Vehicle Description
It sure looks like the days of inexpensive Beetles are drawing to a close, which is probably a good thing. This cheerful yellow 1973 VW Super Beetle is still an economical way to join the hobby, and you'll quickly find that there's a large group of folks out there who still think these are wonderful cars.
Is there anything about the VW Beetle that hasn't already been said? There's more than one reason why they have endured for decades as the world's most popular car, and this one makes it easy to understand why they've recently started taking off as legitimate collectables. The cheeky good looks impressive build quality all work together to make one fantastic hobby car. This Beetle has been lovingly maintained, and the fact that it has spent most of that life in a warm climate has helped. The 2013 repaint is pretty close to the original color and looks exactly right on the vintage runabout. Everything lines up neatly and the doors open and close with a precision that belies the car's affordable price tag, and while it's not a show car, it still looks great. The Super Beetle offered a curved windshield, larger indicator lights, and subtly reshaped body panels, but the overall look is pure Beetle. The only notable upgrade are the interesting flat taillights which look like the originals at first glance but have a very different look in profile. We've never seen those before.
The tan interior is an excellent complement to the bright yellow bodywork, and on warm days it's a lot more comfortable than black. On the other hand, that might be academic, since this one enjoys an aftermarket A/C system that keeps the interior comfortable. The Super Beetle was upgraded inside, as well, including a more stylish instrument panel, although it still embraced the single gauge motif. All the switchgear has a very no-nonsense look typical of German cars of the period and the leather-wrapped steering wheel has a substantial feel. The upholstery, carpets, and door panels are all in good condition with very little wear, having been replaced in 2013, and it includes an AM/FM/CD stereo system with remote that actually sounds pretty darned good. The forward-mounted trunk is a little scruffy, but it does show the original color, carries a correct spare tire, and the car comes with a tow bar setup that makes it easy to move, even if you don't have a trailer.
The engine was rebuilt a few years ago to stock specifications, and the 1600 cc flat-four still whistles along without complaints. With just a few thousand miles on the rebuild, it's an excellent runner that feels strong, especially with a rebuilt 4-speed manual transmission behind it. It starts easily with that distinctive VW whistling exhaust note, and delivers adequate performance for around-town errands. The A/C was very neatly installed to make it look almost OEM under the hood and you can see quite clearly that there's a lot of new stuff there, including the big generator. Stir the 4-speed manual properly and it's entertaining to drive, thanks to a stable suspension and decent brakes, which never seem to work very hard on the lightweight VW. It's original underneath, so it's not perfect, but it's just about right for a car you're going to want to drive. Stock steel wheels were painted to match the body and wear recent 165/80/15 radials that are just the right size.
You'll probably find that everyone is your friend when you drive a Beetle, and the way the market is moving, they won't be this affordable for much longer. Call today!
