Lot 134

Hershey 2011

1963 Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet

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$25,300 USD | Sold

United States | Hershey, Pennsylvania

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Chassis No.
5430545

40 bhp, 1,192 cc air-cooled, horizontally-opposed four-cylinder engine, four-speed synchromesh manual transmission, independent front suspension with kingpins, transverse torsion bars and upper/lower trailing arms, swing-axle rear suspension with trailing arms and torsion bar, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 94.5"

- New top, headliner, windshield, interior and more

- Upgraded 12-volt electrics and alternator

Designed by Dr. Ferdinand Porsche in the 1930s and officially known as the Type 1 Sedan, Volkswagen’s iconic Beetle evolved from Dr. Ferdinand Porsche’s prewar KdF-Wagen and was constructed largely unchanged for nearly 50 years. Initially inspired by America’s Ford Model T, the Beetle was truly an affordable ‘People’s Car’, of attractive design and robust construction, with startlingly low operating costs. Mass production, worldwide exportation, and an unmistakable design made the tiny VW ‘Käfer’ an instant icon of popular culture.

In many ways, the seven years of VW history from 1958 to 1964 were perhaps the company’s greatest. The conquest of the American market, a trendsetting multimedia advertising campaign and the remarkable development of a worldwide distribution chain all contributed to the Beetle’s surging popularity. It was also during this period that the Beetle gained widespread acceptance in the United States with a model that was much more practical than its predecessors. Motor Trend described it as “a car that breaks sharply with tradition, and does so with undeniable competence.”

This nicely restored Beetle Cabriolet is a solid car that came out of the Western States and shows about 98,000 miles. It is finished in Pacific Blue with a “bone” interior and a new grey top, boot and carpeting. We understand the paint and body are excellent, the floors are solid, and the electrical system is upgraded to 12 volts with an alternator. Other items of interest include a new headliner, windshield, all-new rubber, a new interior, and new carpeting, plus a new under-dash AM/FM/CD unit. This delightful Beetle Cabriolet is offered complete with a glove box handbook.