Choosing the best candidate for a project build can be challenging, but there are a lot of reasons to like this 1972 Volkswagen Super Beetle. It is a one-owner dry-climate survivor that is ideal for enthusiasts who prefer a hands-on approach. It hasn’t seen active service for years, but it is mechanically complete and comes with a selection of spare parts that will help the winning bidder on their restoration path. However, the seller’s decision to list it with No Reserve makes their auction worth monitoring if affordability is a major consideration.

The seller confirms that this Super Beetle is a one-owner classic that has spent its days in California. That helps to explain the baked Blood Orange paint, and the winning bidder will almost certainly strip this away to achieve a high-end result. However, it appears the build won’t involve much steel massaging. The panels are pretty straight, and the underside shots confirm the presence of nothing beyond dry surface corrosion. With no visible steel penetration, the grinder and welder can remain safely tucked away in the tool cupboard. It appears the windshield is cracked, and many of the seals have succumbed to age and UV exposure. The remaining glass is clear, and apart from the missing front bumper, the trim looks pretty respectable.

The design brief for the original Beetle was very specific, and because its developers knew that the engine would have fairly modest power, they focused on aerodynamic efficiency. This led to a decision to adopt a rear-engine philosophy, which remained a characteristic of the Beetle until the last cars rolled off the line in 2003. All engines were air-cooled flat-fours that sent the power to the road via the rear wheels. Engine capacity and power increased incrementally, with this car featuring a 1,585cc engine that produced 60hp and 87 ft/lbs of torque. Interestingly, this VW doesn’t feature the typical four-speed manual transaxle, with the owner ordering it with a three-speed “Autostick” semi-automatic unit. The car appears to be mechanically complete, although it hasn’t seen active service for many years. The engine turns freely, but with the keys now AWOL, the seller hasn’t attempted to coax it back to life. Doing so might be relatively straightforward, although factoring the cost of a mechanical refresh into the project budget would be wise.

This Super Beetle’s interior needs almost as much TLC as the exterior, with many of the vinyl surfaces showing the impact of UV exposure. It also appears the back seat base might be missing, and there is a hole in the dash where the factory radio resided. Locating replacements via the usual online auction sites shouldn’t be a problem, while the market is flooded with affordable trim kits to recapture the interior’s youthful good looks.

The 1972 Volkswagen Super Beetle hasn’t been a star performer in the classic market during the last couple of years, with values dropping slightly across the board. There is no sign of the trend reversing, but the unpredictable nature of the market means that the situation could change at any time. That means that although it is a roll of the dice, securing a solid and promising project candidate like our feature car might be strategically smart. The seller listed this solid gem here on eBay in Bakersfield, California. A single bid of $1,000 has been the only action so far, but the viewing history suggests others may join the party before the hammer falls. Will you be one of them?