Some cars will be recognized as future classics the moment the first example appears on the showroom floor. Others need to work hard to earn their stripes, and the 1952 Volkswagen Beetle falls into the latter category. It seemed to offer everything the average American buyer didn’t want in the 1950s, from quirky styling and engineering to relatively tiny dimensions. However, they are now one of the “must-haves” of the classic scene, and pristine examples regularly and rapidly sell for more than $38,000. This Beetle isn’t pristine, but its lack of severe rust makes it a prime candidate for restoration. It runs and drives, leaving its new owner time to contemplate how to tackle the build while enjoying the classic motoring experience. It is listed here on Craigslist in Belfast, Maine. The seller’s price is $26,500, and I must thank Barn Finder T.J. for spotting this beauty.

I once saw a classic car show where the host reviewed a Split-Window Beetle wearing Black paint. He described it as looking like Darth Vader’s helmet from the rear, and you can see what he meant. This car rolled off the production line in December 1951. It was the last production year of vehicles to feature the Split-Window before the company began transitioning to the more conventional but no less distinctive Oval Window in October 1952. Its overall condition is good for a driver-quality classic, with its Azure Blue paint showing no chips or scratches worth mentioning. The panels have no major faults or issues, although the seller does indicate prior accident damage. They don’t elaborate on this, but color inconsistency on the driver’s side rear quarter below the window suggests that may be where the damage occurred. The seller states there is no significant rust. The floors are solid, although it does have the common rot problem in the heater channel bottom plate. Replacement parts are readily available, and replacing the offending parts should not be difficult. The trim looks acceptable for a car of this vintage, and I can’t spot any major problems with the glass.

The Beetle’s interior is complete, although the upholstered surfaces look tired and shabby. There are no glaring rips or tears, making it serviceable for those who want to retain the car untouched. As with the rest of the car, interior parts are surprisingly cheap, with a complete trim kit designed to return the interior to a factory fresh state retailing for around $1,200. The seller mentions “incorrect parts” in their listing but doesn’t elaborate. Nothing jumps out at me in the photos, so these may be hidden under the hood. In typical Beetle fashion, it is a rear-engined vehicle featuring an air-cooled flat-four sending its power to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transaxle. If the drivetrain is original, the four should have a capacity of 1,131cc and a power output of 25hp. That figure may be modest, but it doesn’t prevent the car from cruising happily on the open road at 60mph. It isn’t clear whether the vehicle is numbers-matching, but that could be where the changes the seller mentioned have occurred. It was common for owners to swap these engines for the larger 1,192cc version that boosted power to 36hp. That may be the case here, but it is a question worth asking for those craving originality. They say it runs and drives well, allowing the new owner to immediately slip behind the wheel for a spot of motoring enjoyment.

When the Volkswagen Beetle was new, it represented affordable and fuel-efficient motoring. It didn’t meet immediate acceptance in the American market, causing values on used examples to fall rapidly. This devaluation made them the ideal candidate for people with a limited income seeking a secondhand set of wheels. However, times change, and these early Beetles began developing a solid following in the 1990s. The survival rate has been impressive, and the enormous build total means that parts are affordable and plentiful. This car isn’t perfect, but it is a tidy driver-quality classic. One of the attractions of the Beetle is its basic but sound engineering and construction principles, making them an ideal candidate for restoration in a home workshop. If you found yourself as this car’s new owner, would you treat it to a birthday, or would you leave it largely untouched?