Full restoration completed January 2018 with 2300 miles on the car since. Completely painted inside and out, new stock basketweave interior, and detailed undercarriage. Finished in deep, shiny black with a red interior that looks amazing against the black paintwork. Rust-free and in pretty much pristine condition throughout.
Mechanical restoration (also 2300 miles ago) includes the rebuild of the engine, suspension, brakes and a Rancho Pro-Stock transaxle with a Super-Diff added to handle the increased horsepower of the 1776cc dual port, a Kennedy performance clutch, and dual carburetors. The combination of the solid mount rear independent Rancho transaxle with Super Diff, and German Bilstein shocks make this car handle much better than new. Drives and sounds more like a '67 Porsche than a Beetle. The chassis is rock-solid and clean, including the floor pans and battery tray.
The car was delivered by Volkswagen to the port of Los Angeles from Emden, Germany in late 1966. I’ve owned it 5 years in Arizona where it’s always been garaged. The previous four owners were all in California, but there may have been others I’m not aware of. Can’t say for sure it’s always been a CA/AZ car, but it does appear to be.
Many would say 1967 is the most collectible year of the Beetle, especially with a rare factory sunroof. ’67 Beetle is known for being the last year of “vintage look” with the rounded towel bar bumpers, full metal dashboard and the cool low-back seats. It’s also the first with a 12-volt electrical system. The engine had larger displacement, the suspension improved, the clutch disc bigger. Safety improvements included a dual -circuit brake system, sealed-beam headlights, wider rear swing axles, 2-speed wipers and reverse backup lights. On some ‘67’s, the rear bumper overriders were sloped, but these are correct for the VIN #. In the eyes of the enthusiast, the 1967 model is a sweet spot in production. The best of the old, the best of the new, all mixed up into a truly phenomenal machine.
The car has the original and highly sought after German Hella headlight rings with the correct SB 12 logo. All lenses down to the license plate light, reverse lights and dome light are NOS OEM German Hella; clear and beautiful. The glass is all properly logo’d factory German VW Sekurit except for the front windshield. Recently added was a properly restored German Pierburg fuel pump that looks great. The H4 halogen headlights are a major safety upgrade.
The odometer reads approx. 2300 miles as a rebuilt one set to zero was installed during the restoration. Tires have 2300 miles on them as well. The spare has never touched the ground. German door seals, and excellent paintwork even in the door jams. The paint is a knockout, the underside is fantastic, the engine bay is beautiful, as is the trunk up front. Clean wiring, everything tidy and in its proper place behind the wiring cover. The sunroof operates perfectly, with hardware and cables replaced. It’s no surprise the car has won multiple awards.
Interior is factory fresh in appearance all the way through. The headliner is flawless proper pinpoint. Even the rear luggage area looks new. Wheels are original slotted ’67 painted solid black. Gas tank is powder coated.
While classic and stock in appearance, this Beetle does have a number of tasteful enhancements ranging from an improved, larger displacement German VW engine for more horsepower, superior suspension and electronic ignition – all are out of plain sight. Unlike many VWs in the marketplace, this one has not been lowered, dash cut, or had other significant, irreversible modifications. In my opinion, the reliability, drivability and appearance show off the quality of the build.
Original German Bilstein jack, a toolkit, nice original owner’s manual, and a Haynes Owners Workshop Manual come with the car. Further, I’ve an extensive binder with parts and labor receipts.
This car is special. It runs, accelerates, shifts, stops and handles beautifully. The appearance and stance are very stock and proper. Acceleration, handling and highway capabilities are far superior. The one-year only details make the ’67 stand out from the others, making it very popular for collectors and drivers alike.
The car is in Phoenix, AZ and has been garaged and pampered since completion. A nicer one this fun to drive would be hard to find.
