Vehicle Description
Too late now, the VW Beetle has officially become a collector's
item. After years of languishing on used car lots and in your
neighbor's back yard, cars like this clean little 1965 Volkswagen
Beetle "ragtop" have crossed over and become beloved toys rather
than mere transportation appliances.
To be honest, the looks of the Beetle pretty much ensured that
they'd always have a spot in our automotive hearts. They're still
fun, reliable, inexpensive fun, but the numbers are on the move and
taking this handsome restored example home can also be considered a
good investment. Someone has already done all the hard work, so the
body and paint are in very good shape and show no signs of ever
having been anything but well-maintained. Silver paint gives the
vintage VW an updated look, yet still lets the traditional Beetle
shape do all the talking and they've cleverly added an oval rear
window that blends in seamlessly. It's got a cool resto-mod vibe.
Panel fit, which was already quite good from the factory, remains
excellent, with the doors sealing up like the proverbial vault.
Early car styling cues such as the small taillights and flat
windshield give it an early VW look, and with the roll-back
sunroof, it's a rare find that's ideal for sunny days.
The black interior is very much the way the designers intended, and
it's possible that the seat upholstery is original. Basic black
always works well, and it includes matching door panels and
carpets, plus a custom package shelf behind the rear seat with a
pair of speakers and a gray tweed headliner. The color-matched
dashboard adds a sense of style to the all-business interior, and
the single round speedometer with integral fuel level gauge shows
crisp markings. The custom steering wheel makes it easy to maneuver
the manual-steering-only Beetle, even in tight spots, and the
four-speed shifter falls to hand easily where you'll quickly master
its quirky feel. An AM/FM/CD stereo below the dash sounds great and
allowed the very cool original dash to remain untouched. The
overall look is warm and inviting with just enough wear on the
seats to prove that it's been used as intended. The front trunk is
lined in black carpet for a finished look.
After an extensive round of upgrades, this Bug now carries a 1600
cc flat-four from a 1970 Beetle, which delivers a bit more
horsepower and torque to help this car cope with American driving
styles. Of course, like all Beetles, this one starts easily and
will probably run forever with that traditional air-cooled VW
sound, and the engine bay shows signs of regular maintenance in the
years since it was completed. A small air cleaner feeds the single
carburetor, there's a new set of ignition components, and all the
heater ducting is still in place, which is more proof of
conscientious ownership. Underneath, it's reasonably tidy, but it's
also completely original and with that in mind, there are no signs
of trouble in the usual spots. The heater boxes are solid, the pans
are clean, and the area under the rear seat is solid. Polished
aluminum wheels have a Torque Thrust look, and work well with the
staggered 145R15 front and 205/70/15 radials, which give it a bit
of a rake.
The same reasons Beetles were popular when new make them popular
today, but something with this much cool was never a factory
offering. Call today!