While the movement among VW faithful to give their cars the rat-rod treatment is hardly new, it’s hard for me to ignore a well-done air-cooled. This 1959 Volkswagen Beetle isn’t over the top in its use of patina to make a statement, and aside from adding a set of bumpers and different wheels, there’s not a lot I would change. The Beetle is listed here on eBay with bidding over $5,500 and no reserve.
Although it isn’t the desirable split- or oval-window out back, it’s still a preferred earlier model with the narrower taillight lenses and overall more svelte appearance. I love the early Beetles for this reason, as the later cars just look heavy by comparison. The seller notes the Beetle wears tired Fjord Blue paint (with one repaint noted) and that he rescued the car from an older owner who planned to restore but never did.
The Beetle has been sensibly tweaked, with a minty fresh interior inside the car to ensure you don’t have to feel like your cabin resembles the car’s scruffy exterior appearance. The seller notes a completely new vinyl interior was installed, along with fresh seals front to back. Plenty of rusty metal was replaced, including the rear floor pans, heater channels, lower fire wall sections, and plenty more – with all rust removed.
That’s a lot of work for a car like this, but I can understand if the price paid was more than fair. That’s how I look at my junkyard rescue Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 project (video update pending) which was bought cheaply enough to justify the eventual metal work. This Beetle looks like the kind of car you can get in and drive, with the engine noted as being a needs-nothing 1600 with a new voltage regulator.
So, it’s been Repainted once?
1964 and older bodies and panels are getting more difficult to find. This one looks complete and in need of little work, assuming no rust is hiding in the lower door seals. I’d be interested if I hadn’t just finished a ’62. Having never restored a bug before, it was quite an enjoyable experience. Still a large aftermarket and enthusiast community. I strongly recommend these bugs for DIY’ers wanting to jump into restoration. Porsche and his engineers did well designing the people’s car.
Love it. The ONLY immediate change would be loosing Pep Boys steering wheel cover. Thats it, drive the piss out of it.
The fuel gauge is an add-on. The ’59 VW did not have a fuel gauge on the dashboard. Used to write down the mileage when I fueled my car and used the reserve lever on fuel tank if it ran low.
Strip the old paint off and do some research on the original color and paint it as it came from the factory. It is so out of the ordinary to see one restored to bone stock nowadays.😬
Repainted once.Who cares ?
A prime example of how German engineering showed how dual exhausts could double your horse power 😁😂🤣
The Beetle did not receive a gas gauge until 1962….dash plate must of been changed.
Must be the rare “rally” package
I like the wheels. I have not seen these before.
I love 1958-1964 VW bugs (though later 64’s had the “flat abomination” license plate light). These were the “Herbie Generation” bugs. True, the splits and the ovals are rarer and maybe more collectible. But you cannot make a Herbie out of them. Or, you could, but it utterly would not look right for obvious reasons. I love these particular bugs because of their especially cute old world charm looks. Back in the day, I owned a ‘61, two sunroof ‘62’s (one of which I decked out like Herbie), and a ‘63. But sorry, without righteous two-tiered deluxe style bumpers on it, this one just does not turn my fancy.
And it doesn’t have semaphores.
Update: me and my dad are the current owners of the car. We have converted it to 12 volt, disc brakes on the front. It actually has brakes now! We put a banjo steering wheel and an old school shifter in it. Roof rack by vintage speed was a must. It has a slight fuel leak so if anyone knows where to get the sending unit washers give me a holler. I drive it to high school about 3 times a week and it runs like a sowing machine. If anyone wants pictures email me @ thewildcatfish@gmail.com. Can’t decide what to do with it. It honestly has nothing wrong with it other than a few electrical gremlins here and there.
Russell have you replaced the headlights with 12 volt halogens? Or maybe LEDs?