the day he hacksawed through the roof pillar to scrap it and it fired up. Good thing it was in neutral because chasing it down the street would have just been hilarious…assuming that it hadn’t hit a car or house.
Thanks for the memory jog.
I also remember Senior Skip-Out Day. We all went to a kid named Mark’s house and sanded down his 1967 SS396 Chevelle for a repaint. The jocks and smart kids went drinking at a local park and were busted by the principal and the cops. Mark’s mother made lunch for the whole bunch of us and was happy that we were helping her son.
My dad wasn’t happy that I skipped school but once I told him what I was doing and that there was no booze or drugs involved he was OK with a day of good, old-fashioned work.
I’m doubtful about the originality claims, like always. Paint is getting thin on the roof and hood (expected) but the wheels look brand new. So I’m guessing at least a partial repaint. I suspect the interior was done at some point as well. Really nice little Bug, but obviously an older restoration.
Hi Grant. I am the 2nd and now 6th owner of the car. I bought it off the original owner in 1988 at age 17. My dad made me sell it 4 years later as I had a 67 that I tinkered with as well. I did the restoration on the car. The paint that you see is new. The hood is new. The car has had a coat of @#$% paint put on it. The tires, oddly enough, are the ones I installed in 1989, and the receipt stayed with the car! This car won car shows back in 1988 through 1991 when I showed it. It was beyond immaculate in its day, and I’m glad to have it back home. It was one I never wanted to let go. And, the mileage is correct. I kept records from the original owner, during my time of ownership, and I was able to trace back all the previous owners. The ccar has 102k, fully documented, with original NL purchase papers, overseas receipts, transportation, everything. In fact, the book I made to show the car with remained intact, just as I left it in 1992. I even know how the seat tear got there. :)
I jumped into old Type 1 ownership a few years back and it has been an absolute source of joy. Wherever you go, people smile and want to talk. Kids wave (and occasionally do the arm slug); people take pictures; going to the gas station is a social event. I’ve learned as I go too, doing repairs along the way. For the money there’s nothing that I can think of that offers such value (maybe close is a Jeep TJ, or first-gen Miata). Insurance costs a whopping $47/yr. What I like is that it’s a car you can drive regularly and not affect the value, hence keeping reasonable mileage on my other collector vehicles.
With all that room under the hood, why not mount the oil filled coil upright?
I guess those wheels are 14″ – did VW ever offer 13″s or 15″s on the old ones?
Can i assume that these were built well & water did not leak inside on the floors?
They are 15’s, the standard tire size was 5.60 x 15. They were built very well, you would usually have to crack a window to close the door because they are airtight and would actually float. The most important thing was to make sure the valve adjustment was done on a regular basis and the oil was full and refreshed every 3K. I have had 20 VW’s, they have personalities and character.
15″ was standard
Well, I’ve had several. Out of 73 cars I’ve owned, way up there on my favorite car list. Six volt very reliable? Well, maybe off of the showroom floor, but as the miles build up the grounds start to corrode, and those headlights and taillights aren’t so reliable.
Btw, Volkswagen claims it will float for 42 minutes, and the record for the number of people crammed into one is 20. lol
The seller might have better luck getting 14K if they fixed the front seat. It is all about presentation.
Gulf Blue is probaby my favorite beetle color!