The Volkswagen Beetle remains a hobby and classic car standard with a following that seems to withstand the test of time. To me, this is one of the more redeeming qualities of this well-loved model: decades after its introduction, it continues to entice owners to preserve, modify, and daily-drive cars like this oval-window 1955 model listed here on eBay. Incredibly, this Beetle retains its numbers-matching drivetrain and a rust-free pan. Bidding sits at $13,100 with the reserve unmet.
As you already likely know, an oval window Beetle is among the earlier models sold stateside. Due to limited quantities and even fewer left after years of rust and abuse have taken their toll, it’s not exactly easy to find a decent oval-window Bug. It’s even more challenging to find one with a numbers matching engine, so to say this Beetle is a bit of a standout is an understatement. The body has some beauty marks but appears to be in excellent original shape overall.
The color combination is also excellent, and a surprising bonus for a car that was already shaping up to be a stunner. The oxblood interior looks fantastic against the gray paint job (I’m sure there’s a proper name of it as there’s clearly a hint of violet in the paint – feel free to post in the comments if you know what the factory name for this color is) and the matching dash and door panels are strong indicators of originality. The interior is like the rest of the car – not mint but in strong, survivor-grade condition.
The large chrome bumpers with overriders, the OEM-style roof rack, and the polished hubcaps are all welcome features for anyone chasing a Bug that looks period-correct. The seller claims that it “….runs like a champ” and has new shocks and tires at all four corners. The current bid price is under what a decent oval window should sell for, so I expect we’ll see this one end up somewhere north of $15,000 – and that’s still a terrific ratio of smiles per dollars.
These were still a curiosity in most of the USA then, the few imported cars sold in the mid-1950’s were mostly British.
There couldn’t be many Beetles of this vintage left. It looks like a straightforward restoration.
Good luck to the seller, and the new owner.
I think CA law states that all pre 1967 Beetles are mandated to have a roof rack.
No! Another roof rack h8ter! lol. Like 10 minutes to remove but this is some important sh*t.
Well, I had three roof racks, and over a period of time, sold them all out of the state of California, principally in the New England area.
That color appears to be Strato Silver. I agree, nice combination with the oxblood interior.
Very stock appearance, even has the single tip muffler.
Beautiful..I’d sell both of my Eurovans (One camper on Rd,other for parts, and my Jetta for this…Good luck to the new owner , a great daily driver for where I am…In Puerto Rico
The “D” plate brings back memories of my time in Germany in 66-69 on the taxpayers dime, these were everywhere. Many GI’s bought them, they were cheap. I got lucky and scored a 62 notchback for cheap.
Very cool Beetle! Extremely rare to have its original serial number drivetrain. Pretty color too.
I actually own a 1955 VW Deluxe Beetle with the unusual factory option of a sunroof. They are cool cars! Mine also has its numbers matching original engine, transaxle and front suspension. Mine has it’s original 68 year old factory paint job, its original upholstery, carpeting, floormats and headliner. It has never been restored, and has only 70k original miles on this Classic. I’m the second owner since I bought it from the original owner back in 1994.
Someone will enjoy ownership of that nice Oval Beetle on eBay…
Single tailpipe makes me think aftermarket exhaust, don’t think I’ve ever seen even an oldie like this that didn’t originally have two, excluding of course those where one pipe has rusted off. Been wrong before, ask my dw…
you are correct. The single tip exhaust was used on the really early cars, with the 25 hp engine. It must be an aftermarket. All 36hp engines used in this era had the dual pipes.
Single tail pipe is stock till the 56 model. I have a 52 with the stock single pipe. They didn’t have the 2 cutouts in the rear apron till the 1956 model started. So this car is correct.
Your wrong All 55’s (bugs and buses had one tailpipe
I had a ’55 (black w/red interior). Had a single pipe coming out of the muffler which was original to the car.
This is a great survivor quality project and would be one sweet cruiser when finished. VW parts are still plentiful and easy to find. Although finding an OEM flower and vase for the dash may be difficult,
Mark
They ask the question, “If a man says something and there’s no woman around to hear it. Is he still wrong?”
I agree. Love the oval window Beetles. This one is a gem.
Mario–no worries about finding a flower/bud vase. They are quite plentiful in the VW world . . . check the theSamba or elsewhere. Compared to some VW items, the flower vases are still pretty reasonable. Now, if you want the one that was in Ferdinand’s personal car, that is considerably more pricey.
My son and I recently found an original 72 Super beetle with 6100 origional miles in the clock! Even more shocking was there was no rust on the original pan!! It had the origional engine and transmission and even ran after swapping out the fuel system. Apparently it spent about 25-30yrs in a barn and aside from some bumps, bruises, and some surface rust on the fenders it was a real find! I bought it as an 18th b-day gift for my son and it’s his first car. When we got It home, my son, his little brother and I spent 2 days cleaning the interior that had about a 2in layer of stuff settled after sitting in the barn and It cleaned up really clean for a 50+yr old car. It now has about 9500 miles on it and it’s a blast to drive. 😃
When I was stationed at Ft. Myer, Virginia in 1965 I had a chance to buy a ’51 VW Beetle for $150 that was parked at a gas station in Arlington not far from the post. It was complete with mechanical brakes and working semiphore turn signals. I remember driving it around the station and the brakes were horrible, but pedal pressure was solid. It also desperately needed rear shocks. The engine and trans seemed fine along with the exterior and interior. The color was black, of course. I already had a ’65 VW and for a variety of reasons just couldn’t deal with a second car at the time. I can only fantasize about what my current situation would be if I had bought and kept this car.
Where are the semaphores?
Surely those front indicators are add ons..Unless it’s an American spec thing…
From what I can remember they were installed lengthwise into the two body areas next to the rear of the front door window frames a few inches below the roof. They were unlighted, color matched in black, and controlled by a turn signal type lever on the left of the steering column just like their successors would be the following year when regular turn signals were provided. I’m uncertain if they were self-cancelling or not, but I suspect they were not.
The convertibles were as you describe. I’m fairly certain the sedans were on the B pillar.
Export cars, after about 55ish, did not get the semaphores, which were on the B pillar. Semaphores were used on the Splits, and I believe on the “early” (53- 55) (including the Zwitters) Ovals. In simple terms, there are the “Early” Ovals, with some unique features, and the later Ovals (56 – 57), which had their own unique features. A 56 Oval and a 57 Oval are nearly identical. Takes a bit of a VW nut to tell them apart. The line of demarcation between the 55s and the 56s is a hazy one. One of the interesting sidelights, is that VW “dealerships” did not really start becoming what we recognize today, until around 55-56. Before that, VWs were sold in some pretty shoddy places, usually combined with other makes, even motorcycles.
LOVE it! I’d drive it just the way it is. But the HEATERS in these cars leave a lot to be desired.
I remember QUITE A FEW of these on the road by 1953 and 1954: ’49s and ’50s were rare — but the “FolksVaagen” took-off after the Korean War. I also saw ’46-’48 examples, as our G.I.s brought them home from having been stationed in Germany — differences in hubcaps, and even more austere than the ’49s that were imported in just two examples. The VWs from 1952 on back had a split rear window.
In Tenafly, New Jersey, in 1959, there was a garage/small used car lot with a small collection of pre-1953 VWs, a few of which were earlier than 1949. I wonder what became of them? Tenafly also had a fleet of grey 1953 Buick taxicabs — back when a taxi more than two years old was OLD. Tenafly still had those ’53 Buick cabs at least until the late summer of 1962, when I moved away.