1961 Volkswagen Beetle

Description

Who says you can't build a resto-mod Beetle? This 1961 has the old-school look and with a few small tweaks, became the kind of car that is featured in magazines like "Hot VW." Very nicely finished, this Beetle is an affordable way to own a car that gets more than its fair share of second glances.

The metallic purple paint has a lot of pearl in it, so it varies depending on the light. In our studio, it actually looks quite subdued and even period-appropriate, but get it out in the sun and it glows from within with a lovely violet shiny that lets everyone know this isn't a garden-variety Beetle. Fit and finish are excellent particularly for a car at this price point, and while nothing was altered during the restoration, the look of the early cars have a subtly customized look relative to the later Beetles most of us are used to seeing. The headlights look larger and lower in the fenders, the parking and taillights are smaller, and the simple single-bar bumpers are almost too cool to be stock. But all of it is just how it was built more than fifty years ago. OF course, a few custom mods like the chrome running boards and modern side mirrors give it the kind of look that landed it in a magazine spread, and the overall level of finish would be just as impressive on a car costing three times as much.

This playful Bug looks awesome inside, too, with brilliant white upholstery and all of the simple charm intact. Dig the low-back seats which are originals, and their exposed tube frames have been painted white to match the seat covers. New reproduction door panels with built-in map pockets are nicely finished and black carpets keep it from being blindingly bright inside. The instrument panel was painted to match the body and it actually works quite well inside with the black and white trim. Original instrumentation includes a round speedo and a separate fuel gauge, and the original oversized wheel was replaced with a thick Grant GT helm that looks great. There's also a modern AM/FM/CD stereo to replace what was undoubtedly an AM unit, but aside from those minor changes, it remains pretty stock inside. The front luggage compartment is trimmed to match, including a white vinyl spare tire cover with the VW emblem stitched into its face.

The 1600 cc air-cooled flat-four remains one of the most reliable machines ever devised by man. Its distinctive sound and peppy attitude make it a favorite, and in this lightweight early Bug, performance is energetic. You know the show-quality looks continue to the engine bay, where a lot of body-colored pieces, polished aluminum, and fresh componentry makes for a show-worthy engine bay. There's nothing terribly radical going on, but VW experts will see a few common and sensible mods to enhance the experience. It still drives through the original 4-speed manual transmission, whose shift action is best mastered over time. It's extremely clean underneath, not quite as detailed as the rest of the car, but that also means you won't be afraid to drive it. There might be a slight lowering job here, it's hard to say, and the polished VW-style Torque Thrust wheels are a great addition and wear staggered 195/65/15 front and 215/60/15 rear Kelly radials.

Bugs are still a lot of fun for not a lot of cash, and there's just no possible way you could duplicate this car for the asking price. Call today!