1978 Volkswagen Super Beetle

Description

The Beetle is back, and I'm not talking about the New Beetle. All those oh-so-common VW Beetles that were around when you were a kid are suddenly not-so-common today and good ones have growing collector appeal. This 1978 Super Beetle convertible is probably a better weekend car than it was daily driver back in the day, and with a bright color combination, it will make new friends everywhere it goes.

There's not much we can tell you about vintage Beetles that you don't already know, so let's just talk about how well restored this one really is. The entire car was repainted about three years ago and the bright, cheerful blue is ideal for the Beetle's light-hearted attitude and quite period-correct. Even in 1978, folks were buying these more as toys than daily drivers, so it's not unusual to find one like this that has led a pretty easy life. The doors fit well, the hood lines up right, and the fenders have graceful, unbroken curves that suggests it's never been gravely injured. The Super Beetle added things like a curved windshield and some of the chrome trim along the sides, which add a bit of sparkle to the people's car, and rightly so because by 1978, it was no longer cheap transportation but a premium product. The running boards are a wonderful old-school touch and the chrome bumpers shine up beautifully and sparkle against the blue body.

The tan interior isn't quite the way the factory was delivering them in 1978 but it looks great and has just the right combination of comfort and utility. The light color doesn't get hot during sunny afternoon drives, but it's not like white which shows every little smudge. The door panels and seats were probably replaced when the car was repainted a few years ago and the black carpets are in good shape and protected by a set of ladybug floor mats. The single speedometer/fuel gauge cluster has bright markings and works just fine, and the big steering wheel has been wrapped in leather to soften it up a bit. Other things like the AM/FM/cassette stereo are updates from the original spec but hardly a demerit in a car that's built for fun and the snug-fitting tan convertible top features a heated glass rear window, a nice feature in a low-cost ragtop. The forward trunk is also finished as new with none of the usual warning signs that plague lesser Bugs.

The 1600 cc engine is most likely this car's original powerplant, and in traditional VW fashion it's easy to maintain and reliable enough to go cross-country at a moment's notice. You'll note it still carries its original fuel injection system, which is often removed and replaced with a carburetor, but when properly serviced and maintained, it gives the air-cooled flat-four great road manners and easy starting. The 4-speed manual transmission is nice as ever, you'll quickly master it and old VW fans will feel right at home. The floor pans are in excellent condition with just a light dusting of undercoating and you can see that it hasn't been subjected to any questionable "upgrades" along the way. It even carries original-style steel wheels with chrome hubcaps and right-sized 165SR15 radials.

A very tidy little Beetle in great colors that's ready for summer. They aren't cheap anymore, but good ones are still quite affordable so make your move and call today!