Vehicle Description
1968 Volkswagen Beetle
Herbie wears the number 53 because of Dodger star Don Drysdale.
Bill Walsh, producer of The Love Bug, came up with the blue and red
racing stripes and gave the cute car No. 53 in honor of one of his
favorite ballplayers. The pitcher threw 58 2/3 consecutive
scoreless innings in 1968.
For consignment, a well worked over 1968 VW Beetle. Sporting a
1500cc engine, a 4 speed stick shifter which has also been updated,
some new interior items and a nut and bolt restoration by two
owners ago. Nearly like a new 1968 car with only 80,813 miles. I'm
feelin' the love.
Exterior
This cool little beetle has decently minded gaps, with new
weatherstripping, and rust free panels. Deep red bathes the body
and roof, and some minor overspray can be seen, as well as a little
bit of previous sanding swirls in the body repairs. The rounded
fenders are in red with the front fenders and their iconic single
round headlight chrome bezels with the turn signal chrome bezel and
orange insert on top of the fender. All chrome trimmings are very
nice and badging is all correct. Black wall tires have shiny Summit
5 wide spoke sport wheels and give a muscle look to a normally
mundane car. On top is a classic luggage rack in nice chrome
condition. This car is a pre elephant footprint rear tail light car
and there is a single fog light mounted to the nicely curved front
bumper.
Interior
In keeping with the black accenting theme, the door panels are like
new and have a black window crank and actuator inset. Some
horizontal embossing in the vinyl, a black armrest are seen. Inside
we see a totally restored and liberties taken dash with the
instrument circle mid steering wheel is with a chrome ribbed
gridded dash. A new aftermarket JVC AM/FM/CD player stereo is now
in, and in front of the passenger is a chromed glove box door shiny
enough to be a mirror. Floating below the well minded dash is a
large white faced tachometer with a shift light. Gray carpeting
floats the two tone chairs, which are buckets in front with black
vinyl bolsters and white inserts. The rear bench stays in step with
the front buckets and is also in very nicely preserved condition.
The headliner is light gray and is nice and tight. Let's all
mention the leather padded rimmed cast drilled rally steering wheel
in lieu of the Wolfsberg castle badged original steering wheel.
Drivetrain
A top end rebuild, the results thereof can be seen with a flip of
the rear lid. A 1500cc engine nice and perfectly clean has dual
1-barrel carbs and a 4-speed manual transmission with a 4.125 rear
axle. Looking very spiffy in this engine bay. Headers are now in
for the exhale.
Undercarriage
Rust free, drip free panels and structural steel throughout.
Rockers are solid, and the entire underside of the car is covered
in ground effects style panels. Independent front, and double
jointed rear suspension is on and looking good, and new brakes,
lines and master cylinder work drum braking on all 4 corners.
Drive-Ability
A quick starter, nice growl in lieu of the tinny VW normal engine
sound, from the rebuilt engine. This car has wonderful
acceleration, great handling and a smooth ride with bias free panic
stopping. All functions were working just swimmingly just like the
ads where they dipped this car in a lake! Nary a leak!
All buttoned up and spiffed up mechanically, nice exterior with
some bling wheels, and a two tone interior which is like new.
Caring grandparents wanted to spoil their granddaughter however the
parents intervened and it sat in their garage only being driven
occasionally to keep it lubricated and loose. I guess when you're
the grandparents you can get away with plying them with candy and
letting them stay up all night, but a car...well parents can see
that and nixed it! Sheesh!!!your benefit now!
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.