The VW Type 1, better known as the Beetle or Bug due to its shape, is one of the most produced cars ever. More than 21 million copies saw the light of day between the 1940s and near the turn of the century. This example still wears its original paint and looks ready to go on a safari given all the extra stuff that has been added. We’re told it’s an excellent runner that only needs a new home. Located in Nampa, Idaho, this little runabout is available here on craigslist for $17,500.
Development work on the Beetle began in Germany in the mid-1930s but was halted as the Nazi war effort accelerated. “The People’s Car” as it was deemed didn’t go into serious production until the mid-1940s, and they wouldn’t reach U.S. shores until around 1950. The little machines would change little from year to year, maintaining much of their original design throughout. Sales in the United States stopped in 1979 (the car couldn’t keep up with the U.S. DOT), though they continued to be built and sold in Mexico and Brazil for several more years. An all-new Beetle came along in 1998 and has only recently run out of steam.
From the looks of things, the seller has had some fun with this 1971 “standard” Beetle (not the slightly larger Super Beetle). Disc brakes have been added in the front, some suspension work has been done with both ends of the car lowered a bit, and an aftermarket ragtop has been added along with a roof rack and decklid rack. The Bug has a “safari” pop-out windshield as well as pop-out side windows.
The paint is said to be original and presents well. Someone has added matching wheel skirts in the rear, and they don’t do much for me. The interior is stock except for a new headliner and the 1600cc dual port engine has never been modified and runs great at 60,000 miles. Considering that most Beetles were used up within 20 years of their construction, it’s nice to see one like this still around.
Oh, hell no! Please, remove all that miscellaneous crap including the bumpers, and make it right.
I agree such silliness. A couple tasteful additions are okay but throwing the whole catalog at it no so. If they are trying so hard to be quirky they should have bought a 2CV. Maybe that’s next?
EXACTLY! – I’ve NEVER seen a bug with more than one
of that garbage-looking crap on it,even when they were new.
WHY do sellers like this think that makes it worth more?
I suppose it has one of those “Nicht mit der Wagenfahrer Sprechen” plaques on the dash, too….
A whole lot of gimcracks to remove — with luck, that won’t damage anything you’d want to keep — from what looks like an okay Beetle underneath. Of course, I’d want a solid discount when handing all that stuff back to the seller.
That poor little bug has to be carrying at least a couple hundred pounds of crap. There is stuff on there I don’t think JC Whitney ever marketed, that little grill between the exhaust tips! Can’t even imagine finding something silly and spending the money and putting it on that car. Like that windshield, and added top bet the wind flows through at speed.
That item between the peashooter exhaust tips is called a “cheesegrater”
I always thought they looked silly
Never had one on my car..
I think it looks cute that way. It makes it look unique looking from other Bugs. If I had that kind of money to spend I would probably buy it. And get it repainted in that color. If that’s all it needed done to it.
I dunno, I guess haters are gonna hate. It might be a little over the top, but I like the more classic look of the bumpers and luggage rack. My ’85 Harley has a lot of things that make it look older than it is, fringed leather bags, wide whitewalls, fishtail exhaust, flex chrome heat shield etc.The idea was to have an older looking bike without old bike problems. I’ve had it 23 years now its getting to an old bike but its not like trying to keep an old pan or knuck on the road. Probably the same with this more dependable than say a ’57 bug and could still be a daily driver.
Agree
This is a new one on me. I have never seen a Bug with fender skirts. Don’t know if I like it or hate it. Time will tell.
I’ll help you decide. The fender skirts are just awful. Looks like a Citroen 2cv was welded onto the back of this poor bug.
As an aside, what do you call a Volkswagen Rabbit ?
Bug’s Bunny!
I have seen many Bugs with “fender skirts” or “spats” as well as the other accessories on this one. Possibly even on the one vehicle!
I am not a Bug fan (previous owner), but those items, well…not bad.
Those bumpers didn’t go with those mudguards (fenders)! It looks like a replacement after a prang, going by the dents at bumper height on one fender.
Builder: “Hand me the catalog, too much is not enough “
Style is highly debatable.
Better let it go…
I love the beetle but that price is outrageous. Should I assume its all extra peices stuck all over it that’s driving the price up so high . A 70 beetle with 60 thousand miles on the original motor and a good original paint ? Body is definitley worth a few dollars but there’s still a ton of old beetles in great shape with rebuilt upgraded engines to be had at a fraction of the price. I don’t see anyone paying that for this era beetle even if they’re into cars covered in catalog accessories
6000-8000 is top dollar for this 1 of 21 million VWs produced Imho
You’re way off on those figures for nice classic VW bugs selling these days.
Scrap all the add one except the bumpers and you have a nice car.
Add 66 and older fenders with the covered headlights, add the smaller tail lights, and fill the dumpster with the rest of the crap. But, to each his own…
He forgot the Semaphores?
Never cared for the Beetle, and they certainly made this even worse. I lived in west Texas for years and the wind always blows out there (gusty as well) and driving from one town to another across those wide open spaces, you would never fail to see one of the on its top because someone thought it would be a good idea to drive it in west Texas. One guy told me he drove it 35 miles from Andrews to Odessa and had the steering wheel turned almost 90 degrees more than needed just to keep it on the road. If the wind died down quickly, he would have flipped. He was smart, he had someone tow it back home. After that, he just drove it in town..
Gee’s I would sure hate to be the poor guy that fixed up this cool looking Beetle. you guys are some cruel auto critics. I like it with all the old school parts , the Bumpers look good , The fender skirts look alright , The $17,000 asking price No Way that’s gonna happen . I just sold my 1963 and barely got $10,000 and I had all old school . Come on Guys , Stop Hating…
Finance the purchase by selling off the accessories. A win-win situation. Keep the 1600.
I had a 67 bus with pop-out windshields, but I never heard of a pop-out windshield on a bug. I don’t remember seeing that in a J.C. Whitney catlog either, although I do remember the kits to make a bug look like a Rolls Royce.
We’ll at least nobody has suggested they drop an LS motor c/w auto trans into it….
@Murray. 😆
I think it’s hilarious to see all the references to the JC Whitney catalog. I was the proud but poor owner of both a ’67 Beetle and a ’68 Beetle convertible. I remember going through the JC Whitney catalog and dreaming about all the optional things I wished I could order. The thing I needed most was the auxiliary fan for the heating system, but never got one. I bet the owner of this bug had a blast doing all the mods to it. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but someone will want it as is.
Yes they call it a Safari Windshield They Look awesome on the Beetles Had one installed on my 1963 Bad Ass…