To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' The Taj Ma
Garaj Collection event, 28 September 2019.
Estimate:
$20,000 - $30,000
- Finished in vibrant and unusual Texas Yellow
- Showing less than 16,500 miles
- Retains its matching-numbers engine
- Documented by Volkswagen Museum certificate
- Original Production Card included
By the mid-1970s, the Volkswagen Beetle had infiltrated every road
in the United States, from coast to coast and any stretch of
pavement in between. Buyers were initially drawn to its low cost,
well-packaged interior, and durable mechanicals. The Beetle became
a style icon as well, a sign of defiance in a gluttonous era when
Detroit was churning out massive, gas-guzzling land yachts.
Volkswagen didn't rework the Beetle often, but the automaker made
myriad small changes every year. Larger bumpers arrived for 1968,
and the slightly upsized Super Beetle that bowed a few years later
had more luggage capacity, MacPherson front struts, and a
semi-trailing-arm rear suspension.
This Super Beetle was delivered to New Orleans in 1973, painted in
a bright and highly unusual Texas Yellow, a two-year-only shade
that was among the most vibrant of the two-dozen paint hues Beetle
owners could pick from in the months leading up to the oil crisis.
Most Beetles would go on to live hard lives as commuter cars, and
few would survive inevitable customizing by subsequent owners. This
Beetle, however, emerged unscathed, and its odometer has ticked a
mere 16,400 times, a fraction covered by most other Beetles.
Its condition is a testament to its exceptionally low mileage. The
chrome bumpers shine brightly, and its paint appears to be largely
original, with the exception of the passenger front fender, which
had a higher paint-meter reading. The black vinyl upholstery shows
no creasing. The factory Sapphire XVIII AM radio mounted to its
wood-tone dashboard appears as though it has never been switched
on. An unused spare wheel sits under its hood, a smaller panel for
the 1973 model year, thanks to an enlarged curved windshield.
A previous owner showed an appetite for enthusiasm. In place of the
standard wheels with hubcaps is a set of painted EMPI GT wheels
wrapped in XAS tires. Period lovebug rubber floor mats protect its
carpeting and show the limited number of times they've been stepped
on. Presented with a Volkswagen Museum certificate of authenticity,
its original manuals, and its production card, this Texas Yellow
Beetle offers a rare glimpse into an unrestored, near-factory-fresh
icon of the 1970s.To view this car and others currently consigned
to this auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/tg19.