Any guesses as to how many 1960 Volkswagen Beetles are for sale tonight as I write this? Classic.com lists a couple; Hemmings and Auto Trader another six each; and others are probably lurking at more obscure venues – all 1960 examples. Dozens more are available if you’re agnostic about the model year. Which begs the question – how many Beetles have been made, anyway? That number is north of 21.5 million over its production run from 1938 through 2003. The Beetle had its heyday during the ’60s and early ’70s – this time frame accounted for at least half of sales. On the other hand, when it was first perpetuated by Adolf Hitler as a “People’s Car”, Beetles trickled out of factories in the tens. Here on eBay is a three-owner 1960 Volkswagen Beetle, bid to $10,100 with no reserve, located in Weymouth, Massachusetts. The seller has owned this Bug since 2002. The car was sold new in Vancouver, Washington; its second owner apparently lived in Oregon and is responsible for the metallic black paint job.
The engine bay retains the air-cooled 1.2-liter flat-four motor that it would have been born with, making about 36 hp by this time. The engine was rebuilt about 14,000 miles ago; the mileage is recorded in the listing as 184,278. The tires are new steel belted radials (aww, giving up the wandering bias ply?) The four-speed manual gearbox and wiring are original. The seller has service records for the brakes, engine, suspension, and other components back several years, as well as a shop manual. The car does need a new muffler, and the Wolfsburg crest is missing from the hood.
The interior has seen a few changes from stock. The carpets (new), headliner (also new), and steering wheel are 1964 items. Apparently, the driver’s seat cushion is torn, but we can’t see the damage from the photos supplied. On the other hand, the rear seats look great. The pedals do show mild wear.
The car has escaped accidents, and the floor pans are original. A bevy of parts are included in the sale, sufficient to service it for years to come. Overall, this car is an attractive driver-quality Bug in great colors, benefiting from many years with a caring owner, albeit with a couple of minor repairs in the offing. Scanning the market suggests that the bidding ought to liven up as the auction grows closer to expiration. This example sold for over $17k; here’s one that broke $20k. I think we’re at least $3k shy here – what do you think?
1960 is last year for 36hp engine and has a one year transmission unless you change the mounts. Still split case trans. Decent car, should be a good driver.
Looks like a pretty solid old Bug that would make a nice driver. I have to strongly disagree that 1960 was the “final and best” VW. That title belongs to the 1967 Bug.
I owned 3 bugs over the years. I ran 3 inch rubber corigating tubes underneath the rear and front seats attached to the heater boxes to get heat to the floor of the front compartment. The side frame heater tunnels were rusted out. Worked pretty well with an army blanket on my lap and a ice crapper in hand for the inside windshield ice. Worked well in cold Ohio winters. Long ago. Paul
My uncle still has his 1960 bug with over 1,000,000 miles on the body. Bought it new and has had several engines over the years. He visited the VW plant in Germany. He also has his 1959 motorcycle, an Ariel. Still runs. Some people keep THANGS.
I know it’s not the 70s or even the 80s, but these would have been couple hundred bucks
. . . and bread was how much???
You left out a really fun detail: the car had no gas gage, BUT, it had an axillary gas tank with a lever just to the right and above the pedals that allowed the driver, while the car was in motion, to switch to the reserve tank. That warned the driver to buy gas within something like 50 miles.
I’d love to hear if others remember this feature and remember how many miles that gave you.
My father had a 1956 (?) VW in 1961. It had been brought over from Germany by a fellow USAF member. I clearly remember it starting to sputter while driving and my father reaching over to flip it to reserve. It also had “mox nix” (not the correct spelling) semaphore turn signals that would flip out from the “B” pillar and flash amber. Lots of fun messing with gas station attendants in those days- “Check the radiator.” Haha. As a young child, I would climb over the back seat into the storage cubby. Despite the upholstery being made of material that felt like a wire brush, the heat and vibration of the engine right below me guaranteed that I immediately fell asleep.
I owned 3 bugs over the years. I ran 3 inch rubber corigating tubes underneath the rear and front seats attached to the heater boxes to get heat to the floor of the front compartment. The side frame heater tunnels were rusted out. Worked pretty well with an army blanket on my lap and a ice crapper in hand for the inside windshield ice. Worked well in cold Ohio winters. Long ago. Paul
Hi michael, not many can relate to the reserve lever, 50 miles , you better have your walking shoes on. I believe there was just over a gallon left, and you better stop soon. VWs got about 30 mpg. A funny note, upon getting gas, sometimes folks would forget to switch the lever back, and it was shoe leather express. ’62 was the 1st year for a gas gauge, although, aftermarket gauges were available.
This car has the wrong turn signals, as amber came out in ’63, and the “mox nix sticks”, with many spellings, needs explaining too. Macht nicht sticks were plastic road markers along German highways, GIs named trafficators, the official name, “macht nicht sticks” that John refers to, very popular in Europe, especially trucks, but not many made it to the states, I believe because of US lighting laws then, so to see any is truly rare. 1960 was the last of the vintage Bugs, and ’61 had a list of 21 improvements.
while i don’t remember it, mother tells the story of repetitive nights of bundling me up to go get dad because he called and was out of gas. they worked opposite shifts and he did the grave yard shift after college classes)
the words that came from her mouth after she told him to just flip the lever and come home on the reserve and he claimed he did that 2 nights ago, probably scarred me for life lol. because of course it never happened during the summer when he could simply walk home.
I had a 1960 beetle. The reserve tank was interesting! My brother would drive the car until tank was empty, switch on reserve and drive it until almost empty……then I ‘d drive it and run out of gas. Always had to carry a gas can and have a couple of dollars in my pocket. Gas was $0.299 then, but it was frustrating to deal with that at the time!
gota vert (blk on red) up from Fla in the shop right now. Old enuff for body painted/stamped (single plate) set of bumpers w/o over-riders (seen in chrome here). Been therea wk’n every time I go by it I try the hood. Finally opened to fine oe steer wheel, jack’n more. Looked in engine bay to finda needle nose w/frayed plastic handle cover resting against the fan belt. A wrench beside it in that lill depression below the balancer…
Guy may pay bill for a refresh (go, stop, safe, & inspection) & take or have us sell. Came w/a plastic windshield wash fluid bottle’n IV hose for gas tank/fuel supply. I’ll hafta do some $ research (May B I’ll buy it – a flip of the Gullwing Motors buzn. model). Needs the newer transmis (’67 +?) to do modern hwy speeds comfortably.
You can get “freeway flyer” transaxles to fit the older VWs. They use the same case and bolt right in. They use different gear ratios so the car can reach higher speeds.
I’ve owned several Bugs in my time. Time was you could pick up a good one for $300-$600. I always preferred the 67- up ones with the 12 volt system and the 68- up for the 4 lug wheels. Last one I had was a 73 Super, 65 hp dual port, man, that thing would fly for a Bug. When I got rid of it, I figured I’d pick up another one cheap, wrong. As time and natural attrition wore on, they became harder and harder to find, and prices went up on them. Now they are seldom seen on the roads.