1957 Volkswagen Beetle

Description

The Beetle is so iconic that it's recognized the moment it comes into view. But despite a car that was advertised for being the same, there's a hierarchy among these love bugs, and this 1957 Volkswagen Beetle is right on top. With desirable early features, great colors, and a well maintained/restored quality inside & out, this is a showstopper at a very obtainable price.

Beetle aficionados cherish these earlier years because of the craftsmanship, including the Wolfsburg crest on the front, "W" decklid, and the overall fit & finish. Plus, '57 was the last year of the desirable oval rear window. But more than just getting its history correct, you know you love this one just by the care that has gone into the presentation. The slick black paint takes advantage of a modern clearcoat and professional hand applying it, so the glossy finish highlights all the curves of the VW's wind-cheating design. When was the last time you saw a classic beetle in black with those bumpers and sweeping side trim rivaling the mirror-like black paint for shine? But the detail we love the most are the wheels. The iconic VW hubcaps are at the center of a nicely coordinated black and white package that ends with full whitewalls.

The VW signature spartan interior provides a perfect backdrop for a very thoughtful package. The exterior gloss black returns on all the metal pieces to remind you these cars were paint dipped as a full package. It's joined by bold red seats and side panels with distinctive white piping and stitching. This was all part of the car's restoration, and it still remains quite fresh today. The whole setup looks strikingly original from the driver's seat, including the two-spoke steering wheel with Wolfsburg crest, skinny curved gearstick, and central VDO speedometer. This is truly VW's simple chic at its finest.

The engine bay is a clean marvel of simplicity – just what these Beetles should be. The tidy 1200cc horizontally-opposed four-cylinder engine is topped by the correct one-barrel carburetor. It fires up easily with a magical buzz that only an air-cooled motor can. These are far from the most powerful motors out there, but it's the engineering that makes the VW legendary. The rear mounted motor gives the car good traction, and doesn't have the power loss associated with a large driveshaft. The four-cylinder is built to be stout and run all day without overheating, thanks to air cooling. Also, you get to make the most out of this motor with the control of the four-speed manual transmission. The result is a nippy little car. But let's face it, when it looks this good, you want to be going slow enough so everyone gets a good stare at this bug.

Complete with owner's manual and a ton of maintenance receipts (including a recent full brake service,) a classic VW is an easy car to drive, maintain, and above all, cherish. It only gets better when an early one with such desirable features is turnkey ready and easily affordable. A car this distinctive never stays long, so don't miss out. Call now!!