Hangar Find: 1965 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible

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One of the great things about the classic car scene is that you can never be sure from where an iconic car will emerge. Take this 1965 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible, for example. It hasn’t recently emerged from a barn or a shed, but it was found languishing in an airport hangar. Its owner recently passed away, so it is being sold to settle his estate. If you find this Beetle too tempting to resist, you will find it located in Riverside, California, and listed for sale here on eBay. We’ve seen a few cars that have grabbed the buying public’s attention in recent times, and the little VW is no exception. It has already attracted twenty-one bids that have pushed the price to $15,000 in this No Reserve auction.

It isn’t clear how long the Beetle had been sitting for, but it seems to be none the worse for the experience. It is understood that the deceased owner purchased the vehicle via Barrett-Jackson several years ago. He then only clocked around 500 miles behind the wheel before he parked it permanently. Now that it has emerged into the light of day, we find a classic Convertible that is hard to fault. The seller says that it is believed that a previous owner restored the VW, and this is easy to believe when you look at the laser straight panels and the Black paint that looks deep enough to walk into. The seller mentions no problems with rust, and there’s nothing visible in the supplied photos. The Biscuit-colored convertible top is in good order, while the same is true of the chrome, trim, and glass. Summer is here, so that makes this the perfect way to enjoy those warmer days.

When this little Herbie was shiny and new, the engine bay would have housed the 1,192cc air-cooled flat-four that would’ve churned out 40hp. That engine is now a distant memory, and in its place, we find a 1,600cc unit that sends its power to the road via a 4-speed manual transaxle. The seller has no information on the specifications of this engine, so we can only guess what its power output might be. I think it would be safe to assume that the number will be higher than 40hp, making it entertaining to drive. When the seller dragged the car from hiding, they organized to have the fluids flushed and replaced. The tires were inspected for faults, and the Beetle is said to run and drive well. If I were considering buying this classic, I would probably have it checked again for my own peace of mind to ensure that the tires, brakes, and suspension were up to snuff. It might be okay for short trips as it currently stands, but I’d want to ensure that everything is correct before attempting any long journeys. Some of our readers might feel that I’m overly cautious, but I would follow this path for two reasons. Firstly, I’d hate to be forced to walk in search of help if something failed in the middle of nowhere. Secondly, climbing out of the scenery due to a tire or suspension failure is guaranteed to ruin your day! Better safe than sorry on that front.

If the exterior and the engine were impressive, the interior doesn’t let down the side with this Beetle. It is trimmed in a similar shade of vinyl to the top, and the upholstered surfaces appear perfect. There is no evidence of wear or other problems and no signs of any fading or stains. The carpet is in a similar state, while the painted surfaces shine warmly. There is no wear on the wheel, the bright trim pieces are flawless, and the vintage pushbutton radio offers the perfect finishing touch to an interior that looks oh-so inviting.

It isn’t clear how long this Beetle had been sitting in the hangar, but as an enthusiast, it is wonderful to see it emerge into the light of day. What we find is a classic car that would seem to need nothing beyond a lucky new owner. Its presentation is superb, the engine upgrades will offer improved performance, and it is guaranteed to turn heads wherever it goes. Is that enough to tempt you to submit a bid on this classic?

Auctions Ending Soon

Comments

  1. DJAC

    Fluids changed…that is humorous, as brake, oil, and windscreen wash are the only fluids in an air cooled.

    Like 0
  2. Gary Rhodes

    Beautiful color combo, love it.

    Like 6
  3. Vance

    I never have been a bug enthusiast, but I don’t dislike them either. But I have to agree, this color combination works for me. Let this be a lesson to all would be sellers, a clean car with some impressive photos, goes a long way. I could own this, if I could just fit in it. Very nice bug.

    Like 7
  4. Ralph

    Beautiful car here. The first thing the new owner should do is remove the cheap plastic fuel filter and replace it with a OEM, or metal filter. The number of cars that have burn down from leaking fuel filters, or failed filters, is huge. As a kid my folks always had a spare metal fuel filter in all our VWs, many times on a road trip our VWs would start to run rough or crappy. 9 times out of 10 a new filter was the answer.
    Just the same, this will be a great one for the new owner.

    Like 6
  5. Bob C.

    This is when Volkswagens were Volkswagens, simple, cheap and cheerful. Now they’re high tech siblings with Porsche and Audi.

    Like 11
  6. Charles Sawka

    Poifekt ! Very few with this livery combo !

    Like 1
  7. On and On On and OnMember

    Relisted on Ebay……………let’s see what happens this time around.

    Like 0

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