The VW Beetle, aka Type 1, was built between 1938 and 2003. It would become the most-produced automobile on the planet on the same platform. The total was 21.5 million units, but most of them have long since gone on to the graveyard. This 1974 edition looks to be in good condition and its only fault might be that the front bumper is missing, perhaps on purpose.
These little econoboxes were conceived in Germany as “The People’s Car” before World War II and didn’t see much action until after the fighting was over. They dominated the subcompact car market in the USA until the 1970s when fierce competition joined in from Japan and with Detroit automakers. The Beetle was known for its rear-mounted, air-cooled engine that helped inspire the Chevrolet Corvair of the 1960s. The cars would be popular with college folks and buyers in general who had little to spend on reliable transportation.
Over the years, the Beetle would change little from model run to the next. For 1974, the modifications included energy-absorbing bumpers fore and aft, a softer steering wheel (years before the advent of airbags), and those ill-fated seat belt ignition interlocks which came and went quickly. We don’t know the history of this nice ’74 Bug, and the seller says it only has 10,000 miles, but could that really be 110,000, though the interior looks far too nice?
We’re told this Beetle starts right up and drives as it should, so it ought to be ready for daily use. The body is good with no rust but an older light blue paint job that seems okay. These were simple vehicles, especially when compared to the complex rolling computers we drive today. Located in Coronado, California, this little gem is available here on craigslist for $5,900. Our thanks to Tony Primo for this tip!
Not a terrible price but not my cup of tea. Someone will fall in love with it and have tons of fun for minimal cost
Agree the Volks followers are still big in the US.
I’ve had a 66 Karman Ghia vert and loved the simplicity.
While the options to help on power with SCAT engines and upgrades helped boost power ….
Not the power of muscle cars from past pre smog pollution but enough to climb hills and cruise at survivor rate on roads. 😎
Good luck on sale and love the color… its just Fahrvergnügen cool with a sweet spot to me 😎
In my college days I bought a ‘69 for $300. To ‘class it up’ I paid the local Earl Scheib dealer a whopping $50 for a paint job that included a little overspray on the window rubber. Who cared? Drove that puppy to school and work and it never let me down. It never warmed me up in the winter but that’s normal with these little bugs.
Nice price. Looks like solid “Cal-Look” beetle. Lots of fresh bits on motor. Even if motor worn out, $2000-2500 on quality rebuild would get someone a nice driver for good price.
4 college guys returning from a Circle K conference in ’69. 3 sleeping, me driving a ’62, go pedal flat on floor, 60 mph with a tailwind! A ’62 had a 1200CC, 40HP rubber band. I don’t sleep in cars. My 6’2 frame. Wasn’t my car….
Price is intriguing – I owned a ’74 back in the early ’80’s, and would love to have another one. This one looks promising for a 50 year old car. Its been painted at least once, as the gasket trim between fenders and body should be black and not painted…wreck repair maybe, or just a quick paint over. Buyer would want to check the battery tray under the back seat for rust, but otherwise it might not be a bad investment.
I don’t know that I’m buying the 10,000 miles claim, but it’s definitely one of the cleanest unrestored Beetles I’ve ever seen. And the price seems more than fair for something that solid.
The first thing to inspect on these cars are the floor pans regardless of where they are located. The Vin is located in the center of the floor pan as well. I’ve owned several hardtops and convertibles. Fun little death traps. Don’t plan on going home If you get into an accident.
I would say its more likely to be 110k miles VW replacement parts are so readily available you can take one and make it nice again price isn’t outrageous I would say buy it the fly out and rent a 16 foot Uhaul if you can find one, get the extra damage insurance go to harbour freight tools get those cheap ramps and bolt some tie downs to the floor and haul it home
Was in Ensenada, Mexico when they were still making these. VW dealer said it was $1,000,000 pesos out the door ($8,000 USD). I asked if any problem bringing it to the USA. He said, no senor, just drive across. He failed to mention it would not be allowed in due to emissions, glass, headlights, and door re-enforcements! All salesmen lie!
Of course they do. They are out to make a dollar not friends. And I’ll bet you didn’t even get a steak dinner.
Se~ Senior and I still believe that Speedy Gonzales is the fastest mouse in all of Mexico. :-)
The US is a country that demands safety crash tests, glass and emissions.
OH well… I really want to know the rest of the story .(Paul Harvey like old radio show) . Did you buy US safety glass, swap out reinforced doors from a US junk yard and fix headlights?
I bought a less than a year old 1981 Bug from a nearby Chevrolet dealer. Someone traded it in on a new car. It had a clean title so I couldn’t pass it up. It was metallic copper with a black and white checkered cloth seats. By that point it was a mix of components. Pre-1968 low back seats, 1974/7rear fenders/tail lights. ’68 swing axle plus the speedometer was metric. Drove it several years. Dangerously fun car.
1981? The last bug to my knowledge was manufactured in 1979. The rabbit and golf went into production after that. And the new beetle came circa 2000. Fact check me.
It is definitely at least 110,000 miles. The repaint wasn’t done well. Missing the front bumper. But it looks solid and may be a good car. It doesn’t cost too much to fix them.
110,000 miles definitely……Price is ok though.
My sister & I had to share a 73 Super Beetle until she totaled out the under carriage sliding across a median, it was my introduction to a manual transmission, so that I’m grateful for.
With that amount of dirt and…in the engine compartment, I would be surprised it was 110k
VWs only had 5 digit odometers. So I think many readers are assuming by overall condition it to be only 10,000 miles which the seller doesn’t make that assertion.
One of the big reasons these crude VWs were so popular for so long is that they were built to a higher standard in materials and assembly quality. It would not surprise me one bit for a well tended 1974 Beetle to make it to 110,000 miles in this condition.
Frog, the Beetle did cease production in 1979 in Germany, I believe, but carried on in Mexico for several years after that. Many of them were imported into the USA in the early 80’s. Not sure of the last year built-1986???