Considered a “really nice rat-rod” this 1965 Volkswagen Type 1 is likely a flip. The seller has owned it for one year and now wants to move it on to a new caretaker. Its features are minimal but there are some noteworthy aspects so let’s look it over. Residing in Gretna, Nebraska, this Bug is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $3,051 with the reserve not yet met.
I’ve never owned a Bug but my best friend in high school ended up with four, two ’66s, one ’65, and a ’64. The ’64 blew up (#3 cylinder behind the oil cooler) and received the ’65’s engine after it got rolled on the 18th fairway of a suburban golf course. We spent New Year’s eve in his parent’s detached garage performing the engine swap. The ’64, later on, couldn’t make up its mind which fork to take on a dark rural road, so it went up the middle and hit a huge, hidden ivy-covered tree stump – game over. The last ’66 survived the mayhem (the first ’66 blew up too) and lived a long time, parked in the backyard until it was traded to an electrician for necessary service rendered. So, lots of time for me wrenching on them, but never actual ownership.
This Beetle has the patina thing going on but it honestly looks like someone attacked it with paint remover and a scrapper. It’s interesting that most of the doodling is on the roof. We’re told that the rust is minimal, mostly confined to the lower door hinge area. The underside looks fair and the slammed stance, EMPI wheels, and roof rack complete the picture. The seller mentions, “I would replace the front beam. It’s been lowered just by releasing all of the torsion…“. I know what the beam is on a Type 1 but I’m not sure why it would need to be replaced unless it’s bent (like my sister somehow managed to do to her ’73).
Normally, we’d find a 40 HP, 1200 CC four-cylinder opposed engine under the boot but the seller states, “Runs and drives. Definitely has some sort of hot rod engine. I don’t know how it’s been modified and can’t give you the specs, unfortunately, but it is definitely much quicker than any other beetle I’ve driven“. There are twin carbs, an exhaust headers, and a power pulley that are visible but admittedly, that tells us little about overall modifications.
The interior is pretty standard and grubby. There’s a Hurst shifter in place and a green sparkly steering wheel, the kind that you would have bought for $14 from Milt, Marsh, Sol & Leon’s Tire Service and Accessories but that’s about it for mods. The left-side dash grille and the radio are missing, and the headliner is gravity-bound but it’s really a move-along, nothing to see kind of environment. The good news is that a Bug’s interior is a simple affair and easily redoable.
The seller claims, “Real fun to drive hot rod go-kart…“. I suppose I can see that, and if that’s the sort of thing that you’re interested in, here you go. My question to you is, if you were to acquire this VW rat-rod, what would you do with it? Leave it as is, modify it further, or…?
Maybe a flip but at least it’s not still on a trailer.
Right out of HS,(’72) I took a job as a VW mechanic. The guy was an absolute MONSTER to work for,( reason for the job opening, I’m sure) partially because he was simply overwhelmed with work. This lowered look is all the rage, but back then, indicated some serious front suspension work was needed. I only worked there for 2 days, and yep, told him to “cram it” too, but Bugs were huge. There were literally dozens of VW shops, or shops with at least several waiting on repairs. It was brakes, valves and transmission issues mostly, the things Americans were most likely to abuse. Not sure why, but the VW was the ubiquitous foreign car for decades, mostly because not much competition in the US, and the VW had perfect timing. It worked for so many, and can’t deny that. I can’t think of a car that has more stories connected to it than the Bug, mostly because, they were the only cars we could afford, just when the world was opening up to us. Most are priceless, like the time, me and my buddy Jim( had a ’58) were cruising down by the lakefront, and, all of a sudden,,,,
That roof rack, is worth more than the car!
As a formula vee owner, I can attest that the motor in this bug has been installed backwards.
Funny looking body with extra seats too.
What, exactly, are you talking about?
the car is sitting on a lift and there’s no pics of the floor pan?? The body looks pretty solid provided the surface rust isnt too aggressive. the devil in in the floor pan. Myself I’d restore the stock rding height, throw a single stage pint job on it, leave the mods and letter go., Wonder what the reserve is?? Good luck and check the floor pan.
Cheers
GPC
The ebay ad has 7 photo’s of the pan, looks solid to me, even the battery area. It’s a shame the radio area was hacked, and not a single photo under the trunk. If this was closer I’d give it a look, nothing that can’t be fixed…
Had a 64 model, bought new. lot of fun to drive, flog, beat, abuse, etc. Every October had to replace the oil sending unit, due to leaking, and adjust valves every other oil change. Every other October had to replace the muffler, but sure sounded good with a blown-out muffler. Safety sticker was due in October and April. PA had twice a year inspections, and the younger you were (16-19 Y.O.) when you brought a car in, the more complete the inspection was.
When I was a kid, I never, ever saw a bug with a roof rack. Now, I think you can’t own a VW in California without one.
I have one of those roof racks left over from the RAT bug I had in college,what are they worth? I actually put it on my 59 Mercedes ponton for a while and it looked like it was from raiders of the lost ark.
Those racks go for $200-400 on ebay. I’ve been looking for my 73 Audi 100LS
My parents bought a 1973 Audi 100ls on my birthday in 73,(i got to miss school and everything) , full boat ,auto, sunroof ,premium stereo . At one point the oil light came on and we brought it to the dealer who said theres plenty of oil and to ignore the light. I was poking around under the hood and found a third dipstick hidden in back with NO oil on it. They were checking the Front drive unit and the automatic transmission sticks .. how untrained could they be? Check the inboard brakes too, I was driving it the day before prom about 65 mph coming into a red light and just tapped the brakes and I saw a caliper bounce out from under the car in the rear view mirror. I had to drive into a snow bank to stop the car without being killed. Incidentally I’m in northeast Mass if your close enough to see the rack.
My first car was a used 61 bug. I installed a steering wheel identical to the one here. seemed to go much faster, too . .
My first car (when I was 16) was a 59 VW. I was excited by how easily it cruised at 60mph, only to be disappointed when I figured out that it was a European model (the semaphores gave it away) and that I was only going 60KPH (45mph). I was t-boned by a 59 Thunderbird that ran a stop sign and that was the end of that particular VW. Later, I traded a prematurely rusting 70 Duster 340 for a very nice 70 VW and drove it everywhere for several years. Like many, I have very fond memories of those cars… wouldn’t mind finding a nice one right now. Not this one, though.