Vehicle Description
1961 Volkswagen Beetle - Fully Restored, California Style Beetle -
Factory Ragtop - Gene Berg Shifter, Empi Style Wheels, Roof Rack -
Complete Engine Rebuild: valves, pistons, bearings, camshaft,
clutch, and electric fuel pump (Please note: If you happen to be
viewing this 1961 VW Beetle 1600 on a website other than our Garage
Kept Motors site, it's possible that you've only seen some of our
many photographs of this vehicle due to third-party website
limitations. To be sure you access all the more than 165
photographs, as well as a short walk-around-and-startup video,
please go to our main website: GarageKeptMotors.) Few things in
life work as well as a Volkswagen. -1960s VW Ad Touting its
revolutionary decision not to dramatically change a model's look
just to introduce a different-appearing version every fall,
Volkswagen instead touted how frequently the company made
improvements to the cars throughout the year: People sometimes ask
us why we don't change our cars once a year like everybody else.
The answer is simple: once a year isn't always enough. The VW
Beetle's extremely long-lived styling is part of what makes the
early models still in demand nearly sixty years after they first
came ashore in the U.S. Purity of the design, simplicity of the
engineering, and plain old nostalgia seemingly ensure demand for
these classic German automobiles will never die out. Properly
maintained, the cars are not only timeless, they're seemingly
eternal! This light-blue (we're tempted to call it Pacific blue
since the car has a definite California vibe) '61 Beetle is a good
example. It has been carefully maintained, completely restored,
responsibly updated, and lovingly cared for. (Be sure to note the
final photograph in the gallery showing the binder of photographs
fully documenting the restoration.) It's still powered by the
original 1200cc horizontal 4-cylinder rear-mounted engine, but
together with the clutch, the powerplant underwent a documented
rebuild just a few months ago (included: valves, pistons, bearings,
camshaft, clutch, and electric fuel pump). One look at the engine
compartment-either from behind or underneath-shows just how high a
standard guided that work. New brakes were also installed. The
car's exterior shows the California influence in the addition of a
wood-slat, rooftop cargo carrier, Empi 911 style wheels (preferred
by many West Coast VW fans back in the day), and even a Ron Jon
Surf Shop rear-window decal. The blue finish is uniform and glossy
throughout, with chrome trim, lighting lenses, and window glass all
in excellent, un-damaged condition. The quad-exit after-market
exhaust is another West Coast-inspired modification. The black
fabric on the factory ragtop manual sunroof fits properly and the
top operates as it should. Inside, the characteristically simple
dash, painted in the body color, features a full range of new
gauges executed in a period style. Ivory-colored vinyl upholstery
(on seats and door cards) is in exceptional condition, free of wear
or blemishes. The 4-speed manual shifter knob is a Gene Berg
replacement t-handle. A JVC audio head unit and speakers are
installed. The original VW Wolfsburg (celebrating the northern
German city of its manufacture) steering-wheel-center emblem is
crisp and undamaged. Carpeting and floor mats show very little, if
any, wear, and a matching-color headliner is in place, including on
the manually operated sunroof. Inside the tidy and correct front
trunk, there's a full-size spare adding a measure of frontal
crash-protection. We expect and invite in-person inspection of this
beautifully restored, California-vibe 1961 VW Beetle 1600. Because
our showroom is not open to the public, we ask only that you call
or email us for an appointment in advance so that we can devote our
full attention to you during your visit. Meanwhile, the more than
165 high-definition photographs of the car and the short
walk-around-and-startup video on the Garage
