If you have been searching for a Volkswagen Beetle to add to your collection, there are many reasons why this 1969 example deserves a close look. It is a one-owner survivor that has spent the cold months stored in a warm environment. It presents extremely well and is a turnkey proposition. The seller’s price might be the last piece of the puzzle, because it looks extremely competitive. The seller has listed the Beetle here on eBay in Golden, Colorado. They set their BIN at $11,800 for a classic with no apparent needs.
This 1969 Beetle has spent its entire life in its current location, spending the cold months stored in a heated carriage house. Remaining protected from the worst that Mother Nature can throw at it is good news for potential buyers. The seller provides this YouTube video of the car’s underside, showing that the floors are rust-free and the car is rock-solid. Its Lotus White paint, a shade available from August 1965 until July 1970 and also known as Toga White, is free of major faults or problems. It shines warmly, and the panels are as straight as an arrow. The rubber on the running boards looks surprisingly good, and the trim and glass are excellent. The Beetle isn’t terribly glamorous, but this one appears to be an above-average survivor.
Selecting a White exterior meant that 1969 Beetle buyers could choose an interior trimmed in Red leatherette or the more expensive optional leatherette-and-cloth combination in the same shade. This car’s owner ticked the box beside the former, and its condition is as impressive as the exterior. The car has worn its dealer-fitted flannel seatcovers for most of its life, so the only upholstery issue is a split on the rear seat back. Otherwise, there is no seat wear, and the carpet is spotless. The painted surfaces are crisp and clean, and the car features a factory pushbutton radio.
From the time the first car rolled off the line until the curtain fell on Beetle production in 2003, Volkswagen never wavered from its original mechanical configuration for its “people’s car.” The rear-mounted air-cooled flat-four engine sent power to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transaxle. The company introduced a three-speed semi-automatic in 1967, but it was never as popular as the standard manual. The company also unveiled a larger motor that year, which is what we find beneath this Beetle’s hood. The Sales Brochure confirms that the 1,493cc powerplant develops 53hp and 82 ft/lbs of torque, and this car retains its numbers-matching drivetrain. The seller replaced the fuel cap and fitted an electronic ignition system. However, they have retained the original components and will include them if the buyer prefers authenticity. The car runs and drives beautifully, with no identified mechanical issues.
There was a time not that many years ago when it was possible to buy a 1960s Volkswagen Beetle for under $1,000. That was one reason why these cars were so popular with students and people on low incomes. They didn’t cost a fortune to buy, would run on the smell of an oily rag, and are notoriously bulletproof if treated respectfully. This 1969 Beetle will cost its new owner far more than $1,000, but the seller’s price is consistent with market expectations. The Beetle isn’t the most desirable classic on the planet, but they possess an innate charm that has earned the badge a strong following in the classic world. If you have been searching for one to park in your garage, could our featured Beetle be a contender?
Nice try, Adam, but that initiative has too gone the way of common sense. The VW was one of my kooky ideas if I stayed in Colorado, then got a wild hair up the ying-yang to run up north, but now, the heck with it, and a frivolous purchase is once again on the back burner. When you look up something on FB, the site directs you to all the like postings. This is a nice one, but honestly, I’ve been watching, and on the high( no pun intended) end. VWs are all over the place, but seems a nice one goes for about $5-$7 grand, projects are still a grand, but no takers. Many start out much higher, but then the “slashing” begins. It’s pretty obvious to me, the steam has run out on Bugs, once again, the old automatic issue, and to be honest, Bugs are fun, but not for very long. I’ve adjusted my search to forget the VW, and maybe go with the TransAm,,what? ,:)
Getting one like this is better than buying an old bug and then getting one of the new Chinese block engines for it. Look for either a German or Brazil stamp on the block.
Back about ’86 or so, I passed on a 69 bug that was a trade in at a VW dealer down the block from my then office. The dealer wanted $1200, the maroonish paint was a bit weathered, but otherwise it was solid as a rock. Had I offered a grand cash, he might have bit. Another one that got away.
Red, White and Blau
Do you still have to crack a window before you shut the door?
I bought a new orange 1970 VW Beetle with the 1600cc engine. They were bulletproof proof. I was 18 at the time and drove it hard. Was one of the best cars I ever had. Dependable and easy to work on. Still miss that car do this day but at that time traded it on a new 73 z28RS Camaro. May miss the z28 a little more.
John
John
Looks nice… but $12k?!… Yikes…
I can remember back in the day, my brother & I buying these dirt cheap, barely running for about $75-100. We’re talking late 70’s. We had no real import shop in town besides the dealer, & nobody really understood how the Type 1 engine worked. The manual suggested adjusting the valves every 5000 miles, but nobody ever did. We went through half a dozen with blown pushrods, fixed the issue, and resold then for five or six hundred after a quick polish with Nu-Finish. We used the money we made to buy our first ‘real’ cars, my 66 Impala coupe, & his ’68 Skylark. Ahh, the good old days…
Bobby, ya beat me to it. Kinda sad that a couple of 16 year old kids armed with the infamous “Idiot Guide” knew more about fixing an ACVW than the so-called import car garage. We did have our fun, though.
I’m loving those seat covers. This is a very nice example of a survivor. I think it’s overpriced, but it’s better than a lot of VWs out there. It makes me miss the ’68 VW convertible I drove in college. I still regret getting rid of that car, but I was ready to move onto bigger cars with A/C.
I think that little spiral notepad the owner used pictured in the eBay listing probably has everything they ever did to it because it looks like they logged every week of every year and when they stopped for fuel fill up’s (I always am willing to pay more for service history). Did you guys notice the old black “US Government” pen that they had in the glovebox?! That is KEEEEWL! I think that the 50’s and early 60’s Type I beetle have become so unobtainable 68-69 are going to be the most reasonable ones to seek out moving forward if I want something unmolested because 12V and A LOT more power/torque with far better suspension in 1969. If AI takes over, I want analog all the way
Looks like they took notes EVERY WEEK!!! I think that 1968-69 are the new sweet spot for much better power and suspension, and far more reasonable prices.