1979 Volkswagen Beetle Karman Convertible

Description

The Beetle is back, and I'm not talking about the New Beetle. All those oh-so-common VW Beetles that were around when you were a kid are suddenly not-so-common today and good ones have growing collector appeal. This 1979 Volkswagen Beetle convertible is probably a better toy car than it was daily driver back in the day, and with a bright color combination, it will make new friends everywhere it goes.

There's not much we can tell you about vintage Beetles that you don't already know, so let's just talk about this one's originality. It shows 78,056 miles, which we believe to be authentic, and while at a glance it might seem like a bit more than you'd expect of a collector car, bear in mind that this one is nearly 40 years old. That's less than 2000 miles a year. The red paint is in good shape, although it appears that the fenders have been repainted, although it's less noticeable in person than in our photos. Even in 1979, folks were buying these more as toys than daily drivers, so it's not unusual to find one like this that has led a pretty easy life. The doors fit well, the hood lines up right, and the fenders have graceful, unbroken curves that suggests it's never been gravely injured. The Super Beetle added things like a curved windshield and some of the chrome trim along the sides, which add a bit of sparkle to the people's car, and rightly so because by 1979, it was no longer cheap transportation but a premium product. The running boards are a wonderful old-school touch and the chrome bumpers shine up beautifully and sparkle against the bright red body.

The black interior is pretty much the way the factory was delivering them in 1979. Thanks to the texture seat covers (which look brand new) the dark color doesn't get too hot during sunny afternoon drives, and it's not like white which shows every little smudge. The door panels and seat covers were probably replaced a few years ago and the gray carpets are in good shape and protected by a set of floor mats. Other things like the AM/FM radio are original spec but that's hardly a demerit in a car that's built for fun and the snug-fitting tan convertible top features a heated glass rear window, a nice feature in a low-cost ragtop. The forward trunk is also finished as new with none of the usual warning signs that plague lesser Bugs.

The 1600 cc engine is this car's original powerplant, and in traditional VW fashion it's easy to maintain and reliable enough to go cross-country at a moment's notice. You'll note it still carries its original fuel injection system, which is often removed and replaced with a carburetor, but when properly serviced and maintained, it gives the air-cooled flat-four great road manners and easy starting. The 4-speed manual transmission is as vague as ever, but you'll quickly master it and old VW fans will feel right at home. The floor pans are in very condition with just a light dusting of surface scale and you can see that it hasn't been subjected to any questionable "upgrades" along the way. It even carries original-style steel wheels and right-sized 165R15 BFGoodrich whitewall radials.

A very tidy little Beetle in great colors that's ready for summer. They aren't cheap anymore, but good ones are still affordable so make your move and call today!