Car enthusiasts come in all shapes, sizes, and tastes. What works for one person does not work for another. The seller of this particular 1957 oval-window Volkswagen deliberately set out to create the car that you see here. It is located in South Reno, Nevada, and offered for sale here on Craigslist. The Beetle comes with a clean title and an asking price of $12,500.
The seller clearly states that how you see the car in these photos is the exact look that he was trying to achieve. He bought the car off the original owner and it has been left to sit in a field for some 30 years to arrive at this state. This look is not my own personal taste, but as I said in the beginning, we all have different tastes. The seller appears to have been quite meticulous in his attempts to achieve this look. He has done nothing to arrest the surface corrosion of the car but has taken the trouble to replace the window rubbers to protect the car from water ingress. I would assume that he has ensured that the floors and frame are solid, but I’d want to take a quick peak to make sure.
The original 36hp engine turned up its toes decades ago, which is why the VW sat for so many years. The current owner bought the car and had a new 36hp engine installed. This engine was running but currently isn’t. The seller states that a new battery and some fresh gas should see it kick into life. Personally, I’m a bit disappointed that the seller didn’t go to the trouble of at least trying this themselves. Backing the engine (or forwarding the engine to be technically correct) is the original crash-box manual transmission. The seller also states that the brakes will need to be rebuilt. The seller has fitted the new bias ply whitewall tires that you see on this Beetle.
The look that the seller was going for extends to the interior of this Beetle. While he was going for the distressed look on the outside, he wanted the interior to look like new. The seats have all been professionally recovered, and the car also sports a new headliner. The rubber floor coverings are all range-topping products from Wolfsburg West. The interior does look very nice indeed, and it’s hard to fault. If I were to pick anything then it would probably be that the wear on the wheel rim is out of keeping with the rest of the interior, but that’s about it.
This car is an interesting one because it can expose how diverse our automotive tastes can be. I have no doubt that there are Barn Finds readers who think that this little Beetle looks absolutely fantastic. There will be those who will find it horrifying and would be chomping at the bit wanting to give it a fresh coat of paint and return it to “as new” condition. Personally, I can’t warm to this particular look myself, but I respect the rights and tastes of those that do. That’s the essence of what our hobby is all about.
This car looks like it had better paint and someone buffed it off then put it outside. Once you introduce rust its hard to stop it and on this car it’s well on its way. I hope the next owner realizes that and takes measures to restore the body before its to late.
Considering how the owner wanted the outside to look like a ‘field find’, he did a good job. The nice kicker is the interior; the expensive parts has already been done! As for a battery & fresh gas to get it running, I agree with the writer; the seller should’ve got it running. I t would’ve made it all that much easier to sell. Me? I’m a stickler for factory original so the ‘distressed’ finish I don’t care for; I’d properly paint the car to a showroom color & finish. The price isn’t bad for its shape; I bet it doesn’t last long.
“Induced patina.” Now I’ve heard it all LOL.
I am more interested in the DOKA, hopefully it is a split window.
Everyone of my friends that has owned old bugs has said how easy these engines are to work on. If the seller thought it was something simple why wouldn’t he get it running, especially at that asking price. I’d be surprised if he didn’t try and sell it a few weeks ago during Hot August Nights when tens of thousands of car enthusiasts decend on his home town. The seller seems smart, he knows his VW’s, if it went up for sale and he couldn’t make a deal, that would potentially point to bigger issues with the car.
Steve R
Seems like a car with this much surface rust would take a full skim coat of filler to smooth out for paint. I actually like the look, a quick coating with linseed oil would preserve the look and arrest rust. These engines are as simple as a lawn mower, can’t believe he hasn’t tried to start it with a squirt of gas in the carb if nothing else.
Induced patina gives me induced angina. Paint the damn thing…..
I’d leave it just like it is. Why? Because this is what most VW’s looked like. VW’s were the lowest form of transportation, and most people had little or nothing into them. I remember very few nice looking Bugs. The motors far outlasted the bodies, and when the seats went through the floor pan, you pulled the motor, and found another. Great find.
As observed by others, there seems to be a decent Type II double-cab in the lot behind this bug. Restorable Type II’s are selling for crazy money these days. And restored ones are pulling in collector Ferrari/Porsche money. It’s really amazing.
At the bottom of the Craigslist ad the seller states:
No texting! No trades! And the double cab is $35,000. Thanks
I don’t know what the market is for those right now but I definitely am more interested in that than this poor oval window.
While everyone is entitled to do as they they please to their own vehicle, I can’t help but cringe at the sight of that poor beetle covered in rust. Surely an historic vehicle like this one should be in the hands of someone who understands that often as owners we are actually custodians of these fine cars and we should do our best to preserve them while in our temporary care.
I doubt he planned to leave it for 30 years, doesn’t seem likely.
There’s that word ‘patina’ again. I don’t know about the rest of you but I am so sick of hearing that word. IT’S RUST. May be only surface but please cut out the crap with the word patina. So let me get this straight : the engine is seized, it has surface rust and needs a lot of TLC and you want $12,000? Did I miss something? Maybe the gold bars under the seats? Or???? Jeeesh.
I agree with you 100% Lance. That’s why I didn’t us what I refer to as “the P word” in the article. To me it’s either corrosion or rust. If it’s left untreated it’s going to be trouble at some stage.
I also agree with you both Lance and Adam, people have to know that Rust never ever sleeps, and using the P word for rust is just a word to disguise the inevitable. I have to say the market for the VW bug has sure gone crazy as with most all classics. Back in my HS senior year 66 I was driving my older brothers like new ’57 Black on Red Bug and got hit head on, a young guy driving his Dads custom Jeep, (he was at fault, drifted to my lane) hit me doing 40+ and I was close to the same, it took out the complete center of the bug front and passenger side to the windshield. I was lucky that day, some cuts, bruises, broken knee cap, but have to say that Bug stood tall and was better than I ever dreamed a small car could hold up. The Jeep turned over on it’s driver side and to this day I never found out about that driver condition.
I still like the older Bugs and would not mind having one for a grocery getter. Post accident I owned a ’56 Bug till Uncle Sam got me in ’68, then a ’70 Bug from ’76 till ’84
I love the red interior. Put a 1600 engine into it and paint it grey or black and I’d give the asking price.
After sitting in a field for such a long time, I would be concerned about the pan. Howard, I respectfully disagree with your comment about the looks of these cars. In my day, even as teenagers, we kept our VWs looking nice, just like we do with our current rides. And the engines were much more disposable than the bodies, at least on the west coast. I agree with the majority who say the car should be painted. As it is, it’s a conversation piece at car shows. Paint it and it could be a regular driver that would garner positive comments at every stop.
For $12K, the car had better be pristine under the battery, door bottoms, and never been punched, front of rear. While I doubt that to be the case, this is certain to be a flipper. Invest so much….take leftover to bank. Full interior restore would have included a year correct steering wheel. While not impossible to find, this can run $500-$1K alone. For the asking price, I would also have added a bud vase for the dash. Toolkit for the spare tire? Something special to make the car stand out!
Love the ski rack
Beautiful Bug. I would put this beauty inside today and get after that rust. I have been fighting rotten cars all my life and this baby deserves more. Cream color or Seafoam green. To me the simplicity of these is what makes them beautiful. I cut my teeth on Volkswagens, dune buggies, every form possible. This one should be done up right, with the oval window and dog turd lights!!!
I have owned and loved so many of these bugs, but at my age, I like the ride of my old Cadillacs with nice paint and no rusty finishes.
Add me to the list of people who hate the word patina, man cave and “it ran when parked.” If it will take so little to get it going, DO IT! Someone will pay the price, but it wouldn’t be me.
The car and I are the same age. There’s no rust on me and there shouldn’t be any on this fine specimen. Paint it!
The “induced patina” looks horrible and just as phony as it is… This VW needs to be taken apart, refinished and put back together. I have no idea what chemicals were used to give this VW this phony look but it may make it dangerous for the re-finisher and he/she will have to take proper precautions.
$2000 would be too much
That’s the cost of the Wolfsburg West seats and headliner alone.
I owned several of these beetles from the original 1970 super beetle on up to a 1976. I always hated that horse hair smelling seat filler they used that used to dry rot and sag the seat upholstery. Anyway, The guy who would leave any car outside in the weather 30 years just to get a so called rusted patina look either needs a frontal lobotomy or a bottle in front of him.