RELISTED AT A LOWER PRICE,AS IT PREVIOUSLY HAD OVER 2000 VIEWS AND MORE THAN 50 WATCHERS !
IN 2020 I WAS LOOKING FOR A PROJECT TO KEEP ME OCCUPIED DURING THE COVID 19 LOCKDOWN PERIOD, I WAS EVENTUALLY OFFERED THIS CAR BY THE OWNER OF AN INDEPENDENT VOLKSWAGEN OUTLET. HE'D IMPORTED IT FROM THE STATES, AND REPAIRED AND RESTORED IT FOR HIS OWN PERSONAL USE.
PARTS FITTED AND REPAIRS CARRIED INCLUDE;
ENGINE REPAIRED TO RUNNING CONDITION, COMPLETED BY FITTNG A 1641cc "BIG BORE" CYLINDER AND PISTON KIT, GIVING MORE POWER, FLEXIBILITY AND DRIVABILITY.
VINTAGE GENE BERG SHIFTER FOR SHORT THROW GEAR CHANGES.
BRAKE SYSTEM OVERHAULED USING NEW CYLINDERS AND PIPES; NEW SHOCK ABSORBERS / DAMPERS.
NEW BATTERY PAN WELDED IN PLACE (PRESUMABLY DUE TO BATTERY ACID SPILLAGE).
NEW OEM BATTERY; NEW CARBURETTOR AND PIERBURG FUEL PUMP.
NEW OIL BATH AIR CLEANER ASSEMBLY c/w CORRECT-STYLE TWIN INLETS
NEW RUBBER FLOORMATS AND SQUAREWEAVE CARPET SET. NEW RUNNING BOARDS AND TRIM.
NEW WEST COAST METRIC BASKETWEAVE SEAT COVERS AND INNER PADS. NEW INTERIOR DOOR / PANELS.
NEW BODYWORK BRIGHTWORK TRIM, WINDOW RUBBERS ANDTRIM INSERTS
NEW WEST COAST METRIC U.S. SPEC FRONT AND REAR CHROME TOWEL RAIL BUMPERS AND SUPPORTS.
NEW LAMINATED WINDSCREEN.
NEW WEST COAST METRIC FLAT CHROME HUB CAPS ON REFURBED 5-STUD WHEELS, REPAINTED IN
PERIOD-CORRECT VW 2-TONE LOTUS WHITE AND BLACK COLOUR SCHEME AND THEN FITTED WITH NEW MICHELIN
165SR15 XZX RADIALS (5) INCLUDING SPARE WHEEL. (STILL LOOK NEW).
SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER 2020, I'VE DRIVEN LESS THAN 300 MILES AND IT HASN'T BEEN OUTSIDE FOR 3 YEARS. ITS ALWAYS BEEN KEPT IN THE GARAGE UNDER COVER AND DEHUMIDIFIED 24/7. ENGINE HAS BEEN STARTED AND RUN REGULARLY;IT ALWAYS STARTS FIRST TIME. THE BATTERY HAS BEEN TRICKLE- CHARGED USING A CONDITIONER / CHARGER.
I COULDN'T DECIDE WHETHER TO DO A FULL REFURBISHMENT / RESPRAY LIKE I'VE DONE WITH EVERY OTHER BEETLE I'VE OWNED IN THE PAST. IN THE END,SO I JUST FITTED A NEW NEAR SIDE REAR WING AND REPAIRED THE OTHER ONE.
I EVENTUALLY DECIDED TO THE KEEP THE PATINA LOOK (SURFACE RUST, DENTS, SCRATCHES, ETC.) AFTER ALL, THEY ARE EVIDENCE OF ITS 60 YEARS OF HISTORY. IT'S QUITE A TIME MACHINE, AND IT OOZES CHARACTER.
SO INSTEAD OF RETURNING IT TO ORIGINAL CONDITION, I DECIDED TO ACCESSORIZE IT, AND ADDED; LEATHER STEERING WHEEL COVER, SPARE WHEEL COVER, "BAMBUS" PARCEL SHELF, A ROSENTHAL-STYLE BUD VASE, A VDO OIL TEMPERATURE GAUGE c/w GENE BERG-STYLE DIPSTICK SENDER, GRADULUX INTERNAL REAR WINDOW BLIND, A PAIR OF WOLFSBURG NOS MUDFLAPS c/w STAINLESS STEEL BRACKETS, AND A "CORNETT" RED PERSPEX EXTERNAL SUN VISOR WHICH I IMPORTED FROM MECHATECHNIC IN FRANCE, A PAIR OF GENUINE ORIGINAL HELLA REVERSING LAMPS. THE NICE THING IS THE ACCESSORIES ARE ALL EASILY REMOVABLE AND CAN BE SOLD ON IF THEY'RE NOT TO YOUR PERSONAL TASTE !
THE ORIGINAL BLUE CALIFORNIA REGISTRATION PLATES HAVE BEEN LEFT ON THE BEETLE WITH THE BLACK U.K.
NUMBER PLATE MOUNTED ON TOP USING THE SAME SECURING SCREWS.
THE VEHICLE IS STILL RUNNING ON ITS ORIGINAL U.S. SPEC ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WITH ALL-RED REAR LAMP LENSES WHICH FLASH FOR INDICATORS, ALTHOUGH I'VE INCLUDED A PAIR OF RED AND ORANGE EUROPEAN SPEC LENSES IN THE SPARES KIT. THE FRONT INDICATORS FUNCTION AS RUNNING LAMPS AND FLASH FOR INDICATORS. 4-WAY EMERGENCY HAZARD FLASHERS WERE FITTED AS STANDARD ON 1967 U.S. MODELS.
THE ORIGINAL WINDSCREEN WASHER WAS WEAK AND INCONTINENT AT TIMES AND HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A NEW 12 VOLT ELECTRIC SYSTEM SIMILAR TO LATER BEETLES. THE HELLA UPRIGHT HEADLAMP LENSES WERE ALSO STANDARD FOR U.S. MODELS FOR 1967 AND GIVE BETTER ILLUMINATION THAN THE OLD SLOPING HEADLAMPS
THE HEADLINER IS ORIGINAL, AND AS HAD SOME REPAIRS IN THE PAST BUT IT'SP PROBABLY DUE FOR REPLACEMENT AS IT'S COMING LOOSE UNDER THE SUN VISORS BUT THIS IS NOT VISIBLE WHEN THEY'RE CLIPPED UP
THERE IS A BUBBLY RUST SCAB AT THE LOWER CORNER OF EACH QUARTER PANEL, BUT THESE ARE SOUND AND SOLID, AND NOT RUSTED THROUGH.
I WOULD ADVISE ANYONE INTERESTED TO COME AND HAVE A LOOK, INSIDE, OUTSIDE AND UNDERNEATH (I HAVE AN INSPECTION PIT IN MY GARAGE) AND YOU ARE VERY WELCOME TO VIEW / POKE AROUND IF YOU'RE INTERESTED. IT REALLY IS THE MOST SOLID BEETLE I'VE HAD; IT CERTAINLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE HAVING A VEHICLE WHICH HAS COME FROM A DRY CLIMATE.
I OBTAINED A "BIRTH CERTIFICATE" FROM VOLKSWAGEN ARCHIVES IN WOLFSBURG WHICH SHOWS THAT THE OPENING REAR SIDE WINDOWS ("POP-OUTS") WERE FACTORY-FITTED FROM NEW. THERE' ARE DOCUMENTS AND RECEIPTS WHICH RELATE TO THE VEHICLE, AND ALSO PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE CAR WHEN IT WAS WAITING TO BE SHIPPED FROM THE PORT OF SAN FRANCISCO IN 2020, AND ALSO PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE CAR DURING RESTORATION
IN THE WORKSHOP.
THERE IS A SUITCASE IN THE FRONT LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT WITH A "GET YOU HOME" SPARES KIT INCLUDING NEW ACCELERATOR AND CLUTCH CABLES, PLUGS, POINTS AND CONDENSER, DISTRIBUTOR CAP, SPARE FUEL PUMP, A 12 VOLT TYRE INFLATOR, AND A SMALL TROLLEY JACK. THERE IS ALSO FIRE EXTINGUISHER.
AND, IN THE LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT BEHIND THE BACK SEAT, THERE IS THE OBLIGATORY PICNIC HAMPER !
SO HERE YOU HAVE IT; IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A PERFECT, POLISHED SHOW BEETLE TO SOMETHING NEAR SHOW STANDARD, THEN THIS IS NOT THE ONE FOR YOU. IF, HOWEVER, YOU WANT A RELIABLE CLASSIC THAT YOU'RE NOT AFRAID TO LEAVE IN A CAR PARK AND IS CHEAP TO RUN (ROAD TAX EXEMPT, AND CHEAP TO INSURE. (I PAID AN ANNUAL PREMIUM OF £82.50 IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR FOR COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE !).
UK BUYERS ONLY PLEASE. PAYMENT BY CASH OR BANK TRANSFER ON COLLECTION.
I AM OPEN TO OFFERS, BUT NO SILLY ONES PLEASE !