Few vehicles in automotive history can be considered truly legendary. The Ford Model T was one, and the Volkswagen Beetle was another. Both cars rolled off the line in enormous numbers, providing affordable transport for the masses. This 1967 Beetle is a survivor that presents well and is in excellent health. It has no apparent needs, suiting someone seeking a turnkey classic. However, its greatest attraction could be the seller’s decision to list it with No Reserve here on eBay in Kingman, Arizona. Intense bidding has pushed the price to $7,900, although there is time for those sorely tempted to ensure they have the available funds to make a play for this beauty.
There has long been debate about which car represents the greatest failure in automotive history. Some lay that dubious honor at the feet of Edsel, but the Beetle must be a strong contender for the title. That isn’t because it was a bad car, but it is the source of some of the worst decisions made by other manufacturers. Following the end of World War II, the factory and products were offered to various British manufacturers as war reparations, but every company declined. They saw little merit in the facility, machinery, or the Beetle, and the entire establishment eventually reverted to German ownership. The company eventually built and sold more than twenty-one million Beetles, and the profit from these humble classics laid the foundations for the behemoth that is the modern Volkswagen Group. Whoops! This 1967 model presents well for its age. The seller admits it received a single repaint in its original Lotus White, which retains a healthy shine. The panels are straight, and there is no evidence or mention of potential rust issues. This is hardly surprising since the dry Arizona climate is ideal for classic steel preservation. The trim looks excellent, the chrome sparkles nicely, and there are no visible glass issues.
Changes during the Beetle’s fifty-eight-year post-war production run were evolutionary. Still, the 1967 model year brought one of the most significant changes with the introduction of a larger engine. It remained a rear-mounted air-cooled four, but the increase to 1,500cc allowed 53hp to feed to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transaxle. This improved the car’s overall performance and flexibility while retaining its ability to cruise for hours on the open road at 60mph. The seller claims this numbers-matching Beetle has a genuine 47,700 miles on the clock, although there is no mention of verifying evidence. However, it runs and drives perfectly, with no issues or problems that would cause the winning bidder to spend any more than the initial purchase price.
If you blindfolded a person, sat them in a Beetle, and removed the blindfold, there is little chance they would confuse this classic with a Cadillac. The Beetle represented motoring at its most basic and affordable, which was the secret of its success. Buyers received enough space and seating capacity to comfortably accommodate a family of five, decent weather protection, and a heater. That is what we find inside this classic, with no evidence of a radio or other luxury appointments. The seller doesn’t mention an interior restoration, suggesting everything is original. The headliner is slightly “baggy” in a couple of spots, but that is the only fault worth mentioning. The vinyl upholstery is in good order, the painted surfaces are excellent, and there are no carpet issues. The new owner could add a radio or retro stereo for entertainment on the road, but I would probably invest in a Bluetooth speaker and leave the interior unmolested.
The Volkswagen Beetle occupies a unique spot in motoring folklore because I can’t remember another car that was both a sales success and the source of one of the worst decisions in automotive history. Its achievements are noteworthy because technology had overtaken the Beetle by the 1970s, and it was viewed as outdated and almost agricultural. However, it shared one crucial characteristic with the Ford Model T; Both survived long past what many would consider their “use-by” date because they were held in such high regard by a dedicated band of customers. A few years ago, it was possible to buy a roadworthy and solid Beetle from the 1960s for under $1,000, but those days are long gone. Recent history suggests bidding should comfortably pass $15,000, but this car’s condition and odometer reading, if it can be verified, could push that figure considerably higher. Volkswagen produced the Beetle as affordable transport for the masses, but those days are long behind it. What would you be prepared to pay for this classic?
Wow what a nice car! Speaking of being blindfolded if I was put inside that car I would immediately know what I was sitting in as soon as I smelled that interior and the door closed. 67 was a high water mark for the Beetle. A factory sun roof would be the cherry on top.
Shame that it’s on the wrong side of the pond, otherwise I’d be all over it!
Exactly what I was going to post — VW’s had a distinctive smell which I liked and never seemed to go away!
John. I know exactly what you’re saying about a distinctive smell. Our family friend had exactly the same color 55 years ago and anytime I sat in his car, The smell was appealing to me. I was 10 years back then.
We had a ’67 SAAB 95. It smelled like the old bugs..
Anyone that has any connection with VW Bugs, knows the ’67 was the best year. I beg to differ with the author, not “under $1000 bucks”,( well, technically yes) more like under $100 BUCKS, and everybody had some connections to a Bug, whether, like in my case, they owned one or not. Due to the lack of small car choices, the Bug was without question, THE most popular small car growing up. I never fully understood why. It was cramped, handled poorly, no heat, no storage room, air cooled, actually a conundrum,,no coolant to worry about, but consequently, no heat either, engine in back, it couldn’t be more different than our cars, yet, it sold like hotcakes( whatever that means)
The ’67 was the most refined Bug, and the list of improvements was lengthy. Bigger motor, wider stance, bigger clutch, dual brake system, 2 speed wipers, sealed beam headlights, a bunch of interior improvements, to name but a few, it was the best Bug to come along. Oh sure, it still had all those shortcomings of the original, but many were bought on lawn mowing money, many ones 1st car, how much trouble could junior get into with a VW? Plenty, pops, they didn’t know the half of it. I won’t go into what kind of fun wen had, it was the 70s, and we broke every rule that would bend,,,in a VW Bug! Let’s hear the VW stories,( not too graphic, please) don’t hold back, we had a lot of fun. I guess I answered my own question, Bugs represented fun times. Moms Pontiac Tempest 4 door wagon, not so much.
The only “improvement” I didn’t care for was the elimination of the covered headlights, which the feds took away! This one appears too nice to mess with, but I’d love a 67 with 66 front fenders, pop out side windows, and a sunroof.
Howard, aside from the standing joke about the “door straps” hanging on either side of the door posts and what they could be used for, way back, when most of us were much smaller overall, I was able to sneak my friend into the drive in by having him ride in the trunk. We must have removed the spare tire, although I honestly cannot recall.
What year Tempest wagon did your mother have? Stacked vertical headlights (‘65+ or horizontal (‘64 1st year). I have the 1st, a ‘64, great driver!
My buddy’s dad back in 77 bought him a light and dark blue custom painted, with heavy metalflake 69 that had shortened fiberglass fenders, built engine with a header splitting into 2 big dual pipes, converted hubs with set of Cragars, with M/T 50’s on the rear and narrows on the front. The thing looked sick and ran like skint rabbit. My head still spins when I think of the multiple donuts we cut on snowy and rain slickened parking lots. He also rigged a spare windshield washer motor and tank filled with a mixture of water and bleach with lines ran to the front of the rear tires. He’d sit and activate that, soak those 50’s, pop the clutch and smoke poured! There was other smoke too, but Howard said keep it tame! The 70’s was a great time to grow up.
Henry Ford II passed on the Beetle and its factory as well. Which is maybe a good thing for VW….
Had a ’54 Beetle for too short a time, and loved it. Prices have moved upward too much for me to think about another, though I’d enjoy having one to putter around in.
Growing up in the ’80s was pretty good. The Beetles were still everywhere too. On road trips as kids in the family Volare’ we had a thing called “Slug-Bug”. Anytime my sister, brother or me sighted one, a light punch to the shoulder was thrown while exclaiming Slug-Bug !
When I was about 5 we did a vacation in the summer of ’76 from Columbus Oh to Virginia Beach with my family driving my aunt’s 73 bus and she rode with her friend in a Beetle. There were very few sections of I-64 completed so it was a slow VW mini convoy ascending the Blue Ridge mountains on old US 60. Have some memories of it, my dad’s accounts are funny as hell !
Lol, we called that game “punch buggy”.
Kids who grew up watching Disney’s Herbie the Love Bug movies love these cars too.
Our neighbor was the service manager for the local VW dealer
(Redwood Motors),& his wife drove a bug.I remember riding back
behind the rear seat a few times.
Ah,the “Good Old Days”
Had a ’57…….no gas gauge, no radio, no heat (heater boxes were shot), the bleed cocks were snapped off so no front brakes. I was working at a brake shop at the time……come up to a stop sign and just pulled the emergency brake and you could feel the rear of the car fishtailing. Paid 75.00 for it. Never should have sold it.
You know, T, what a memory jog there. I had a good friend just out of HS, his 1st car was a ’58 Bug. $65 bucks. Working brakes were a luxury, and the car was light enough, that the parking brake could feasibly work, except in a panic situation, and that’s what the ditch was for. It too had no gas gauge or radio, we had other, um, forms of entertainment. His had the 36hp, that had a nasty habit of eating #3 exhaust valve. The oil cooler, I believe, restricted cooling, later moved. We had it down to a science. With a makeshift 2×4 hoist, and a hyd. jack, we had the motor out in an hour, off to the junkyard in moms Cutlass, where there were literally PILES of VW motors. We got a used piston, head and anything else we needed, might have even reused the head gasket, they were thick enough, maybe $20 bucks, back home,put it together, and we were cruisin’ that very night. Oh yeah,,,that’s how it was.
Yep, I had a pretty decent side business of selling a running, installed engine, and taking the core. The engines were “built” in a 3rd floor apartment building in Arlington, VA. Had a chunk of bellhousing with a starter, gas can, sat the engines on a table covered with typewriter pads, stuck the exhaust tips out the window and fired them up to ensure they would run, and immediately shut them down. Sold them inexpensively, install them at their location, taking the old engine back for a quick turnover or use for parts. Eventually sold all the parts to another guy who continued to perform the same service. Made some decent money for a side gig.
Closeup picture of speedometer shows a bad repaint of the surrounding dash area . . . this VW deserves a closer look by any potential buyer.
My first car was a 69 beetle it was very rusty, it was some sort of a special package black steel rim’s that looked custom and it had emblems that said ETV or something similar, in truth I can’t remember but if anyone does please chime in. We were always looking for fun (trouble) and usually found it. My buddy had a 67 Beaumont 250 6cyl and 2spd unpower glide I could take him off the line but he would pass before the end of the 1/4.
Had 7 of these over the years, from a ’57 to a ’73. Early ones were dangerous with suspension issues, low power, new ones not much better. Yet I kept driving them since they were cheap and kind of fun. Wouldn’t be my choice for a collector vehicle, but that’s just my opinion…no quarrel with anyone who’d buy one.
I’ve always considered the 1966 that demarcation point. Where the ‘67 signaled the beginning of the move away from the raw roots of the bug. Ya know, that ever so slight moment in time. Yes, technologically advanced. Bigger engine, safer brakes, wider stance. Plus the somewhat strange afterthought element that included one year only parts, the most unusual, in my mind, being the bumpers. Limbo, if you will. Like a true wtf moment. lol. The headlights summarize the point I’m trying to make.
I’ve owned both and for me my ‘66 truly had my heart.
Bumpers? The 67 had the same bumpers used since the early 50’s, with the overriders. If you had a euro spec beetle, they had the bumper without the overriders… from what I remember.
The 67 rear bumpers slanted down as if to clear the engine cover. It was the only year like that.
The overriders on the rear of the ’67 were unique to that year. The inside end was lower than the point where it was attached to the upright as if meant toclear the engine cover when opened.
First I disagree with the 67 being the best year, I tend to lean to the 68 model. I have had 5 VWs, a 67, a 68, a 71 super beetle, a 60 ragtop beetle and now a 68 convertible. The 67 was the first year that they moved to a 12 volt system I am pretty sure. The 67 had the rounded bumpers and the metal dashboard. I like the between model (the convertible is one) where you have an integral sway bar in the rear to do some ‘shift’ avoidance. So I personally am a fan of the mid year. But they are all fun. I never liked the lights on the 60 ragtop, never very bright. The Super Beetle had more room and you could see a bit more out of it. But really, they are so easy to work on, even an older guy who hadn’t owned one for 40 years was able to bring the 68 convertible back to life for a pretty minimal dollar amount. I do like the 68 dash better than the metal one. Just my opinion.
Everyone of a certain range in vintage inter-reacted with the Beetle. Back when this bug was new they were literally everywhere. You couldn’t find a high school or college campus parking lot that didn’t contain at least a few of them. They were the definition of cheap, spartan transportation. Simple enough that even novice wrench turners could swap engines with little more than an adjustable wrench and a screw driver. I know because me and a friend did just that. And they were damn good in the snow even if the heater was barely able to cut the cold on a winter night. Probably not the car you want to be in during a road encounter of the worst kind. What always fascinated me was that when running that little engine sounded like nothing else. I can close my eyes and recall that strangely vague metallic clanking. My how times have changed. I can’t even remember the last time I saw one of these putting about. Fifty odd years ago they were ubiquitous. This a nice example of the breed and like others I think that a 1967 is the high point of the evolution of the “Peoples Car”. This one will easily sell at ten times what it cost new. GLWTS.
My love affair started with a 67 Bug. Had several of them including a 73 and a couple of Super Beetles. Heaters were actually pretty good for southern winters but the defrost sucked. Sold all my VW stuff about 15 years ago after I got tired of working on them. Now I wouldn’t mind having another Super Beetle….
Quick newsflash on VW Bugs. Watching the foolishness on TV auctions, this time from KC, that generally doesn’t bring the prices of Vegas or Cal., but a ’55 bare bones Bug, in I’d say very good condition, ( not pristine) sold for an alleged $40 GRAND! That’s incredible,,,or BS.
About 67-68,Heisman Volkswagen in Alexandria,Virginia would sell a new bug with higher H.P. in package deals.Mechcanic there drove a bug with a Porsche engine in it.Real sleepers!
I was 17. Could buy a new ’67 or ’68. Took the ’67. Why?
Bumpers, high back seats, smog gear made the ’68 a dog. I made a mahogany dash panel out of Honduran. Konis on front, Cibie driving lights. Bought for $2004.44. Totaled by a Roadrunner full of teenagers at 2004 miles. That was in LA.
Now I have a ’67 in Iowa found on Craigslist in Sacramento. Enclosed semi brought it accompanied by 2 Ford GTs. Pretty classy load, huh?
The 1966 1300 was my first car after I left the service in65….new sunroof 66 sand beige…loved it?.and have had many vw bugs and campers since….now have another 66 with 1600 cc eng. goes like a bat outta…to me the 66 shifted with more power 5an 67s….and nice truer touches. Bruce