Some cars just give off a vibe that tells you it’s been loved. This 1973 Volkswagen Beetle is helped greatly by the fact that it has seemingly led a charmed life whereby its caretakers have lovingly looked after it while making some smart improvements to it along the way. If this was like any other Beetle that had never been restored, we might not think much about it; however, because it has clearly been looked after along the way after being bought new in Watertown, Connecticut, it simply presents better than most other unrestored cars. Find it here on eBay where bidding has reached $9,999 with the reserve unmet.
The paintwork appears to be in excellent condition, as does the shiny spots like the chrome bumpers and edge protectors at the bottom of the fenders. The wheels are spotless and the glass is crystal clear. While it has presumably been detailed, this Beetle still shows incredibly well, and the fact that areas like these respond so well to a professional cleaning suggest the cosmetics were routinely looked after when new. The seller notes the presence of original details like the selling dealer sticker/emblem still being visible on the left rear fender. The paint is confirmed in the listing as being all original.
The upholstery has obviously been re-done, and this isn’t a bad thing aside from likely not being an original pattern. That’s OK, because this makes the otherwise staid white paint appear much livelier as a result. The door jambs look just as good as you’d expect for such a pristine exterior. The seller notes all electrical functions and warning lights work as they should. The last owner made some attractive upgrades that improved both the looks and functionality of the Beetle, including new Bilstein shocks, Pirelli tires, H4 European-spec headlights, and Cibie driving lamps with period-correct covers.
The owner who discovered the Beetle likely hiding out in the original owner’s garage refreshed the Bug with a focus on keeping it as original as possible. The engine was removed for a comprehensive reseal while preserving as many original parts in the process. The engine bay is nicely detailed, and the seller lists the mileage as being just under 63,000. There’s no confirmation in the listing that this is the confirmed mileage, but given this Beetle retains its original paint job, it certainly seems possible. This Beetle is in the sweet spot of being better than a driver but also not restored, and it seems worthy of a higher bid than what’s currently offered.
That car is in remarkable condition. It’s nice to see an engine compartment in as original condition as so many were hacked up by techs not understanding how to properly tune one. 73 Beetles got large tail lights and was also the first year for the alternator. 74 Beetles got 5 MPH bumpers and in 75 the Beetle got Bosch L-Jetronic efi. My neighbor had a 74 and that car would run circles around my 72. Even with all of the tuning tricks there were cars that ran much stronger than others. Probably one of the reasons why you used to hear all the time “I got a lemon” . People have long forgotten what it was like to own a car built before the 80’s. All the hard starting, stalling, hesitation, and breakdowns were a norm with car ownership.
That is one hellavahunka back-up light!
Just noticed the car is in Savannah …. which is about a 20 minute drive for me…. so, if I can convince my wife …..
it even has the air hose from the spare tire to the windshield washer reservoir. now this car has been taken care of for sure.
These were nice cars for the money, but by the 70s they had gotten so expensive, just not worth all the compromises anymore. Most of my friends decided an entry level Plymouth or Chevy was a better value. Plus you had more power, more space inside, a heater.
Looks like it has a CA license plate on the front and maybe a AZ plate on the rear – ? Add in the uglies: blue plaid upholstery, oversize driving lights on the front and “elephant’s foot” tail lights.
This is a Super Beetle–check out the half-moons behind the rear windows.
Nope, 73 Super would have a curved windshield and the front trunk lid would extend past the front fenders and there would be a grill below the front bumper. 73 standard beetle is what you see here.
Do they make 14 or even 13 inch wheels for these old beetles? That & smaller tires would help on its dawg slow acceleration!
How bout a 5 speed manual? Or even port fuel injection?
You can put 14” tires on it but there is only so much you can do with 50hp. No room for a 5-speed without extensive modifications but there is a strong market for aftermarket performance from mild to wild. I opted to go the route of a Subaru ej25 SOHC with a performance built transaxle. 165HP will make these scoot and still return over 30MPG driving 70+ mph.