Oval Window Edition: 1957 Volkswagen Type 1

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It seems so formal to refer to a Volkswagen Beetle as a “Type 1”. C’mon, it’s just a Beetle, or a Bug, one of 21M produced worldwide from 1938 through 2003. The VW Type 1 had a significant and lasting impact on the automotive world, much as the Ford Model T had two generations prior. As with many different automotive makes and models, earlier, or less common versions, always hold enthusiast’s interest and that’s today’s subject, a 1957 Beetle with a small oval rear window. This Volkswagen is located in North Augusta, South Carolina and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $7,500, reserve not yet met.

Hardly rare, as according to Air Cooled Community, there were about 1.2M oval window Bugs built with 380K in 1957, alone. And that 1.2M figure does not account for those made from March of ’53 through the end of the ’53 model year when the oval was introduced.

This example is stated to be a lifelong Palmetto State resident that has been off of the road since ’82. It’s claimed as being solid and the one image of the floor pan bears out that pronouncement. The exterior is missing its bumpers and maybe a miscellaneous trim piece but it looks to be rather complete. There are definite flair-ups of surface rust but no obvious images of rot-through.

I’ll take a leap here and suggest that the 36 HP, 1.2-liter, flat four-cylinder engine is a non-runner – no indication is given as to whether it will even turnover. Fortunately, VW Beetle engines are well known and quite common so getting this one operational or having to rebuild/replace it should not be that arduous or expensive a task. The lone transaxle available in ’57 was a four-speed manual.

The interior of this Bug is inflicted in the same way that many of our Barn Finds reviewed subjects are – detritus all over the inside. In this case, at least we know what happened to the hubcaps. If you try to look through all of the stuff that’s present, you’ll discover an environment that is fair at best. The seats are coming apart and the headliner is MIA. It would be nice to pull up the rubber mat and see what’s really going on under it. The radio that’s in place could be a later or replacement unit, notice how the knobs and pushbuttons are still ivory white. Finally, I’m uncertain of the steering column-mounted gauge – it looks like a small tachometer but it reads “AIR” and the measurements are not evenly spaced. Suggestions?

No idea what the reserve is on this VW Type 1. I wonder how much of a value enhancer is “assumed” in the case of an oval window version vs. a slightly newer, similar example that is outfitted with the larger, rectangular window. Perhaps some of the difference would be driven by the new owner’s intentions, i.e. restore to stock or modify.  And that leads me to ask, which direction would you take this ’57 oval window Bug?

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Comments

  1. SMS

    Might be a head temp gauge. About the right divisions.

    If the pan is solid, motor and trans are the originals I would restore it. I find the oval and split windows charming. Then again I really like the Cranbrook. Something satisfying about a plain family car with a load of kids or friends just putting down the road. No one to impress but yourself.

    If on the other hand it is only a good body then I would convert it to an EV, upgrade the suspension and seats. Have a Karmann Ghia like that. Ot much more than a nice motor and so much easier to take care of.

    Like 3
    • John S Dressler

      I’d have to love an oval window a lot to pay $7,500 for one in this condition. Karmen Ghia would be the way to go. Resale on them is way more, I think they are a great looking car (had a 72) and with the move to EV’s, an EV conversion would make it a great around town commuter.

      Like 0
  2. Harvey

    Detritus bug

    Like 1
  3. T

    I had a ’57. It did not have turn signals or a gas gauge. Paid $75.00 for it and sold it for the same price.

    Like 1
  4. john macleod

    I had a 1957 that I bought in 1962 in Biloxi MS. Drove it from Biloxi to Anchorage, Alaska, across the ALCAN HWY-1300 miles of gravel road. Had to install a gas heater in Alaska. Had 5 other VW’s -last one was 1973 convertible with gas heater and air conditioning-kept it for 4 years and got more than I paid fort it.

    Like 2
    • CaCarDude

      My senior year in HS ’66 an older Brother had a ’57 Black on Red. A nice like new bug at the time. I borrowed it after school one day to go see a buddy of mine, I was about 4 miles from home a guy in a jeep crossed the center divide and hit me head on doing about 45mph, totaled both vehicles. Amazing how well a that little
      VW held up. I went on to drive a ’56 for a few years after that accident, always liked the oval window models.

      Like 1
  5. KurtMember

    Needs the correct carb. Bet the pan is rusted through under the battery and under the driver and passengers feet.

    Like 0
  6. gaspumpchas

    If its been sitting in the same place since 82 the underbelly is crackers. Look it over good- 7500 and still hasnt hit reserve. Good luck and happy motoring
    Cheers
    GPC

    Like 2
  7. Howard A. Howard AMember

    ThIRTY SIX HORSEPOWER!!! Just following the Nova post, yeah, you know, for 36 hp, it did remarkably well. Naturally, the amount of riders greatly hampered forward motion, but for the time, most cars US were flathead 6’s anyways, it moved along. And in winter, if you could handle the cold, with a set of “Achtung” snow tires( Firestone had yet to offer T&C’s for VW’s ) it usually made it. Remember the VW commercial, “How does the snowplow driver get to the snowplow?” It wasn’t until the 60’s, it was apparent an upgrade( to 40 hp) was needed. I enjoy the various stories, you’ve heard mine many times with a friend and I rebuilding the motor on his ’58 in his moms kitchen,,couple times, until she came home early once, that ended that. I don’t think there’s a car made, except maybe the Gremlin, that touched more lives than the VW bug.

    Like 3
  8. Buddy

    I totally get the “Formal Title” thing with the descriptions nowadays! When I was a Datsun dealer in the ‘70s, a 240Z was a 240Z with a 2.4 Liter inline 6. Now the banner reads “HLS30JM317DL” with a “DZ24SRLP026” engine🙄

    Like 0

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