Vehicle Description
1956 Volkswagen Beetle
"Sales on the West Coast were climbing and, for some years, were
even disproportionately high. In 1954, VW distributors in just four
West Coast cities sold slightly more than half of all VW's sold in
the U.S. A year later, that percentage climbed eight points, and
even in 1956, West Coast sales amounted to 40.1% of all U.S.
beetles. East Coast distributors as well as those in other parts of
the country were picking up steam fast." From the book Small
Wonder, 1965, by Walter Henry Nelson.
For consignment, a 1956 Volkswagen Beetle coming to our Hallowed
Halls with the true mileage unknown, and professionally built with
a mix of vintage and upgraded components. With a base price of
$1,995, more than 38,000 Beetles were sold in the U.S. in 1956.
Today, early cars are rare and collectible and represent one of the
most iconic automotive endeavors of all time.
Exterior
The Beetle was offered in 12 colors in 1956 but the most common
selection was the base color of black, and our example is bathed in
it like a vat of ink, enhanced with the use of black wheels, but
not just any black wheels. These are 15-inch Fuchs wheels wrapped
in 165/80R15's with an early 2024 date code. Black paint makes the
trim pop on this car including the colorful Wolfsburg crest on the
nose, the headlight rings, shoulder trim and hood center line. Out
back, however, the black is uninterrupted until you get to the
curved chrome bumper. If you grew up around Beetles, the inclusion
of substantial running boards rendered the car more approachable
and allowed for small kids to greet a returning parent with a step
up. The vertical windshield and curved rear window help define the
legendary shape of the Beetle where the paint and metal are in
fantastic shape. Only a scratch on the decklid and a chip by the
running board are the imperfections we note.
Interior
Tidy oxblood red door cards fill the space with a smooth material,
a silver trim line, and a pleated map pocket in excellent
condition. Black piping augments the red bucket seats and provides
a nice match with the exterior, while the simple rear bench copies
the materials and trim, all in great shape. Thin spokes tie the
black steering wheel to the hub, leading to a shiny black dash with
the speedometer straight ahead, while ivory knobs present tasteful
switchgear. In the center and surrounded by silver trim, is a
tachometer also on board is a Rockford Fosgate sound system with
red clad speakers in the footwells. A stout shifter rises from the
center hump and the light colored ceiling opens up via the canvas
top.
Drivetrain
Under the hood, well, under the hood, there's a gas tank and not
much else. For the engine, we turn to the rear hatch and find a
super clean powerplant that according to our consignor, is 2196cc's
of flat four goodness, fueled by dual Weber 44 2-barrel
carburetors. It is mated to a Freeway Flyer 4-speed manual
transmission that keeps the power out back with 3.88 gears. Disc
brakes are now found on all four wheels.
Undercarriage
Minimal surface rust, clear knuckles, and a coating of oil on the
engine underside renders the belly driver quality but fully intact.
The belly pans are clean. Headers lead right to a stainless steel
muffler which emits a wide exhaust tip to complete the relatively
short exhaust system. Independent suspension in front is matched
with rear independent suspension with a swing axle, trailing arms,
and torsion bars in the back.
Drive-Ability
One of the reasons Beetles sold in the millions has to be the fun,
almost toy-like operation and configuration. And this one is no
exception, firing up all CC's and eagerly moving onto the test loop
with a bit of giddy up you might not expect. We first notice that
the horn honks when the wheel turns but the car tracks and handles
very well and most functions operate as intended. The driver's side
windshield wiper is missing, and the remaining wiper only moves �
of the sweep, the driver door only opens from the inside and the
passenger door is hard to open. Beyond that, it's all good! While
Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at
the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions
will be working at the time of your purchase.
"The secret behind Volkswagen's success," wrote Nelson in Small
Wonder, "which other car manufacturers know but do not care to
adopt, is a painstaking integrity of design and manufacture. This
is the 'Wolfsburg philosophy.". It's evident on some level in every
VW we've had the pleasure to represent at the mall, and this early
iteration is a stunning example.
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee
is not included in the advertised price.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy
listening. You can also watch on YouTube!
