This 1958 VW Beetle is listed by the seller as a preserved California example, sporting the requisite amounts of patina that has become synonymous with the air-cooled rat rod crowd. Although this rough exterior seems too good to be true in terms of its pattern and completeness, it is certainly eye-catching. Find this lowered ’58 California Beetle here on eBay where it’s attracted bids approaching $8K.
As you can likely deduct, the Beetle has been lowered a healthy amount and sits on period-correct steel wheels with OEM polished hubcaps. It’s a good look, and I dig the period VW roof rack and rear fog light. These early Beetles were far prettier than the later cars, with lighter proportions overall and the handsome chrome bumpers. The seller notes it runs and drives well and draws a crowd wherever it goes. I’d add the original bumper-mounted ski racks for OEM bonus points.
If it sounds like I’m doubting the “genuineness” of the exterior paint job in the opening paragraph, it’s because some members of the VW crowd have resorted to purposefully rusting their cars with salt baths to create the look you see here. But the seller (or one of the previous owners) have done things the right way, at least, by cleaning up the interior which likely bore years of sun damage to earn the roughshod exterior it wears. New carpets, seat covers and door panels were all a part of the interior refresh, along with a cool RetroSound radio.
Older aircooleds continue to draw hungry bidders wherever they go. Personally, although I love lowered Beetles and hubcaps, the wheels are a bit too fresh for me on the outside. Find me a set of gray Porsche 356 steel wheels, make whatever bore/hub adjustments are needed and slap those on – then, I’ll absolutely love it. As it is, bidders seem to want this one, and with over a day left, I’m curious if it will break the $10K threshold. What do you think?
Gotta disagree, Jeff. If this were mine, I’d have to bring the ride height back up to stock — the one lowered VeeDub I drove was not very nice — and, assuming the mechanicals are in order, rip off that fershlugginer roof rack and give the thing a fresh coat of paint.
“Patina” ain’t for me!
Ditto. Thanks for saving me typing time.
Actually the vintage (rare) Roof rack is worth almost as much as the rest of the car !
This doesn’t meet the smell test on several counts. I like the look but…a 1958 Beetle didn’t have a gas gauge, the fender mounted mirrors are aftermarket, and the underside of the hood tells you the “patina” is fake. All that is OK so long as the buyer knows what they’re getting and doesn’t think it’s a stock car.
In the 60’s & 70’s everybody and their brother owned a VW. Gas gauge didn’t happen until ’62. A friend of mine who had a ’64 had an older brother who had a ’60 with the 36hp engine and the valve under the dash for your spare gallon of gas. The ’64 my friend had only had 4 more hp at 40hp than his brothers 36hp bug but that extra 4hp seemed to make a lot of difference in the car’s acceleration in comparison to his brother’s ’60. I had friends that owned about 8-9 different years of VW’s the oldest being a ’60 and the newest a ’72 Super Beetle.
Even the front and rear windows appear too large for a ’58. Thinking at least a ’64. However other details seem carried over from earlier Bugs. Strange mutt.
All the windows were the same size from ’58 to ;64, but there are a lot strange things going on here. The bottom of the dash and left door is pea green so how can it be a survivor when the car is tan?
I second Ray’s comments…
MIGHT be a ’61 or ;62.
Missed the oval by one year☹️
@JimmyJ
Missed it by at least 4 years actually as it’s not a 1958, more like a 1962. Also, what kind of clown drills rear view mirror mounting holes in the sides of the trunk? It’s supposed to have door hinge mounted mirrors.
Survivor….and is it really in cheese country not Cali ?
No matter what its still just a POS vee dub. Nothing to see here.
Survivor? Of what ?
Don’t recall any brochure picture looking anything close to this example.
Yep, very funny! Gas gauge on a 58? If the year is faked you can tell, as pointed out under the hood, there are other things faked.
Anyone who is as old as me and was a car nut back in the ’50s will recall that every “sports car” magazine had ads from outfits selling VW accessories. One of the most popular — unless my memory’s going faster than I think — was fuel gauges for older Beetles. I don’t think many looked exactly like the factory piece, but who knows? I was too busy looking at the ads for British car parts….
It’s ridiculous. What’s with lowering the car? If I bought it i would restore it to its natural stance and paint the car and whatever else it needs. I’ve had a few and they are unique in a country where horsepower is everything as well as more,more,more. Of everything.
Enough already of the ‘patina’ . How about spending some money on a nice paint job. Rust is a cop out…… sorry.
VW Bugs were well designed and great looking from the factory … why alter anything ?
The patina fad is just that, a fad, and nothing can replace a factory correct colored paint job IMHO. I would want to look at the pan paying close attention to where the (six volt?) battery sits, and in the luggage space behind the back seat.
It sold for 7,800.00
Overpriced, considering its outside condition. I like the inside, but I would gone the stock route and restore its originality.
Really? Lowered? WTF were you thinking.
I was into V W Beetles for a while. I had 4 of the early 70,s models. I still cannot understand why Volkswagen used that horrible smelling Horse hair ??? padding in there seat upholstery, and when aged it just used to crumble away to powder.Yuk.