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--Begin original ad--
This beautiful 1965 Bahama Blue Beetle was purchased new by my grandparents in 1965. They took fantastic care of it, keeping it garaged in California during their entire ownership. They gave me the car in 2016. Unfortunately, now having 2 kids and a dog, and not having garage space to keep it in, I have decided the best thing for the car is to sell it to someone who can really pamper it and enjoy driving it. My grandma is still alive and has given me her blessing to sell it.
My grandpa was meticulous about keeping this bug in great condition, and keeping records of everything. There is a small notebook that has every single fuel fill up documented from the first tank up until he last drove it in 2014. It has had 2,000 miles it since then that have not been documented.
There is a very thick folder of every single receipt or document relating to the vehicle (other than old registration and insurance cards). I have the original window sticker, the original sales contract, accident reports from minor fender benders, service invoices, etc. It is quite a time capsule, and fun to flip through all the records going back to 1965.
The car is mostly original paint, the main exceptions being the fenders, which my grandpa had repainted in about 2008 (the invoices are in the folder). My grandma left the parking brake off in 1968 or so and it rolled down a hill, the decklid was replaced at that time, so the decklid and rear apron were repainted at that time. As the car is not restored, it does have its share of minor dings and dents, the worst dent being on the roof near the windshield from the garage door coming down on top of it many years ago. I think a good paintless dent guy could probably fix most of the dents.
Around 2008, my grandpa had the interior redone. The headliner, seat covers, tar mats, carpet, and rubber floor were all replaced with high quality reproductions. The door panels are all original and in nice condition.
The car is 100% rot free, only very minor surface rust in some areas.
in 2017, I rebuilt the original 40 horse engine. (please note, I have worked as a professional aircooled VW mechanic for 4 years, and a mechanic for 17) I did my best to maintain the original patina of the engine. The tins are all original paint. I managed to find a NOS set of the big bore slip in 40 horse pistons and cylinders (I can't recall the size) They are supposed to add 10 horse power, and this beetle has plenty of power, it's really a blast to drive it. I also added an oil filter oil pump to keep the oil clean. This engine has only very minor oil drips, which is the best you can really hope for.
In the last month, I installed a NOS muffler with embossed VW emblem, a new battery, rebuilt all the wheel cylinders, replaced all the brake shoes, and replaced the front wheel bearings, and one bad tie rod end. The brakes are working great at this time.
This car is still 6 volt, and everything is working (including the radio), except for the windshield squirter, which almost never works.
I have the original keys, and the doors and ignition match (decklid has its own key as usual)
I have a box of miscellaneous parts that go with the car that I haven't had time to install, mostly just some new rubber parts, plus an original German generator I was going to install, and some original fuel pumps I was going to rebuild one of to install (both are currently aftermarket that my grandpa had installed).
The running boards are high quality reproduction blue ones that I installed a few years back, and the windshield and seal are also new (the old one was heavily pitted and made visibility poor)
The original tool kit is present, but may be missing one or two items, I'm not sure what should be there.
--end original ad—
***my comments***
I bought the car sight unseen in November 2022 and had it shipped to Ohio via enclosed transportation.
Upon arrival, I found it exactly as described in the ad, which is why I’m not bothering to rewrite anything, just add a few comments:
- The four photos with the car in the garage were taken yesterday. The remainder are from the original ad.
- You wouldn’t know the fenders have been repainted except for a slight difference in gloss.
- I only found one reference to a fender bender in the folder, one of the front fenders needed to be replaced back in the 70’s. The accident report is in there, a girl ran into grandpa and got a stern letter from his lawyer.
- There is no receipt for grandma’s misadventure with the parking brake denting the decklid, but you can see some evidence of the repairs to the apron in the photo and I’m assuming they replaced the bumper as well.
- I can’t find any of the surface rust mentioned in the ad, unless he was referring to some in the bottom of the front headlight buckets and on one of the tailpipes. That might be considered rust in California, it's not around here!
I have done nothing to it but:
1. Replace one of the glass front headlight covers that was aftermarket with a used Hella version with the correct numbers. The bucket was still OEM so a stone must have gotten the glass.
2. Install an OEM quality aftermarket fuel pump, the original started leaking. I have the original pump and the 1965 only fuel shutoff valve and a pump rebuild kit from Wolfsburg West.
3. Change the oil and filter, I used NOS VW gaskets on the strainer.
I’m selling it because the best place I have to store it is sideways in the back of my attached garage and it’s such a pain to get out, that I rarely drive it. There’s no way it’s going in the barn, it’s too dusty out there.
It's hard to let it go because I know I'll never find another one like it but if I’m not driving it, there is no point in just letting it sit and degrade. It needs nothing that I know of, it starts right up and runs and drives fine (like a 1965 beetle with bias ply tires) and someone else needs to enjoy it.
Anyway – DO NOT EXPECT A PERFECT CAR IF YOU DECIDE TO HAVE A LOOK AT IT! It is a mostly original, unrestored car with incredibly detailed and complete documentation that has been well taken care of. However, it was used and enjoyed over the last 60 years and it collected a few bumps and bruises along the way. They could be repaired and the car easily "restored" but I chose to leave it just as it is. You really never know what has been done to a "restored" car, there is no question with this one and I was way more comfortable with it.
$24,500 OBO
Will consider trades + cash from your side as needed for a nice early bay/single or double cab/or split bus. Also possibly 50's through early 70's 2 door cars/trucks/wagons. No major projects please, I already have a 69 beetle that has been sitting for 5 years in small pieces.
I'm looking for a driver that is nice, but not as nice as this one so I can feel okay keeping it in the barn.
Please let me know if you have questions. I have more photos I can send or can take some of whatever you want to see.
Ohio title in my name.
Thanks for looking.
