Who doesn’t love a VW Beetle? My family had one when I was in high school. I learned to drive on it. I’d love another one. What do you know? Todd K offers us this tip on a 1964 model for sale here on craigslist. And it’s in Cupertino, CA. not far from me. Will you hear the squeak of that engine going by your windows and spot me behind the wheel? Don’t bet against it. The car seems reasonable at $15K.
Best of all, I don’t have to haul it home. I can just get in it and drive. Sure, 80 mph on the freeway might be a bit of a stretch, but there will be downhill portions where I make the number. The rest of the time, you Teslas can just buzz off. I don’t care how fast you are; you’ll never be as good looking as I am. The styling, of course, is iconic. The paint? Well VeeDub experts need to weigh in here. I’m thinking that this careful prose is for a reason: “Beetle in its charming original green color,” “Solid green paint, showcasing the timeless design,” “Paint remains vibrant, highlighting the originality of this classic beauty.” All of that may be true, but none of it says in plain English that this car is as originally rolled out of the factory. This isn’t negativity—it’s caution. I guess an inspection would be the tell, and then you’ve got to decide if like original is worth the money asked. I’m thinking that the market has caught up with this listing, and that what you get for fifteen large nowadays makes this car look like a minor steal.
The engine is said to have 53,000 miles on it—nothing in the bulletproof reliability of these cars—and to run perfectly. My dad used to say you should drive these cars hard, and we certainly did that to our 1974 model. It was a far cry piloting that thing from moving around in his 1970s-80s full-sized station wagons, for sure. This one, too, will reward the person who next owns It with rock-solid performance. And while there’s no mention of history or documentation to prove the mileage claim, that person will be just the second owner of this car.
Sure, it’s not a muscle car nor a convertible, but this VW will be a fun and instantly accepted model at any cruise. Or buy it to actually use on a regular basis. If the claims that it has been maintained by a master tech pay off, you’ll have a pretty cheap car to run around in, and you’ll look darned good while doing it.
Ever wonder how the driver of the snowplow gets to the snowplow? (1964)
The VW ads were iconic. Simple, sometimes self deprecating but always a zinger.
Makes me wonder why they didn’t just open the garage doors to give enough light to really see what this car really is. Looks great in shadows though.
I drove a ’64 as a DD in Atlanta, GA traffic for six years back in the 1990s. Purchased from the son of the original owner, who bought it in Atlanta. Took a few sessions with the Idiot Book to get it sorted out. It still sparked with its original 6V electrics, and had the original dealer-installed AM radio (which didn’t work). Barely any heat in the winter, and no a/c in the summer (if you don’t count the “2-60” system). Every fillup at the gas station led to a conversation, and I loved driving to work in the rare Georgia snow, more likely to be an ice storm, in which it also did well (as Bill Cosby related in “200 MPH,” I’d laugh at the stuck Jeeps and 4x4s as I putt-putted past them).
This will make a fun runabout for someone… GLWS!
Had a faded teal (?) ’65 in the 70’s. 3 starters and 2 generators and after a foot out the door push start, that ole girl ran pretty good.
Bought the identical car, color and all, for $1,400 in mid 1965. Thought it was a little high but with a German car mechanic as seller thought it was ok. Drove it to all four corners of the country in the next 1 1/2 years, put 30,000 miles on it.Only thing that ever went wrong is the starter went out. Ended up rolling and wrecking it on I70 near Goodland Kansas at 2am. It was the first of my seven VW’s over the years, ’58, ’57, ’64, ’68 and ’73 bugs, and a ’72 squareback.
Current owner states that…”As the second owner of this classic Beetle, you’ll be inheriting a piece of automotive history.”…but also says..”Second owner with only 53,000 miles on the odometer”….can’t be both the first and second owner?
Cute little bug. I love the color. Somehow these little cars have a quite an attraction for me. Then so do Model Ts and As. I guess that in each case there were so many of them that I couldn’t help but have them grow on me. Another neat thing in my mind is that all of these cars were such basic transportation. And I think that is why they all sold in the millions. Truly icons on the roads of America. Left to my own devices and having funds that I don’t presently possess; I’d have an example of each one in my fantasy garage. GLWTS.
Curious to see what this goes for, you can’t buy these for $1000 anymore, I learned to drive stick on one in the early 80s just driving circles in a field at my grandparents farm, simple tough and fun a classic
nice, yeah. but does it have the hose that goes between the Schrader valve on the spare tire to the Schrader valve on the windshield washer reservoir?
Cool car if it’s real, I live nearby, I’m going to ping to see if I can actually see it or if it’s owned by a Nigerian Prince…
Reasonable?
I’ve never owed a VW Beetle or other model, but were always fascinated by them. Drove a Karrman Ghia (the one with the round taillights) at 15 and a ’68 Square back at 16.
As someone pointed out the commercials and magazine ads were epic. You could never forget them.
I used to love picking out the subtle changes from year to year, watching the taillights grow bigger, the license plate light grow longer horizontally, the slanted rear plate become straight up and down, the blinkers get bigger and become the parking lights as new headlight design faised out the covered glass headlights, and who could forget the addition of a gas gauge? That was a big deal back then. Moving the gas filler from under the hood/trunk to an outside door. Anyone know the dates of these changes? Should be plenty of VW aficionados in here.
This is where I get all my info from dear,,,
http://www.vw-resource.com/years.html
Search “Progressive Refinements” a VW publication from the early 70’s I believe. Lists every change made by VIN throughout the years in great detail.
Photos look like they were taken on the set of “Law and Order”
Could be a small body in the trunk.
Where is Lenny when we need a wise crack?
And why would I lean towards the windshield in my many Beetles as if I would see further even though they were mere inches away?
What ever happened to that steering wheel? Pretty rough for 53K miles, I’d say.
Bought a 66 in 2004. All original with the faded Bahama Blue paint, torn black interior and original rust and 6v..lol
She ran great. She even had the radio delete plate still intact. VW neighbor buff of mine said…at that time it was rare to see the plate still in the car. I just used a battery powered little radio I would sit on the glove box door..fit perfectly and stayed in place. Put new tires, KYB shocks and used motorcycle V twin engine oil just to help in the S.Florida climate. Drove it for a year and sold it for $1500. Cool little car..thought the “city lights” was a great idea. Little bulb would illuminate the glass globe and that’s all you really needed…in the city.