1964 Volkswagen Beetle

Description

After years of being regarded as disposable, the vintage VW Beetle is now gaining ground as a legitimate collector vehicle. Early models like this 1964 Volkswagen Beetle coupe seem to command a premium, offering the original VW experience with a healthy dose of nostalgia. Refinished several years ago, with a tidy interior and a cool slightly custom look, this lovely little Bug is a wonderful way to enjoy the greatest hobby on earth without a huge up-front investment. Nobody said that having fun in an old car has to be expensive, right?

Finished in brilliant orange, this bright little Beetle is perhaps the world's most recognizable car. The paint and bodywork have been done to proper standards; not over-restored, but rather about what you'd get if you walked into a VW dealership in 1964 and took it home. Assembly quality was quite good, and the stories about Beetles being so tight they can float turned out not to be 100% true, but they do fit together quite well. Door gaps are flush, the hood fits snugly and doesn't wiggle out on the road, and the rear deck lid follows the body's contours precisely. Only one or two small areas on the driver's front fender and door give away the age of the restoration, but overall the car presents quite well with undeniable appeal. The simple bumpers, big headlights, and little horn grills all make the front end look as friendly as ever, and while the emblems have been shaved, do you really need name plates to know what this is?

For a low-priced car, the VW designers certainly gave the interior an upscale look. Materials and workmanship are extremely high quality throughout, and while accommodations are cozy, Bugs are always bright and airy inside. Beautifully fitted cream-colored seat covers, tightly knit carpets, and crisply rendered door panels make is a pleasure to be behind the wheel. And speaking of the steering wheel, it is as neat 3-spoke unit that frames the simple instrument panel, which consists of a speedometer and separate fuel gauge, which is unique to early cars. Other notable details include the accessory cup holder, seat belts (which were still optional in 1964), and heavy duty floor mats. The forward-mounted trunk offers decent storage space as well as a full-sized spare with correct remote inflation hose and jack assembly.

Beetles will take you anywhere you need to go, as long as you have the time. The upgraded 1600 cc flat-four makes modest horsepower, but as everyone knows, they're completely indestructible and reasonably peppy around town. This one has been freshly rebuilt and shows only slight signs of use. It starts easily with that characteristic VW whistling exhaust note and you'll probably see that driving it feels familiar after only a few miles. The carburetor wears a correct oil bath air cleaner and not some aftermarket piece, the big generator has been converted to 12 volts, and, and the ignition components are recent. The underbody is driver-grade, the brakes are rebuilt, the clutch is new, and it rides on a newer set of cool Halibrand-style wheels with new radials wrapped around them.

This high-impact Beetle is welcome at almost any vintage event, and it always puts a smile on the faces of the driver and passers-by alike, all for a very reasonable price. Call today!