We’ve all heard the excuse before that a spouse is unhappy with the prolonged presence of a project car on the premises, and therefore, someone is leaving whether they want to or not. This 1963 Volkswagen Beetle finds itself in that predicament, and it looks like a worthwhile project. The seller certainly thinks so given the laundry list of work he has put into it that should put it pretty close to the finish line of being a turnkey driver. The earlier Beetles are the ones to buy if you’re looking for a driving experience as close to the original concept as possible, and the cleaner lines of cars like this ’63 certainly appeal to plenty of air-cooled enthusiasts (myself included.) Find the Beetle here on Facebook Marketplace with a long list of mechanical improvements and fixes for $7,200 and located in Lodi, California.
The Beetle was apparently a barn find that hadn’t been touched in 30 years, according to the seller. I’m guessing that the top photo is as he found it, sitting on flat tires and certainly looking quite neglected. The later pictures reveal a Beetle that certainly has plenty of patina, but looks absolutely worthy of a revival. The period roof rack is a must-have on a Bug of this vintage, and the seller is including the luggage rack in the sale. The older Beetles came with these handsome chrome bumpers and overriders, not unlike the Porsche 356 of the same era, and the bumpers on this Beetle look reasonably straight despite the car apparently being neglected for three decades.
The seller clearly dove into the rejuvenation of this forgotten Beetle, which makes being forced to sell it even harder, I’d imagine. The list includes new braking components, new fuel lines, new shocks, new clutch, new pressure plate, new carburetor, new running boards, and more. The photos show a very clean-looking engine sitting in the bed of a pickup truck, so I’m assuming the engine was removed, clean, sealed up where needed, and re-installed. The seller certainly seemed to do things the right way in terms of prioritizing what needed to be done, but doesn’t elaborate as to how it’s currently running.
The interior clearly is in need of a proper scrub-down and detailing, but the photos with the seats and carpet removed are clearly utilized to show potential buyers that this is why you seek out California cars. The seller doesn’t explain or provide photos of what sort of condition the seats and carpets are in; if it was sitting outside in California for 30 years, I’m guessing it was fairly sun-scorched. The photos are a bit out of order, but other shots show the Beetle riding on Porsche hubcaps and wearing lots of surface rust and other patina. This 1963 VW Beetle likely still needs some further sorting to be a reliable runner, but the next owner will at least be starting with a platform that’s had some of its initial restoration work completed. That being said, I have a feeling the price still needs to come down slightly.
With the mechanicals done the paint and upholstery aren’t going to be cheap but you get a great car a lot faster than starting from scratch. Going to be a nice one.
No idea if engine is original or what condition it’s in: $5000??
I’m amazed at what people are asking for Beetles these days. Back in 79 or so, my brother & I could pick up late 60’s Bugs for under $100. Usually non-running due to neglect, or failure to find a tech familiar enough with them to fix them. Typically, all we’d have to do was tune them properly, perhaps pop a few pushrods back into place, clean then up & put ’em out front for $700-800. We made enough off a few of these cars to finance getting into late American metal. Then again, some of those cars are now worth a king’s ransom. If only we knew…
In the ’70’s and ’80’s I basically drove for free. Always had a $25 to $50 project in the works. When it was finished I sold it and started another. Many looked just like this ’63. Some needed paint, others an engine, probably had a dozen or more.
Exactly our story, Doug. A few Beetles in ill repair, a basic metric tool set, a little ambition, & the infamous “Idiot Manual” got us my ’66 Impala & my brother’s ’68 Javelin, our first ‘real’ cars (no slam on the Beetle intended). At the time, they were considered throw-away cars.
I would love to have a project bug.
This would make a good Herbie tribute car. “He” was a 63 as well.
I wish I had one of my dad’s old beetles, a black 63, with the ragtop sun roof, last year for that option, after that, they went with a steel crank unit.
Looks like herbie in his number 4 movie I think it was, where he drives out of the ocean haha
Loooove these
I drove these for many years when I was young. I thought I wanted one a couple of years ago. I got in one, either they got smaller or I got bigger, but I quickly decided that my memories are better than owning one today.
PS… I got bigger!
Coming from a family that, between us, owned 10 air cooled VWs, I believe everyone should have to live with a bug so they’ll know what they aren’t missing. I can be as nostalgic as the next person but, I’ve no desire to get into an air cooled VW again unless it has a Meyers Manx body on it.
To me its the same car as the porche 356
I wish my 67 Bug was a 356. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Bug.I’ve had it for 40 years, so parting with it would be hard. But for a 356.
Another case of a woman wanting her way? Who cares? On the other hand she would have to be a truly ugly gal for any man to prefer this ugly Krautmobile over her. He should sell this s!#€ stain on history for scrap and use the money to take his Bossie Bonnie out to Pizza Hut.
SERIOUSLY ??? I don’t and NEVER will understand why anyone would pay the prices for these “cars”, as a buyers foot goes through the floor stepping into it. Owned one in ’75, NEVER, EVER again ! Pieces of JUNK !
Ya Bob I dont get it,? The fact is these are Not the Beatles.!
they’re only VW Beetles.
Looks like a great deal. Pay $7200 to current owner,fix it up for another $7200 and sell it for $11000 to some lucky new owner! Yup,it’s a fantastic deal! Talk to Daddy ! LOL
Jim
The reason so many are left, they were well built and loved. Heck, I grew up in a place where rust was king, so I saw tons driven directly into junk yards for cash, only to be driven out later by someone who wanted a cheap, cool little project. I have owned everything to 60’s Fords, Chevy’s, Chrysler products, AMC’s, 70’s metal, including Porsches, tons of late models….a few vintage VW’s too. Heck, they saved my American muscle from several harsh winters. They are actually good in light snow. I loved my Beetles. I would really like my one ‘67 back today. Very cool with my soft top, roll back sunroof, Fuchs and t bumpers. Loved my dual Empi weber kit and Empi shifter, just everything. Great little cars. Hated by many, but loved by more. Dang……. Now I want another. Maybe my 86 Z needs to find a new home. I think I just talked myself into another Beetle!