Vehicle Description
It sure looks like the days of inexpensive Beetles are drawing to a
close, which is probably a good thing. This cheerful red 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 black interior is an excellent complement to the bright red
bodywork, and the textured vinyl does a good job of keeping you
cool even on warm days. The Super Beetle was upgraded inside, as
well, including a more stylish instrument panel, although it still
embraced the single gauge motif with the gas gauge inside the
speedometer face. 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 decent condition with very little wear
(there's one small tear on the passenger's seat), and it includes
the original AM radio which might be due for an upgrade. The
forward-mounted trunk is a little scruffy, but includes original
cardboard panels to keep it tidy.
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 recent tune-up and a Pertronix electronic ignition system,
it's an excellent runner that feels strong, especially with a
4-speed manual transmission behind it. It starts easily with that
distinctive VW whistling exhaust note, and delivers adequate
performance for around-town errands. It remains quite stock, from
the carburetor to the generator to the air ducts, with the only
visible upgrade being the chrome air cleaner. 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 carry chrome hubcaps and recent 165R15 wide
whitewall radials that really dress the Bug up nicely.
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!