This 1958 Volkswagen Beetle isn’t perfect, but it’s a numbers-matching example that has seemingly survived largely intact. It will need some rust repair in areas you can’t see from the outside, but the overall condition would seem to support going forward with the repairs. Unlike many 50s-era Beetles, this one isn’t restored nor is it a basketcase – the seller has been using it as a driver up until recently when it started losing power after a few miles of drive-time. The Beetle seems like a solid foundation for a project, and it’s listed here on eBay with no reserve, and bids up to $4,550 at the moment.

The seller is not wrong that finding a 50s-era Beetle in this sort of condition is getting harder to pull off, especially one that hasn’t been modified or rat-rodded up. The 50s Bugs that aren’t oval windows sit in an ideal space for the air-cooled collector, as they’re still attainable price-wise but have some of those unique details that make the older models stand out from the wider, later Beetles and Super Beetles. This one looks decent from the outside, and the seller includes a picture of the exterior surfaces coated with boiled linseed oil to show what it would look like if you clear-coated the faded paint. Verdict: it looks pretty good!

The interior is OK – not great – but it’s at least original. The seats are tired and it appears that the headliner is non-existent. The same goes for the carpets, as those are often yanked out when there’s a concern over dampness sitting over the floors in a confined space. The seller does detail more than few areas of rust concerns, including the floors (floor pan where it meets the battery box), heater channels, driver’s side front pillar, passenger side rear pillar, spare tire well, and a few spots on the fenders. The seller will include a set of “rough” fenders, but I’m not sure what you’re supposed to do with those if the existing fenders already have rust.

The engine is a bit of a mystery. The seller calls it a numbers matching example but then seems unsure if you read further in the description. The listing does state that the engine was assembled at the same time as the car’s production date, which the seller pegs at being September of 1958. The Beetle’s engine is currently fitted with at aftermarket carburetor but will come with the factory carb, a donor carb, and a late model carb. Other extras that will be sold with the Beetle include a few spare bumpers and a rust-free rear deck lid. Overall, despite some lingering questions about its mechanical health, this Beetle seems like a worthy restoration candidate that can be driven while it is revived.