Vehicle Description
1972 Volkswagen Beetle - 1600cc 4 Cylinder - 4 Speed Manual
Transmission - Red Paint Over Black Interior (Please note: If you
happen to be viewing this 1972 VW Beetle 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 155
photographs, as well as a short walk-around-and-startup video,
please go to our main website: GarageKeptMotors.) ... the world's
best-selling car ever, and now it is probably the most usable
real-world classic you can own. Classic Motoring magazine, May 2011
Classic Motoring went on to opine about the Beetle's remarkable
success: Nobody can deny that the Volkswagen Beetle was a
phenomenal success, but putting your finger on the exact reasons
why is not simple. The original pre-war design brief for a car that
was affordable to buy and run on modest means, could carry two
adults and three children at 60mph (all day on the new autobahns)
and return over 30mpg was laudable enough, but hardly revolutionary
- a similar desire to provide transport for the masses had
previously brought success to many manufacturers throughout the
world, most spectacularly to Henry Ford with his Model T. Yet by
1972 Volkswagen's Beetle had outsold the Tin Lizzie and was well on
its way to an astonishing total of 21,529,464 million units
worldwide.... Offered here is a 1972 example of the car that
outsold every other in history. This red Beetle has the added
distinction of showing just 778 miles on its odometer, which is all
the miles that have been recorded since its been restored. To the
untrained eye, many VW Beetles look alike. In truth, the cars were
constantly updated, even in the middle of a production run.
Wikipedia describes the contemporaneous improvements made in this
car: 1972 models had an 11% larger rear window (40 mm [1.6 in]
taller), and the convertible engine lid with four rows of louvers
was now used on all Beetles. Inside the vehicle, a four-spoke
energy-absorbing steering wheel was introduced, the windshield
wiper/washer knob was replaced in favor of a steering column stalk,
and intermittent wipers were a new option available in selected
markets. An engine compartment socket for the proprietary VW
Diagnosis system was also introduced. The rear luggage area was
fitted with a folding parcel shelf. The exterior of this red '72
Bug is as pristine and factory-original as one would expect for
such a low-mileage car. The non-metallic red paint is uniformly
glossy and smooth without signs of fading across the entire car.
Body-panel fit and alignment is virtually perfect. Chrome-including
the hood trim, body trim, headlight, and windshield trim-is bright
and un-pitted. The same is true for the dual exhaust outlets and
the steel-wheel trim rings and VW-logo hubcaps. Cabin glass and all
lighting lenses are clear and un-cracked. The angled Volkswagen
rear-hood badge is properly located as it came from the factory.
Inside, black is the Teutonic color theme. The padded dash,
textured-vinyl seating surfaces, door trim (with pleated pockets),
carpeting, headliner and visors, steering wheel and controls
including the floor-mounted 4-speed shifter all carry the black
color. In the only obvious variation from stock, an updated Kenwood
audio head unit is mounted in the factory-radio dash location (with
dual rear speakers behind the rear seat). Across every surface,
condition is original and un-marred. This is a true survivor
Beetle. Under the rear hood, the legendary 1600-cc flat-four engine
exhibits the same level of originality and condition as the rest of
the car. Similarly, the front trunk is spotless with the
factory-installed low-pile gray carpeting still in place.
Underneath, the chassis shows only modest surface rust on
unprotected metal arising from age, not road miles. We expect and
invite in-person inspection of this red '72 Be
