Vehicle Description
Que bacana! Awesome VW Bugs have been around as long as there have
been hotrods, and this drop-dead gorgeous 1968 Volkswagen Beetle
Trocar Convertible is one of the coolest we've ever seen, with
timeless vintage looks and a little restomod flair that's perfectly
equipped it for the 21st Century. With a strong-running 1300cc
engine, a quick-shifting 4-speed, a wicked stance, and all the
charm that makes classic VWs so popular, this slick little 'Fusca'
is a stunner that's lacking only one thing: a lucky new owner.
Initially, rotisserie restored to top standards by the
professionals at the world-famous Trocar Antigos of Brazil; this
bright Bug was recently refurbished again at Reborn Customs and
Classics in South Carolina. It's pretty rare to find a VW Beetle
that's been restored to a high level, but to find one that has
essentially undergone two thorough restorations is unheard of,
making this multi-national enterprise one of the unique vintage VWs
we've ever seen. Trocar is a legendary shop known to all VW
enthusiasts, and anyone unfamiliar should take a closer look at
their website to get an idea of the quality of their work. In 2011,
Trocar restored this Sea Foam Green Beetle (which incidentally was
manufactured in 1968 at the San Bernardo Plant) to its usual high
standards. This full-body restoration included underbody
reinforcement, a rebuild of the convertible top augmented with
Trocar's proprietary frame system, and a drivetrain overhaul. It
was enjoyed for ten years, then imported into the US in 2021 and
sent to Reborn Customs for refurbishment. Honestly, it would take a
separate ad to completely list what that second 150+ labor-hour
restoration entailed (call us for the full details). Still, the
highlights include a total exterior refurbishment, engine
disassembly and detailing, interior freshening, a new suspension,
and a full underbody coating. We're only scratching the surface,
but the work was comprehensive, and the results speak for
themselves because this Beetle looks like a million bucks from any
angle. It recently took home the "Best Workmanship" Award at the
2022 Raleigh Eurofest - which should tell you everything you need
to know about this beauty. And although it's not a perfect
showpiece (it's meant to be driven, not kept locked up in a
museum), it's hands-down one of the nicest Beetles we've ever seen
here at Streetside. The gorgeous finish is uniform, miles-deep, and
very glossy. The bodywork is laser-straight, the doors shut flush,
all the trim sparkles better than new, and even the soft top still
looks like it just came off the cow (even though it's imitation
leather). Neat accessories like the Wolfsburg badging, the
Deutschland license plate up front, and those streamlined running
boards complete with vinyl skid coverings add to the look, and with
that raked stance, this beauty looks like it's going 80MPH just
sitting still.
Much like the exterior, the interior was impeccably restored
back-to-stock - finished in beautiful cream vinyl upholstery
highlighted by the factory-style seat covers punctuated with
gorgeous plaid inserts. Fresh-looking pleated door panels, a new
set of cream carpets, and a beautifully painted dash that matches
the exterior make it feel young again inside. The stock, ornate
steering wheel is big enough to make the manual steering feel light
and direct, which is by design, matches the exciting feel of the
4-speed shifter in the floor. The simple single gauge ahead of the
driver offers speed and an odometer reading (which may very well
represent the car's original mileage, although only 560 miles have
been logged since the car was imported), while the fuel level is
monitored by a separate gauge to the right, but precious little
else is monitored as vintage VWs tend to be so reliable that
keeping a constant eye on them isn't really necessary. Like most
Beetles from the era, options are light, although you do get thick
rubber floormats that protect the carpets below, seatbelts fore and
aft, and an upgraded JVC AM/FM/CD/AUX head unit that handles the
entertainment. Originally finished over a decade ago, the recently
refurbished address has quite a bit inside, and with so few miles
logged ever since, everything inside still looks, feels, and even
smells like new. The back seat has likely never been used. In
contrast, upfront, the trunk has been properly finished in matching
carpets. It offers a full-sized spare tire and wheel assembly
(protected by a carpeted cover with an embroidered Trocar
logo).
The original 1300cc flat-four (aka the 1285cc) air-cooled engine
lives under the deck lid, fully rebuilt in 2011 and then completely
disassembled, detailed, resealed, painted, and reinstalled in 2021.
During the engine's recent refreshing, it received a new electronic
ignition, gaskets, spark plugs, and a carburetor overhaul, meaning
it's running great today. A familiar air cleaner up top, a newer
alternator making the spark, and a flashy chrome heat shield behind
the block that keeps heat away from the cabin. Underneath you'll
find the best evidence of the car's two restorations, with a
presentation clean enough to eat off, right down to the repainted
exhaust system. The close-ratio 4-speed manual transmission shifts
better than any VW in our recent memory, and thanks to front disc
brakes and a new adjustable front torsion beam suspension that sets
that wicked stance, this Beetle handles like a dream. Flashy
17-inch five-spoke alloys add a modern flair and come wrapped in
195/40/17 front and 205/45/17 rear performance radials that finish
the look perfectly.
"Over-restored" (twice) in the best possible way, this Fantastic
Fusca is one of those rare classics that's loads better than the
original. If you want the best, here it is. Call today!
