Stored 49 Years: 1957 Volkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Type 1 (aka Beetle) was conceived while war was developing in Europe in the 1930s. “The People’s Car” as it was called got into full production after World War II and would eventually go on to sell more than 21 million copies through the balance of the 20th Century. The 1953 to 1957 editions were noted for their oval rear windows, which make them collectible with “Bug” fanatics these days. This ’57 Type 1 has been stored since 1975 and needs restoring but looks to be a solid prospect.
About the time the seller’s 1957 Beetle was built, Americans had started to take a look at subcompact cars. These Volkswagens would quickly find themselves all over the U.S. landscape and become the top seller in its class for many years. From the first copy off the assembly line, the original Beetles always had a rear-mounted, air-cooled engine to propel the rather basic little automobiles.
Considered disposal products back in the day, when this Beetle went into storage it was probably because it quit running. And no one got around to messing with it. It seems complete and in decent overall condition, probably indoors for the past five decades. When it goes home with its next owner, some extra parts will come along for the ride. And its numbers-matching, which probably increases the car’s desirability.
Located in Anoka, Minnesota, this primer-covered Bug is available here on craigslist. There are traces of blue paint underneath and the interior is intact but in disarray. This vintage German automobile is available here on craigslist for $3,500 OBO and may only have 27,000 miles.
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Comments
How can a site go from that,,that goofy Italian job, to something as common as a VW Bug? Barn Finds, that’s who. This car? Oy, well, you want a ’57 Bug or don’t you? Unless they were never driven, an unlikely scenario for Bugs, you won’t find much better. The ’57 was pretty crude by most standards, but for its entire run,( 1938-2003) it remained true to its cause, a cheap, dependable car for the people. Driven until someone fell through the floor, engine pulled( 4 bolts) and used for another. That went on for years until there was literally nothing left. If the ravages of our roads didn’t kill them, they were cut up for Baja Bugs or dune buggies. The gas heater, strictly a northern climates option, may be intimidating, but I heard it really did work better than the engine heat. It’s a great find.
“…work better than the engine heat.” That wouldn’t be difficult. I had a 70s vintage VW panel van when I lived in Santa Barbara, CA. I was driving my girlfriend to LAX (about a two hour drive). As we approached LA, she said that she was a bit chilly- could I turn on the heater? I was embarrassed to admit that it had been on since we left. And these weren’t exactly arctic conditions in Southern California.
Hi John, the engine heat actually worked on the highway, when the motor was spinning full tilt, but pretty useless at idle. I remember an extra fan kit you could buy to blow warm air through the heater boxes at low rpms. In our cold Wisconsin winters, it was one of the sacrifices you made to drive such a a high quality car( cough), we always kept an ice scraper handy for the inside and a window open. My MGB wasn’t much better.
Howard didn’t those heaters work like the old Coleman stoves only with regular, not white, gas?
Nice project. Had a gas heater in our Thing that worked great in the Oklahoma winters.
Lots o’ spots of surface rust, so I’d first want to see the floorpans and heater ducts.
If those pass muster, this appears to be worth the ask and would make a fun resto project. Parts aren’t impossible, and all the help one would need is out there, from dozens — maybe hundreds — or books and repair manuals to online sources.
Never heard of a problem with VW gas heaters. Make sure the connections are tight!
Big fan of small-window Beetles. Had one for a short while many years ago, would feel right at home in another.
This is the one to get regardless of the pan’s condition. Surprised the listing is still active.
The turn signals don’t look correct. Shouldn’t they either be on top of the front fenders or off to the outside of the headlights?
I think the rear taillights are incorrect. My buddy had a mid-fifties VW, and I think they are too big, but I could be wrong.
You are correct….look to be ’65 or ’66. Actually imo a good safety upgrade.
I had a ’57 I bought for $400 in 1968 with 120k on it. Drove it from SF to Colorado to work on a ranch summers. Moved horses with it, drove it on trails and across fields, didn’t baby it, then drove it back to SF. Only changed the oil. Never broke down on me….indestructible. Sold it to a SF hippie for $400. Yeah, disposable product. 1st of 7 VW’s.
“Ghehehe, Mike, when do I get to drive?”, said Mr. Ed…
I would bet the tail lights AND the front turn signal lights show that this Bug spent some time being used in Germany. I’ve been told that in order to keep driving an older car in Germany that things like tail lights, front lights, had to be brought up to a safe/more current standard. I’ve seen MANY early VWs with larger tail lights . . . including at the the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart!
Electric fan kit circa early 1970s from J.C.Witney catalog. Worked great easy installation!
The front fenders are wrong along with the front turn signals. The 57 US spec turn signals had small bullet shaped lenses and the fenders would have had small oval shaped horn grills low on the front. The rear lights are also not for a 57. And I suspect the rear fenders are wrong as well or they were drilled out to mount the later lights. The front bumper overriders are missing as well. Should have a 36 HP 1200 CC engine and a split case transaxle with non synchronized first gear. Still a good deal if rust is not too much of an issue.