Vehicle Description
2555 original miles (not a misprint). Almost completely original
save for battery, belts, and wheels/tires. Heavily documented,
original wheels and tires included. As close as you're going to
find to a brand-new 50-year-old Beetle!Well, the story goes like
this: Christmas Eve 1971, Hans Hermann of Dayton, Ohio bought this
bright little Beetle as a Christmas gift for his 17-year-old
daughter. Unfortunately, Mr. Hermann never thought about the fact
that the Beetle only had a manual transmission, and his daughter
did not know how to drive a 4-speed. Apparently she had no desire
to learn, but was simultaneously unwilling to part with the cute
little car because it was a gift. So it remained in the Herrmann
family until 1998 when a neighbor, Arthur Enyart, who had long
known about the immaculately preserved old Beetle, was finally able
to convince the Hermanns to part with it. At that point, it had
just 1036 original miles. In November 2005, Mr. Enyart sold it to a
gentleman in Missouri with 1049 miles on the clock, and the most
recent owner purchased it in 2020 with 1786 original miles. It
seems that after a certain point, driving this remarkable specimen
seemed like the wrong thing to do, so it remains extremely well
preserved and in entirely original condition. The paint is factory
code L30B, 'Kasan Red,' and it remains in fantastic shape-say what
you want about Beetles being cheap, but it certainly was not
reflected in the quality of their construction. There's still a
great shine to the finish, zero evidence of rust or accident
repair, and as always, original paint means no nasty surprises
hiding underneath. As you would expect, panel gaps are exemplary
and the doors close with a remarkably solid-sounding THUD. 1972 was
the final year of flat windshields and small taillights on the
Beetle, so it has a delightful old Beetle look, and even the
headlights are original. You'll also note that the chrome and
stainless trim is original, and aside from some very minor signs of
age on the bumpers, it's excellent throughout. Although there are a
few extremely minor signs of age (light polishing marks,
primarily), this is surely as close to a new 1972 Volkswagen as you
will find.The black leatherette interior (which was actually
optional) is likewise as new with extremely crisp detailing on the
seats that reproduction seat covers can't quite match. Carpets,
door panels, and the dash pad are in as-new condition and it's
obvious that this car has never been stored outdoors or in the sun.
Controls are simple and options are few, but they all work,
including the factory-installed AM radio in the center of the dash.
The seat belts might look curious to some onlookers, but we have
verified that they are correct and original to the car. The
headliner is bright and clean and aside from some a little
discoloration at one of the seams (probably glue from the original
installation) it, too, is as new. Rubber floor mats have protected
the carpets from new and all the weather seals remain supple so it
seals up quite well. The forward trunk is beautifully detailed with
a correct rubber mat, under which you will find the original
never-used spare tire whose air is used to power the windshield
washer system.The engine is the original 1585 cc air-cooled
flat-four and it can serve as a blueprint for future restorers.
Every clip, every hose, every marking is completely intact making
it an accurate representation of how this car looked when it was
new. The gold cadmium plating on the various components is still
bright, the distinctive Bosch ignition components look like new,
and all the heater ducts are in place-that alone should be worth
studying by someone putting their own car back together. It also
runs like new, starting easily and making those distinctive VW
sounds. It has been correctly maintained all its life, with fluid
changes at appropriate intervals, but we suspect that even the air
filter inside that metal housing is original to the car. It doesn't
need anything serviced to be driven immediately, but you and I both
know long drives aren't in this particular Beetle's
future.Underneath, it is likewise beautifully preserved and
entirely original. The pans are excellent with a light dusting of
dealer-applied undercoating and the hardware is largely as the
factory intended. There's some surface scale on the heavy metal
parts and exhaust system, but that was likely there moments after
it came off the boat in Toledo, Ohio in late 1971. Obviously rust
is a non-issue on a car like this and while the components are
original, none of them are deteriorated or in need of replacement.
You will note original factory markings on the brake and suspension
components, original cotter pins in the steering linkage (note to
restorers: the pins' legs are bent to either side, locking on the
flats of the nuts), and factory flex tubing for the heater. It's
currently sitting on new 15-inch steel wheels and fresh 165/80/15
radials so it can be driven, but the original steel wheels and
factory-installed 5.60-15 Continental tires are included with the
car for absolute authenticity at shows.Documentation includes the
window sticker, a complete set of manuals, title history (with a
series of ACTUAL MILEAGE titles), brochures, receipts, and more. It
also includes a full tool roll and a set of accessory wheel trim
rings that have never been installed.Remarkable survivors like this
with extraordinarily low mileage are always exciting finds. The
opportunity to study their factory details, the remarkable chain of
loving owners, and the window into exactly what these cars were
like nearly 50 years ago make this Super Beetle a wonderful find
for the dedicated VW enthusiast. Other super low mileage Beetles
have already changed hands for considerably more than we're asking
for this one, suggesting that serious collectors prize authenticity
above almost everything else. Highly correct, beautifully
preserved, and offering an appealing combination of great history
and bright color, this is an opportunity to own a genuinely special
Beetle. Call today!
