Running Project: 1967 Volkswagen Beetle
Quiz: What auto manufacturer produced more than 21 million copies of essentially the same car for nearly 60 years in the 20th Century? Answer: Why, of course, Volkswagen was the builder, and the Type 1 or Beetle was the car. Changes were minimal from one year to the other and the big changes in the seller’s 1967 Bug were a bigger engine and the switch from a 6-volt to a 12-volt electrical system. This example is said to be a driver and has had some work done but will need more (such as a new paint job).
During the 1960s and 1970s, you couldn’t turn the corner without running into VW Beetle, the best-selling imported car back in its day. The 1967 model had a 1500cc air-cooled, rear-mounted engine, a Type 1 trademark. This survivor has 93,000 miles and we’re told it runs well, though the engine is getting tired. It sat for a few years but was revived about three years ago. That included flushing out the fuel system and giving it a tune-up, among other things.
The front end has also been rebuilt by professionals and most of the seller’s photos seem to focus on shock absorbers. For a running car, it’s strange for it not to be photographed outside of the garage it’s in as we get mostly pics of certain parts of the little car. Rust isn’t an issue with this Beetle, but what may be the original paint has its issues.
Cosmetically, the seller replaced the carpeting, headliner, and door panels, but the rear seat will need attention. We’re told there is a small oil leak that can be fixed by reseating some studs in the cap nut. Beetles like this are hard to find anymore. Either someone has already restored one and wants a small fortune for it and they’re about to rust away and beyond reasonable help. This one looks to have a lot of promise and can be found in Tucson, Arizona. It’s available here on eBay where $3,878 hasn’t cracked the seller’s reserve.
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Comments
And yet another change, albeit minor, was the loss of glass-covered headlights…
Those 1967 stirrup-style seat belts always struck me as odd. From what I can tell, they were one-year only, at least in the states. Some new European trend that didn’t pass the 1968 American safety standards?
Stirrup style seatbelts? I must confess I’m not quite sure what that means. I did click on the Craigslist ad to see the extra pics and I do see the seatbelt latch, but I still don’t get what you mean by stirrup style. Inquiring minds want to know.
Anyone that has even a remote interest in VWs, will tell you the ’67 was the nicest one. The long list of improvements made all other Type 1s obsolete. Bigger motor, bigger clutch, ball joints( from ’66) 2 speed wipers, locking seat backs, outside mirror standard, sealed beam headlights, and backup lights too,, I know, not like specing out a Lincoln, but for VW buyers, it didn’t get any better, and still under $2grand new. It’s no wonder VW sold a whopping 314,343 VWs in 1967, and remained in the 300,000 range until 1974 and the decline began. In 1975, after the Rabbit came out in ’74, only about 25,000 Bugs were sold. Say what you will, I can’t think of any US car, save for the Model T, that was more successful than the Bug. Salute.
All VWs had seal beam highlights. The 67 improvement was 12 volts.
’67 is the ideal year. Yes, several nice upgrades, incl. 12v electrics and a larger engine. But it’s also the last year of that (preferred) bumper, the old taillights, and vertical headlights.
1968 and later VWs are derisively called “fat chicks” because of their more bulbous shape. (and ugly bumpers)
You can almost build a complete car from a catalog with all the aftermarket support (Wolfsburg West being the best).
Fun cars but it’s just a little spooky knowing there’s a gast tank 10″ from your knees.
I never thought about the gas tank location when I had my four Beetles decades ago. Now I’m thinking about it.
The petrol tank location was extremely dangerous! It caused many fires and many deaths. The lack of a firewall was the problem.
The type 3 and the L model Beetle had a firewall, much safer!
Porche’s rear suspension Z-bar was introduced 1967 and can be seen in pictures. Fender and hood indicate original red paint which isnt necessarily a bad thing.
The bug looks like a very solid foundation for either tuning and driving or repainting.
This one would be fun to putt around town if you don’t live in a large metro area. I truly enjoyed mine and the ‘69 I had got me through college. The heater was long gone when I bought it for $300 in 1977 but it ran.
My ‘67 was a jewel except for needing to replace the rusted out gas tank.
Pretty sure this is a late 67 because it appears to have the rear z bar. I have a vw beetle convertible that my father in law picked up in Germany in 1968 directly from the Karman plant. He drove it for 3 months then shipped it back to the states. Sat in disrepair from 95 to 2021 and I brought it home and have slowly fixed it up. Its been repainted at least once and I am not sure what they have done to the back seat but parts are so easily available that it is hasn’t rusted in the heater channels, it should be a decent car to get going. Some of the hard work has been done (looks like new seals around the front and back windows…hopefully no rust in those locations). Bidding ended at $5100 and didn’t meet the reserve. Wow these cars have gone up in value.