You can own a 1974 VW Beetle with only 56 miles

Some barn find cars are in such a state of decay that daylight shines through the floorpan when they finally emerge from decades of slumber. Some are in such a nice condition that it's difficult to believe them true. This 1974 Volkswagen Beetle falls in the latter category. It's the rare case of an old car being almost brand new.

This Italian-registered car will be offered at the Classic Race Aarhus auction in Denmark by Silverstone Auctions. A Volkswagen 1303 model, it was delivered new to an elderly gentleman who needed a car to get him to church. The story plays out like the usual "little old lady" spiel, but the VW's condition is testament to that: the car was rust-proofed when new, and Armando Sgroi, the sole owner only managed to accumulate 90 kilometers to the sky blue Beetle's odometer. That's a little under 56 miles.

The low, low reading is partly because Armando didn't need it for anything else, and he only drove the car for four years before ultimately becoming too frail to drive. For decades, the VW sat, and despite being "lightly recommissioned" before auction time, it retains its original engine oil after all these years, along with the original tires fitted in Wolfsburg. The car naturally comes with all its books and dealer invoice, even if the service records haven't been filled out. As it's a '74, it has a MacPherson strut front suspension and other improvements introduced on the Beetle in the Seventies.

Silverstone Auctions estimate €35,000-40,000 for the car, or as much as $45,000. It goes under the hammer on May 28th.