The eternally lovable ‘Bug’
The Volkswagen, or “People’s Car”, first rolled off German assembly lines in 1938… and after some rather regrettable reasons for wartime delay, continued to be sold until 2003, with two successor Beetles, the “New Beetle” between 1998 and 2010, and the A5 from 2012 to 2019, are loosely considered part of the same family, despite considerable technological and design differences. With a production run of 65 years, the Beetle is far and away the longest single-generation production automobile, and it was also the first nameplate to sell over 20 million units, with a final tally north of 21.5 million, which, for a time, made it the most produced car in history.
Despite the name being so associated with the vehicle today, it might be a surprise to learn that the name “Beetle” was not officially applied until 1968. This particular convertible underwent a makeover and refurbishment in 2002, which cost nearly $30,000 to complete, before being purchased by the current owner in 2018. It is now offered for sale at auction.
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This German machine wears Roman vestments
The original color of this convertible Beetle is unknown, but it currently sports a stylish and refined Toga White as part of the 2002 refurbishment. The soft top is also a replacement with a small rear oval window, and has an almost-black hue that really stands out against the body color.
Up front, you’ll find those wide-eyed, round headlights set into prominent fender humps, as well as that smiling grin from the curved chrome bumper, with overriders and a guide-rail up top, mirrored by similar shapes in the rear bumper. Two thin exhaust pipes also poke out underneath the rear bumper towards the middle. Dual round side mirrors, slender chrome side runners, and Karmann Kabriolett badging up the cool factor on this convertible. The steel 15″ wheels feature brown rims with silver caps, and are shod in wide whitewall Denman Eleganté Premium Sports tires.
Two up front, two in back
The interior is a three-tone body-color greenish-white, gray, and brown, with the two front bucket seats and rear bench done in gray vinyl with brown backing and white piping trim. The door panels are gray at the bottom, with a bar of brown up top. The dash is entirely body color, while the carpets are completely covered by textured gray floor mats.
The interior is otherwise fairly austere, with polished manual window cranks, a Blaupunkt push-button radio, a heater but no air conditioning, and a locking glovebox. The wheel is a bar-spoked, spindly affair with gray cladding and a Wolfsburg logo in the center. Behind it sits a large speedometer that caps at 80 mph and a fuel gauge.
Air beats water
Volkswagen was by no means a trend-chaser, and the air-cooled 1,192cc (73ci) flat-four engine is exemplary of that fact. While other carmakers were embracing water-cooling, front-mounted, in-line, or V-shaped engines, VW stuck to its guns and plowed forward, proving that sometimes dependable, reliable technologies can continue to perform even as they are crowded out by newer offerings. With only 36 horsepower in ideal conditions, however, it wasn’t exactly a crazy performance engine, even with the 2002 refurbishment to get it into peak shape.
That middling power is sent to the rear wheels by way of a four-speed manual transaxle, which combines the transmission, differential, and rear axles into one single assembly. All four corners feature drum brakes, which are more than enough to handle the power produced. While true mileage is unknown, the odometer reads 38,000 miles, of which the owner estimates 3,000 are from their own care and custodianship.
Final thoughts: A car for the people, built to last
You’ll find plenty of cars more roomy, more powerful, and with more bells and whistles. The Beetle isn’t fussed by any of that; unashamedly simple, utilitarian, and iconic, VW’s oldest offering didn’t get here by comparing itself to the latest trends or worrying about one-upping the competition. It is a frame built on endurance, reliability, and a special charm that comes with age and getting the design perfectly the first time. If you find that inspiring, or just like the cute look of this small German convertible, check out the full listing over on Bring A Trailer!
