1970 Volkswagen Beetle

Description

Don't look now, but the Beetle has graduated to collector car status, and many of them are receiving the same top-quality restoration work that some of their more expensive contemporaries have been receiving for years. Restore a 1970 Mustang? Of course. Restore a 1970 Beetle? It's not really as strange as it sounds, and after you have a look at this lovely bright red Bug, perhaps you'll have a better understanding of why these cars remain so popular.

Finished in happy bright red paint, the humble Beetle sure looks ready to play, particularly with a top that goes down. With virtually every part you could ever need available as a brand-new component, restored Beetles are often better than new, and that seems to apply in this case. Panel gaps are excellent, and while it's a myth that these cars can float because they seal up so well, this one is solid and tight. Although the restoration was completed a few years ago, it's obvious that this one has received loving care ever since it was completed, and shows extremely well with few signs of usage since. If you're looking for a beautiful Beetle with great paint, this is it.

Inside, the interior is simply gorgeous and shows you that sometimes less really is more. The black vinyl is textured to make it both durable and comfortable, even in the sun and the overall design gives the utilitarian Beetle some real upscale credibility. With matching door panels, new black carpets, and what appear to be new seat belts, it seems that no aspect of the interior went overlooked during the restoration. The simple single speedometer and integral fuel gauge are fully functional with no clouding on the instrument face and all the chrome and switchgear has been well-preserved or replaced with new pieces. For entertainment, the original AM radio still lives in the dash, a nice touch when so many cars are sporting generic aftermarket setups. A newer black convertible top fits well and seals up nicely with its integral headliner, and hides under a matching boot when it's stowed. Up front, the trunk has been upholstered to match and includes one of the original steel wheels as a spare as well as a factory tool roll.

In back there's a rebuilt 1595 cc motor that wears a freshly rebuilt carburetor, and as a result runs extremely well with that characteristic VW sound. Nicely detailed with factory equipment and none of the usual aftermarket add-ons, it's not radical, but that also means that it is every bit as reliable as the legend says it should be. Easy to tune and with excellent parts availability, these really are fantastic hobby cars that drive extremely well when they're properly sorted as this one is. The 4-speed transaxle was rebuilt at the same time as the engine, although there's really no way to cure the characteristic vagueness that's part of the VW's charm. The floor pans appear to be new replacements, but in the VW world, this is hardly a demerit and ensures that the foundation is solid and ready to go. Factory steel wheels with simply VW hubcaps give it a traditional look and carry 165R15 radials to improve ride and handling.

Beetles make wonderful starter collectables, and values are starting to inch up as collectors realize that really clean cars are getting hard to find. Call today!