Early Model Pair: ’62 + ’63 VW Beetles

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If my experience selling cars and trucks out of the large collection of vehicles in Georgia has taught me anything, it’s that old aircooled VWs still command a following, even in project form. This pair of Bugs includes a ’62 and ’63 model, desirable in their own right for being a bit older with some of the nicer details lost on the later models. You will need to figure out new how to make them move under their own power, but that’s half the fun. Find the project pair here on eBay with bidding just under $2K at the moment. 

The Bugs are far from complete, but details like the chrome bumpers, glass headlights and smaller rear taillights are all far prettier than the later models with their overall fatter proportions. The seller notes that despite what you see here, all four fenders are included. The Bugs are located in Arkansas, which I’d give a 50/50 chance at there not being any floor rot.

Both Beetles have transmissions; one has no engine and the other has “some” of an engine. Regardless, that one is probably a boat anchor, so best just to start anew with a freshly built motor. The interiors are rough and show signs of mold/mildew/or just an awful lot of dirt. The driver’s seat looks salvageable, but the door panels do not. Window seals are pretty well shot, but there’s likely a replacement parts source for those.

Aircooled fanatics will tell you even parts Bugs like these can offer up all sorts of desirable trim; at least that’s what I’ve heard with inquiries around the Bug parts cars in Georgia. While it may looks pretty rotten to some of us, I’m sure our Beetle experts can tell us if there’s good value in this sad pair of Bugs just in parts alone. At close to $2K, there’s some real money being spent for what looks like a pair of Beetles with their best years behind them.

Comments

  1. Max

    These early VW Beetle’s have their loyal fans and collectors am Not fan but just for entertainment I recently viewed youtube video someone buys and repairs these early Beetles here is link to video https://youtu.be/NZpGRhteQKo

    Like 2
  2. Fred W

    I miss the days when the JC Whitney catalog was chock full of cheap VW parts. I Googled and found you could get (in the 60’s) a bumper or a full set of hubcaps for fifteen bucks. You could also get a plaque for your rear bumper- “You’ve just been Volkswagened – passed by 36HP”. Couple of pages: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3167697/posts?q=1&;page=1

    Like 5
    • DanaPointJohn

      JC Whitney was my go-to source for restoring Beetles in the 1960s. Great deals and inventory.

      Like 1
    • Mountainwoodie

      The world has changed in ways unfathomable to even the youth of the sixties. Everything seems to be crap and cost too much. Hell even scrap beetles cost a couple of grand. And you cant get a JC Whitney catalog with reasonable prices for parts! Man…………

      Like 1
      • Miguel

        I just checked the J.C. Whitney catalog I used to get the hard dash covers from for $20.00 for Pintos.

        They are $95.00 today. That is for a thin piece of plastic to glue over the dash.

        The world has gone crazy.

        Like 2
  3. Scott M

    Ive had a dozen air-cooled VW’s and loved them all. I believe that most anything can be brought back from the dead with enough time and money. For me however, these would be perfect yard art.I would not change a thing.

    Like 4
  4. Joe Backer

    I can’t wait to hit my niece in the arm twice this afternoon! SLUGBUG! No tag backs!

    Like 0
  5. Joe Backer

    Introducing ScumBug our $2500 Baja Bug

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hjKzrnwLM8

    Like 0

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