The VW Beetle (aka The Bug) was the “People’s Car.” Developed in the 1930s and assembled in small numbers during the war years, the Beetle went into full production in the late 1940s. The car would eventually be built and consumed around the world, seeing more than 21.5 million units produced, making it the longest-running and most-manufactured car of a single platform ever made. This ’66 edition looks like a pretty solid little runner with some recent mechanical work. Located in Sequim, Washington, it’s been owned by the same party for 33 years and is available here on craigslist. The asking price is a reasonable $5,500. Thanks, David R, for the heads-up on this one!
Volkswagen made minor but numerous changes to the Beetle over the years, including some 132 improvements between 1961-66 alone. Sales in the United States would top 300,000 units for the first time in 1966. By then, the car was propelled by a rear-mounted, air-cooled 1285 cc engine that put out 40 horsepower. It was no barn burner out the gate, doing 0-60 mph in 23 seconds with a top speed of 76 mph. The front suspension now had ball joints and the torsion bars were up to 10 leaves.
The seller has owned this auto since about 1988. To put that into perspective, Ronald Reagan was still in the White House; the Olympics took place in Calgary, Alberta and Seoul, South Korea; and NASA’s space shuttle program restarted after the Challenger explosion two years earlier. And the VW Beetle was still being built, but in Mexico, not Germany. The body and paint on this car still look good, especially after 55 years. The seats were replaced not long after the seller bought the car, so they’re not original but look better than what would have been there to begin with. But he kept them, so they will go with the car.
The engine was swapped out some years ago and the original motor retained, although the seller says he doesn’t recall why the change was made. The old engine is complete and was always stored inside, so it’s another extra coming with the car. Within the past year, the seller has performed the following services on the car:
- Replaced both the upper and lower ball joints and shock absorbers
- Rebuilt all the brakes and replaced the drums
- Full tune-up, including plugs and wires
- New battery and tires, powder-coating the wheels in the process
Some extra parts will go along with the car, such as a spare pair of powder-coasted rims. The odometer on this Beetle reads 8,500 miles, so it’s turned over. The seller says the car has a great deal of personality, which is something that maybe only other Beetle owners would understand. Although the Bug was produced in the millions, the surviving population is much, much smaller – they are usually seen these days at VW club meetings and rallies. This ’66 Beetle looks like a reasonably priced way to gain entry into the VW inner sanctum.
1966 had a 1300cc engine and the easiest way to tell the year of the car is too look at the deck lid for the 1300 script. In 67 they increased it to 1500cc. When most people rebuild the engine they will take it out to a 1600cc and keep the single port heads to keep it looking original. It’s nice to still have the original engine and 33 years of ownership is huge. I really like the color of this car as well. Not very common petrol blue? If the pan, rockers, and frame head checks out 5K is a no brainer.
Just looked up the color. I think it’s gulf blue.
Just curious how and what you used to look up the color? This looks like Sea Blue, no?
I thought that it was green!
The headlight positioning changed from 1966 to 1967. A side view will show the difference. Also 1966 was the last year for a 6 volt system.
The ‘67 mudguards (fenders) will bold straight onto the ‘66 model (as long as you remove the old ones first!)
Because ‘66 was the last year for 6 volt, the conversion to a 1500 is a bit tricky, due to the different flywheel and crankshaft in a 12 volt system. It’s doable, just not simple.
We had a ’66. It was first owned by a meticulous Hungarian for several years before we bought it. Dad said the owner treated it as his prized possession keeping it in absolutely spotless as-new condition. If he found out what we did to it in the following decades, he would have had a heart attack.
Sure presents Nicely, as Alphasud says, if the pan is good, the price is right. Washington state has a good climate thats easy on the cars. Looker over good, and stay safe.
Cheers
GPC
Yes, Sequim, (pronounced skwim) is located on the Olympic Peninsula near Olympic National Park. Beautiful area and I live not far from there as the crow flies. A very dry area in the rain shadow/banana belt of the Olympic Mountains. The average rainfall in about 15″ a year. A lot of nice older car out there. This one looks like a very good deal. Hmmmm…
Adolph Hitler tasked Ferdinand Porsche to build a people’s car in 1932 as he saved the German economy and population from the disasterous effects the Treaty of Versailles.
Design requirements: conveyance for a family of four, husband, wife and two children. Affordable for single income on 2 year layaway plan. 30mpg. 50mph. Owner maintenance with common tools.
“The People’s Car”
Plant was nearly 100% destroyed by allies except for one undetonated ordinance at sheet metal stamping.
To the victor go the spoils and the pen with which to write history.
Yes, Hitler made three bombs, the V1, the V2 and the VW!
My first car was a ’66 Beetle. Bought it in 1978 for $200 and could drive all week for around $5.00!
And it’s common knowledge that the Pennsylvania Turnpike was based on the Autobahn. Something must have been different because the hills and 65 mph speed limit resulted in VWs littering the roadside with blown engines in the 1960s.
Yep Dave they only held 3 qts of oil and the sump screen was the oil filter. here in ny state the NYC folks would run ’em around town then get on a parkway or thruway and run ’em out of oil. We called em seezers. Loved these cars. Good luck and stay safe.
Cheers
GPC
Reminds me of the time, probably in the mid eighties, as I was in my ’63 Bug driving up a long hill on the PA Turnpike, third gear, in the right lane with all the trucks. We got passed by a beige bay window bus going at least 70mph.
I thought ‘how can this be??’
When I stopped for gas about an hour later there he was at the pump. My first clue was the chrome strip ‘Powerglide’ on the deck lid. The bus had a Corvair engine transplant.
I owned this car’s twin sister….I don’t remember any roads in Calif being littered with blown up bugs though….they were designed to run foot on the floor forever and mine did just that…never had a problem with it outside of having to replace the starter motor once.
Driven enthusiastically on rough roads can fracture the chassis at the front suspension mounting points.
This happened to mine and several rally cars, especially in the Redex Trials
I had two, a 67 that my mom asked me to take after she was in an accident with it got scared. Red, could go all day at 70, Sold it 6 months later for a Firebird 400 convertible. I had a 68 in the early seventies as an airport car, I tricked it up a little and occasionally had offers to buy. Loved the bug.
The ‘66 was the best of the bunch as far as sixties bugs were concerned. Some folks think the ‘67 is something special. Okay I love the 12v, but the gradual fazing in of plastic started here. And those headlights are awful.
But even worse, there are over 100 one off parts for the ‘67, and includes items as mundane as a mirror. So if you’re considering restoring one, forget it. Unless you have buckets of money, time to burn, and a lot of patience.
May be just an urban legend, but I’ve heard there is something about that color of paint that makes bugs nearly rust proof, or at least much less prone to cancer.
lol. Does the first 3 letters of your name have anything to do with with the intent of this post?
Seriously, I knew a fanatic who collected these things by the dozen and he swore there was something about this color. And whenever I see one in this shade it’s in remarkable condition. I mean the color is hideous so it’s nice it has some redeeming virtue. ;-)
We all feel that way about our bugs. 4th dimension stuff. I carry on two-sided conversations with my Ruby quite frequently.
I love the vw. This was my first car. Mine was red, I worked at a gasoline station ⛽ and the previous owner would fill up every Saturday. He told me when he had 100 k on her he was going to sell her. I became the 2nd owner and drove it to school until I turned it in to a Baja bug.
I learned to drive a stick on my brothers 66 beetle. He went away for a week and handed me the keys. By the end of the week I was an expert. Matching revs on downshifts and all. Good times.
I owned a new ’64 and a new ’70. I loved the old 64. Was in great shape when traded. The 70 was ok but my heart was with the 64.