1965 Volkswagen Wizard Roadster
Vendor supplied images
Highlights
- Custom widebody roadster
- 1600cc flat-four
- Beautiful Nardo Grey paint
- Retrimmed interior
The Appeal
Few car communities have embraced the spirit of hot-rodding and customisation as keenly as the air-cooled VW scene. Ever since the first customised Volkswagens emerged stateside in the mid-1960s, there have been myriad bespoke kits and designs for eager enthusiasts to put their own stamp on these popular classics.
Volkswagen themselves offered convertible versions of the Beetle, of course, and numerous coachbuilders built their own interpretations of the drop-top format – but for true custom car cachet, the Wizard Roadster is the legend, the icon, the dream car. The concept was the brainchild of Peter Cheeseman, founder of Wizard of Rods in Slough in 1987.
Having spent a number of years creating two and four-seat cabriolet conversion kits, he had an epiphany when he reached a point at which rust-free donors started to become less readily available and began producing full fibreglass bodies, the company rebranding as Wizard Roadsters in 1994. And so the trend endured, the concept evolved, and Wizard design ideas continued to be bounced around by enthusiasts, either in steel or composites, carving their own niche in the air-cooled VW custom scene.
The car we have here was built in 1965, and imported to the UK in 1982 (which is when it was first registered with the DVLA). As you can see, a huge amount of work has since gone into creating a full-on custom, with no stone unturned in pursuit of show-stopping excellence, and the Beetle being engineered to be as good to drive as it is to look at.
Right-hand-drive and running a 1,600 cc motor, the car has been extensively customised with a full wide-body conversion, all manner of smoothing, frenching and custom fabrication, and a fresh paint job in Nardo Grey. The interior has been retrimmed, and a huge amount of attention paid to the inner and outer details. We’re informed that it’s a joyful car to drive, and one that garners immense attention from passers-by. A fun summertime cruiser, ready to scoop up silverware across the show season.
The History and Paperwork
- 14,448 miles indicated
- Exempt from road tax and MOT testing
- Correct V5 present, showing car to be a Convertible UK-registered in 1982
- Used sparingly and in dry storage during recent years
The Condition
- Nardo Grey paint
- Custom widebody kit and roadster conversion
- Smoothed and frenched details
- Banded steel wheels
- New bucket seats
- Retrimmed rear bench
- Tidy front boot with space-saver spare
- EMPI shifter
It really does look magnificent, doesn’t it? We’re used to getting the odd ‘nice car, mate’ from passers-by when we take out cars for auction photoshoots, but this was something else – literally dozens of positive comments, people asking questions, passing cars beeping their horns and offering a thumbs-up – this is a proper feelgood car.
The bodywork is a work of art: the sculpted rear end is beautifully crafted to look as if there was never meant to be a roof there at all (and the car doesn’t come with a roof; it does have a sturdy breathable outdoor cover though), and the widebody conversion combines enlarged wings with broad side skirts to create an imposing profile.
The arches are filled out by some frankly awesome banded steels (the rear tyres are a 255-section!), and no, it’s not on hydraulics or air-ride – that killer stance is there for the every day, and it rolls static with real panache. The juxtaposition of arch and tyre at the rear is micron-perfect, yet we’re informed it drives really comfortably and happily goes over speedbumps.
A lot of custom work has been carried out to achieve the look, from the smoothed bonnet to the frenched-in taillights, and it all adds up to a proper head-turner. There are LED halo headlights on the nose and LED lights at the rear, satin bullet mirrors, a custom deck lid with frenched plate recess that sits slightly ajar for engine cooling… everything has been carefully thought through for maximum impact. There’s a lot of extra strengthening underneath, it’s been fully sealed inside and out, and it’s ready to go.
There’s a beautiful simplicity to a Beetle interior, and this is very much accentuated by the approach taken with this project – if it’s superfluous, it’s gone. The driving experience is one of purity.
The details are all superb too: the steering wheel is a tasteful affair, both thick-rimmed and small, and the gear shift is augmented by an EMPI shifter which gives it a nice short throw. There’s a new pair of bucket seats in the front, and the rear bench has recently been artfully retrimmed. The carpets are tidy, the dash has been finished in body-colour Nardo Grey, and both the gauges (for there are only two – a speedo and a fuel gauge) are working correctly.
The Mechanics
- 1,600 cc air-cooled flat-four
- Stainless steel exhaust
- Drop spindles - allowing the wheels to sit higher in the arches while retaining the correct steering geometry, shock absorber length and ride quality
This car is so much fun to drive. It fires up easily on the first turn of the key and settles into that characteristic flat-four thrum; the 1,600 cc flat-four sports a stainless steel exhaust which has a lovely deep (but not overly intrusive) tone, and the engine appears to have been well-tuned as it drove faultlessly throughout our test-drive and photoshoot.
The short-throw EMPI shifter is reassuringly precise, with the lockout button for reverse working correctly. We’re informed that the car rides beautifully, far more so than you might expect given the aggressive stance and that’s all because it runs drop spindles - shrugging off potholes and speedbumps with casual aplomb. The brakes feel strong, the steering is nimble… In short, it’s a thoroughly entertaining car to drive. We understand that all seems in good order and while the car has been used sparingly during recent years, it’s said to run and drive very well indeed.
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
✓ The seller of this vehicle is registered as a business seller. And you are covered by Car & Classic’s Terms and Conditions.
✓ We request that a non-refundable fee be paid if you are the lucky winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted. Please refer to our helpful FAQs and T&Cs for specific rates.
✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is Where Is’ basis and without warranty. Photos and descriptions are solely for guidance purposes and it's customary to carry out a full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase for your own peace of mind.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
✓ We want a smooth transaction just as much as you do and as such we run all UK-registered cars and motorbikes for sale on Car & Classic through an online HPI check to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing, allowing you to bid with confidence.
✓ We also check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed and we helpfully provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and it's always worthwhile carrying out your own full vehicle history check before making an offer.
✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection
or delivery. Importing vehicles may result in additional customs duties and import taxes so it's worth checking beforehand. If requested we may refer you to a third-party shipping company who can help. For more details and to speak to the team, email [email protected]
Auction Details
- Year 1965
- Make Volkswagen
- Model Wizard Roadster
- Colour Grey
- Mileage 14,448 Miles
- Engine size 1600
- Seller Type Trade
- Town Nettlebed
- County Oxfordshire
- Country United Kingdom
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Auction ends
3
bids
- steve.m•••• £2,000 01/07/24
- DTIDoug £1,100 01/07/24
- BenMEdw•••• £1,000 01/07/24
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