This 1959 VW Single-Cab pickup seems like a very good deal to me, unless I’m completely missing some egregious fault. It’s an early model with those sweet bullet-style turn signals (hence, “bullet nose”) and the rare pickup bed for $15,650. It’s not terribly rusty and comes with a rebuilt engine that carries a six-month warranty. There’s a whole mess of recent maintenance items that have been addressed recently, and you’ll find the full break-down here on craigslist. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Patrick for the find.
The seller notes that the VW comes with the following: new brakes, tires, fuel tank, battery, starter, and carb. The wiring isn’t fully sorted so the headlights and turn signals don’t work (but the wipers do). The body appears mostly sound, and the paint may even be original. At the least, it wears the same shade of paint inside the bed and door jambs. It’s a double “treasure chest” Bus, and the latches on those and the engine lid are all said to work.
The interior is spartan, as you’d expect. The bench seat likely needs work, as the springs are visible on the seat back and a Mexican / Navajo blanket covers the bench itself. Still, these are minor concerns for a Bus that’s allegedly fully sorted otherwise. While some of the appeal may be limited due to the pickup body, there are so many Buses already out there – this one would be a standout at any air-cooled show.
Speaking of, with that rebuilt engine, you could motor on down to Florida for the next Pass-A-Grille VW Beach Bash, one of my favorite old-school shows. This pickup is located in Georgia, where it can be hit or miss as it relates to the presence of rust/rot. Overall, it seems pretty solid, and a photo showing the underside of the Bus reveals nothing frightening. Does anyone else think this pickup-bodied Bus represents a solid deal at the current price?
Seems to good to be true. Yep, Georgia “Bill of Sale.” I know that there has been a lot of discussion on this site about the difficulties of obtaining a title in certain states. But it can be a major hassle.
On a related note, my daughter sold her junker car as a cash only tow-off to a salvage yard. She didn’t think to remove the license plates. Somebody pulled the licence plates, stuck them on their car, and later blew threw several Illinois tollways. Now I am in a protracted battle with the Illinois Tollway Authorities. They want my daughter to pay for tollway fees, and since I don’t have a bill of sale to “prove” that it was not her car, they insist that my daughter is liable for the fees. Even though the offending vehicle does not match the vehicle the license plate was last registered for. I apologize for my rant.
Georgia didn’t issue titles until 1963 and no longer requires them after 25 years, never had anyone claim a problem with GA Bill of Sale purchase.
Why can’t they build a modern truck with a bed like this ?
They do in Germany.
Or better yet 😉
Nice find but maybe Ni am just an old fellow15k? I know one can ask 40-50 for a resto but
it doesn’t mean it will sell .
The early VWs are cool and desirable but good luck flipper …
I love rear engine vehicles.
Especially the air cooled kind.
But what would I do with this?
I do not care what a restored one would go for.
What would I do with this.
Really?
You might be surprised at how much they can haul, not to mention the cargo versatility of the folding bed sides.
There are many in use now for all sorts of things.
My favorite color for a fifties VW. Having sold a cherry’67 21 window with a Westphalia interior I put in it for six grand in the eighties, and granted its been 30 years, the prices for VW trucks blow me away. But this truck is pretty neat. I’d love to find out whether its 15 grand neat.
Mustie 1 on youtube has several early vans and a pickup. Watching the amount of sheet metal hat has to be replaced on a “clean” example makes me not want one.
I was in a rental car in Virginia and was in the left hand lane with a $1.50 toll collection in the right hand lane. Couldn’t-didn’t pay. Got a notice of a $19.50 credit card charge for the rental company. I was in Clearwater Beach in my FL licensed car and traveled on an unmarked (Common in Florida) toll road. Got a bill for 75 cents from FDOT which could be paid on line with a CC and no service fee. If you drive a rental in South Florida, you will get a bill for unknown and unseen tolls. Just another tourist tax.
@Midwest Jeff – Tell the ITA to kiss your butt .They are a private entity and cannot do anything to you for the unpaid false tolls .If you want a work-around order and I-Pass and register it .Once it is registered call the ITA and they will slide to unpaid tolls to your I-Pass account .ITA is maybe the worst ran organization in the entire country!
“This pickup is located in Georgia, where it can be hit or miss as it relates to the presence of rust/rot.”
Don’t overlook the clue offered by the weathered Fairmont, Minnesota bumper sticker.
I’m a little curious….the tail lights on this VW are surely not those one would expect to see on a VW with those “sweet bullet-style turn signals” on the front of this vehicle. Something doesn’t quite add up here me thinks.
The taillights are correct, ftr.
If I had a time machine… I’d go back to 1976 and buy a dozen VW Buses for $1200 a pop and stuff em in a dry warehouse and pull em out in 2018.
Would be a LOT better performing than my 401K.
Total bargain at that price! Someone will do a full restoration, and we’ll see it next summer on Barrett Jackson, with a zero added at the end of that $15,650 !!
Careful here! Although the format is a very desireable one, I’d advise potential buyers to note that the engine is not the original. The original was a stale-air 36hp. The transmission was a split case, crash box, non-synchro into low type. Rust around the window frames features prominently in this example. Especially the windshields. OEM and NOS parts for a car of this age will test your ability to pay. Simple items like rear view mirrors can set you back $$$$.