1969 Volkswagen Beetle

Description

Sometimes, you just can't go wrong with the basics. This nicely finished 1969 Volkswagen Beetle isn't wildly modified, but bright red paint definitely makes it stand out in the crowd. It also offers the charm of the early, pre-Super Beetle era, including small marker lights and a flat windshield, which are preferred by collectors.

Bright red paint looks great on the trademark Beetle curves, but to really make it shine, you need to get a straight one. Unfortunately, a lot of folks don't think VWs are worth the restoration investment, and that's why you need a good, clean original. Even though the paint is now a few years old, it's obvious that this was always a good, clean southern car and the paint has held up quite well despite this being a car that's hard to resist when the sun is shining. This unmolested Beetle fits together extremely well and the doors open and close with just a light touch. There's a single strip of bright trim running the length of the body that dresses it up, and the rest of the chrome appears to have an excellent original patina.

The interior is handsomely fitted with reproduction black seat covers on the original high-back bucket seats. Black door panels, a new set of black carpets, and a repainted dash make it feel young again, but you can't shake the wonderful vintage feeling of grabbing that big, thin-rimmed steering wheel and stubby 4-speed shifter. The simple single gauge offers speed and fuel level, but precious little else, but these cars tend to be so reliable that keeping a constant eye on them isn't really necessary. There's a JVC AM/FM/cassette unit that's probably been there for decades, and since it's a life-long warm-climate car, it has never needed a heater, which is always a source of problems anyway. Up front, the trunk has been fitted with new gray carpets, a pair of speakers, and a spare tire. Overhead, there's a recent white convertible top and matching boot, which give the Bug a jaunty, bright look.

The 1600 cc flat-four has obviously been recently reworked and drives superbly today. There's a fresh carburetor, new ignition tune-up parts, and a custom pulley on the crank. It still makes all the right sounds, and the smooth-running engine easily keeps up with modern traffic out on the road. Underneath, the chassis is reasonably clean thanks to living in a warm climate, and this is one of those rare Beetles that has not been endlessly modified over the years. Instead, it has a stock suspension, brakes that are surprisingly effective given its light weight and modest performance, and even a proper OEM-grade muffler that generates the trademark VW whistling exhaust note. Bright chrome wheels look a lot like vintage Minilites, which were popular back when this car was new, and they wear rather larger 205/60/15 front and 215/60/15 blackwalls that give it a nice ride and handling boost.

Beetles still represent a huge amount of fun for the money, and this lovely convertible is one of those simple little cars that has simply been properly maintained and cherished all its life and offers a lot of fun for the money. Call today!