Max Hoffman was an Austrian-born motoring enthusiast who was instrumental in the design features of European exotics like the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL “Gullwing.” However, he was also the Eastern United States importer of Volkswagen from 1950 until 1953. Our feature 1952 Beetle is one of his cars and has been restored to an exceptional standard. The seller is a perfectionist who has left no stone unturned in the maintenance process to ensure that this gem is in excellent mechanical health. The time has come for the VW to find a new home. Therefore, the seller has listed it here on eBay in Finleyville, Pennsylvania. The price? Are you sitting down? The seller set it at $60,000 OBO.

A previous owner completed the restoration of this Beetle in 2013, with the seller becoming its custodian around a year later. The attention to detail during the refresh is admirable, with the steel massaged to perfection before receiving a coat of this car’s original Azure Blue. The paint shines like a mirror, and with only 1,839 miles accumulated since 2013, there haven’t been many opportunities for it to accumulate flaws and chips. We can confirm roughly when this Beetle rolled off the line by a single feature in this frontal shot. You will notice a bump in the center of the roof above the windshield. This was designed to house an antenna, and that feature was discontinued in October 1952. The trim is in as-new condition, with the same true of the glass. Since becoming the car’s custodian, the seller has worked tirelessly to ensure that the panels and paint remain in flawless condition. The process includes carefully cleaning the entire underside of the Beetle at least once a year, which is an excellent way of keeping rust and other nasty problems at bay. The car sees limited action and is typically trailered to shows and other events.

The seller confirms that this Beetle is not numbers-matching. However, the body and chassis match, while the engine date falls within three months of the car’s production. Powering this classic is an 1,131cc air-cooled flat-four producing a dizzying 25hp. The car retains its correct four-speed “crash” box, and the only visible modification is the Abarth muffler. That isn’t an issue, because the seller includes a correct unit for the buyer to install if they crave originality. They confirm that the odometer was reset to zero during the restoration, and now shows 1,839 miles. They meticulously maintain the vehicle, changing the brake fluid and fuel lines every three years, while changing the oil and greasing everything happens every spring. The only identified issue is that this Beetle can be slightly stubborn when the temperature falls below fifty. However, it still leaps into life and soon gets into action. It runs and drives beautifully, and can be considered a turnkey proposition.

The restoration included returning the interior to its original form, and this is where we gain a clear understanding of Volkswagen’s entire Beetle exercise. These cars were designed to be cheap transport for the masses, and Volkswagen strived to reduce production costs to achieve this goal. Therefore, you won’t find such luxuries as air conditioning or power windows. Buyers could order a radio, but the high cost of this option saw relatively few cars emerge from the factory with one fitted. This classic’s interior is superb. The seats and door trims feature the correct cloth that is perfect. The painted surfaces are flawless, and the plastic is in as-new condition. There is no doubt that slipping behind the wheel would be like rewinding the clock by seventy-two years.

This 1952 Volkswagen Beetle was built before most of our Barn Finds readers were born, but its meticulous restoration provides insight into what these cars were like when they left the factory. They hail from a simpler time, when hardware was lumber and nails, and software didn’t exist. This car owes nothing to computer-aided design and is free from such distractions as power windows and in-car entertainment. The seller’s price is not even on nodding terms with cheap, raising the question of whether that figure is justified. As unlikely as it sounds, I believe that it is. The attention to detail in this restoration is exceptional, and the care lavished on it since the build ended is almost obsessional. Finding another ’52 Beetle that is this good will be a struggle, and while these were originally designed as affordable transport for the masses, they are highly-sought classics with a cult following. The viewing history and Watch List totals confirm that this VW has generated interest, and it will be fascinating to see if that translates into a successful sale. Do you think that it will?