• Iconic car with desirable factory convertible roof
The Appeal
Is there a more iconic car than the Volkswagen Beetle?
The very definition of a car for all people, there is a Beetle in some form for everyone. Largely unchanged from its original launch, the Volkswagen engineers very much stuck to the notion of don’t fix what isn’t broken.
The simplistic design and mechanics meant that naturally, the Beetle has seen untold successes, and for good reason.
Maintained to an incredibly high standard and just given a 12 month advisory free MOT, what we have here is an exquisite example of a Beetle from the golden years of the model’s production.
A solid US import converted to RHD boasting subtle modifications and a delightful yellow paint scheme to really stand out from the crowd.
• Fold down convertible top in excellent condition
• Good quality upholstery
A wonderful mix of beautiful yellow paintwork and contrasting black upholstery, the cabin of the beetle is one that presents in excellent condition.
Front and rear the factory seats, those familiar with the model will attest to the incredible comfort these provide, sit proudly in black vinyl upholstery, distinctly lacking in wear and the damage often found on older VW’s.
Looking down, we find a smart carpet set draping its way over the floor pans and footwells, and at the sides, a neat set of door panels can be seen, similarly free of wear and fading.
WIth simplicity always on the mind of the design team at VW, the front dash piece found in the beetle is rather minimalist, a small selection of switchgear and a central dash mounted radio can be seen, all in good order and reported to function fully. The paintwork here and on the door surrounds within the cabin is all of an exemplary standard.
Up top we find the party piece, the reason this particular beetle so proudly wears the Karman badge on the outside.
The convertible top. Need not wait for slow electric motors to fold away the roof here, instead, the smart black roof piece can be folded back in a matter of seconds after unlatching and stowed within a protective black cover.
WIth the brilliant yellow paintwork bouncing off those iconic curved body lines, one might perhaps mistake this beetle for a little ray of sunshine cruising down the road.
With a powerful shine exuding from all angles, the little VW scores high marks in the aesthetic category.
The paint itself, believed to be Volkswagen’s “Yukon Yellow”, is of an excellent standard, incredibly high quality with very little in the way of wear or blemishing.
The wrap-around chrome “europa” front and rear bumpers, of an equally high standard, play their part to further set the car off from the outside, as do the rest of the chrome trim pieces dotted around the vehicle.
The various shut lines, door jambs and wing beading, things so often overlooked on these cars, are all of a great standard. This combined with the general high quality of the car’s exterior, really help show this as the honest well cared for vehicle that it is.
At ground level, we find the beetle has been fitted with a set of truly wonderful Fusch style Porsche alloy wheels, all presented in great order, these are arguably one of the finest wheel choices for the little Volkswagens, and when looking at them on this specific its clear to see why this is the case.
Naturally, Volkswagen couldn’t claim to have created a true peoples car in the Beetle without backing it up with some solid, reliable, and most importantly, simple mechanical underpinnings.
Cue the little air cooled 4 cylinder motors that have over time, acquired something of a legend status among those in the know.
Believed to have previously been the smaller capacity 1300cc, upon importation into the UK, this particular beetle was upgraded, and the larger capacity, more powerful and far superior 1600cc motor was installed into the car along with a set of twin carburettors to really bring the little beetle up to speed.
Opening the rear decklid, we find the engine, tinware and its ancillaries to be in remarkably clean condition and thus, at the turn of the key, it fires into life immediately. The iconic 4 cylinder engine note exuding from the rear mounted exhausts.
On the road the Beetle is reported to provide the raw, rewarding drive that is so quintessential of these little cars. The 4 speed manual transmission effortlessly floats through the gears and the braking system has no issues bringing the car to a stop.
That iconic shape, that brilliant yellow paintwork, and that excellent convertible top. Might this just be the perfect summer classic?
In the Volkswagen Beetle, one is getting a truly wonderful piece of engineering, in a genuinely usable yet stylish package.
Something the writer of this piece can attest to, having driven a very similar example every day for the past four years with little to no issue.
With a full 12 month MOT, and solid mechanical underpinnings, the Beetle is ready for a new owner to thoroughly enjoy over the next few months, perfect for some top down cruising, a classic car show or just a run about town, the peoples car is at home anywhere.
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