Description
After 12 years of ownership I am selling my 1962 VW Beetle. The reason for sale is that I am winding up my wedding car business and the beetle is no longer required.
Although essentially a working lady, “Betsy” as she has been named has been kept in immaculate condition and in a warm garage at all times when not on duty. She has probably only done 30-40 weddings in the last 12 years, it has been a “hobby” business. So she has been well cared for and now is the chance for a new owner to enjoy this exceptional and quite unique car.
So why unique? Well Betsy has yet to cover 34k miles and is an original UK right hand drive car. She has had no new panels and virtually everything you see is completely original. This includes the engine, interior (other than new carpets and headliner done by a Rolls Royce interiors fitting company) and body panels.
She has appeared in motoring magazines explaining and supporting her remarkable history. She retains her 6 volt electric system which works fine.
Brief history – supplied from new to the wife of a VW Dealership director in London in 1963, the lady retained the car into her 80’s when she retired from driving. The car was used for short shopping trips and was always garaged. She passed the car to her grandson in the mid 1990s and at that time it had covered 17k miles. From this point the car has been owned by a small number of VW enthusiasts who have lavished time and money to keep the car in this remarkable condition and retained very low miles.
She is a multi show winner, although during my time I have only taken her to one or two shows, one of which she won in her category.
This is all supported with substantial documentation including owners correspondence and a large collection of original VW beetle memorabilia including VW colour charts, magazines, VW sales literature etc. It takes a suitcase for all the items (a retro suitcase of course) which will come with the car.
The original colour of Turkis blue (VW code L380) is original as supported by the VW Zertificat confirming manufacturing details, a must for a serious car enthusiast. The car has matching body and chassis numbers, a full spare with original jack and reproduction VW tool kit held in the spare wheel (see pics).
Betsy drives beautifully and is very happy in modern traffic and on modern roads. The suspension and ride quality is superb, you will be shocked just how good an original beetle is, no wonder so many were made. She is very much an “everyday” usable classic and will be sorely missed. She has always been stored under cover in a heated garage.
So she is not cheap and if you are after a cheap beetle this is not the car for you. But if you want your money to be safe with a highly usable classic in the best colour combination..?The pictures will show a number of things.
Underside of car black bitumen coated from new which explains in part why the body has remained so original. Not very pretty but very effective to stop corrosion.
The magazine articles can be seen in the relevant pic and the “Just as Wolfsburg despatched” sums up the originality of the car.
Perfect panel fits, no door drop - they shut with a lovely "clunk" and have never needed to be restored.
Note pics of matching serial numbers and the VW Zertificat
The pic of the spare wheel bay with original Jack shows the hidden condition, no rust at all under the wheel and original paintwork.
Original VW mudflaps.
The thick grey card lining under the bonnet is original, find another like this.
Almost mint inside the glove box.
Carpet, headlining, door cards and the original front VW stamped shelf just fabulous.
Original Bosch parts in the engine pic. The engine number confirms the car manufacture date.
All new whitewall tyres plus she has a current MOT.
