Make: | Volkswagen |
Model: | Beetle - Classic |
Type: | Coupe |
Year: | 1966 |
Mileage: | 2,652 |
VIN: | 1169481187 |
Color: | Black |
Engine: | 1500cc |
Cylinders: | 2 |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Transmission: | Manual |
Drive type: | RWD |
Interior color: | Red |
Drive side: | Left-hand drive |
Vehicle Title: | Clear |
Item location: | Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, United States |
For a car that had a rather odious beginning as a people’s car commissioned by Adolf Hitler, the Beetle came to be loved by multiple generations of basic transportation seekers on every continent with the possible exception of Antarctica. Originally promised to pre-war Germans who saved the requisite amount of Reichsmarks, it wasn’t until after the war that a Beetle was delivered to a private customer. Beetles of the 1950s and 1960s were marked by evolutionary rather than wholesale changes. A minor increase in horsepower and displacement and several different rear window designs (a small split window, a small oval window and a larger window) was about it through 1967. The 1960 “Think Small” advertising campaign is still studied in marketing classes around the world. Throughout most of its life in the U.S., the Beetle was offered in sedan and cabriolet body styles. Pre-1968 Beetles were inexpensive but never cheap. They were well-assembled, used first-rate interior materials and have a charm that’s lacking in later cars. Just about every part for a Beetle is readily available and most are quite inexpensive.
This particular 1966 Beetle was the recipient of a 5 year, body-off, rotisserie restoration. The entire car was finished around the beginning of 2013, and still looks fresh.
All the painted sheet metal appears to be original, and straight as an arrow. I pulled this car from the Carolinas, so it never experienced the harsh northern winters. All the body lines and gaps are just as you would see from the factory, and the deep, black paint is beautiful. Also during the restoration; all the moldings, lights and bumpers were replaced so you know they look like new.
The interior is completely new. All the weather stripping as well as the body seals were replaced. Also replaced was the windshield and the heater channels, and a retro style, modern stereo was fitted perfectly for nice sounding tunes while you cruise. This car really does look almost like new.
The 1500cc engine was completely rebuilt, and runs perfectly. No hesitation or misses, and absolutely no smoke out of the tailpipe, and it was also converted to 12 volt during restoration. The 4-speed manual transmission was also rebuilt, and shifts perfectly through the gears. The clutch feels very tight with no slipping while putting power down to the original wheels and brand new tires.
Classic Beetles are going up in value quickly… especially 1968 and older models. Don’t let this high-quality example slip by!