1968 Volkswagen Beetle - Classic

113-041 Coupe

4 - Cyl.

Manual

118-167-765

Clear

Gasoline

Thoroughly Inspected and Serviced from Bumper to Bumper ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seems Thanksgiving got in the way of my previous listing. I had 32 Watchers, but only 3 Bidders! LAST CHANCE! MY IMPATIENCE IS YOUR REWARD! You Are Bidding on a 1968 Classic VW Beetle 113-041 [Type I] VIN 118-167-765 Motor: 1500 cc 4-cylinder air-cooled Transmission: 4-speed Synchromesh -- more on this below Mileage: 3,000 on a professionally rebuilt replacement motor; 220,000 on the original body Fuel: Uses low-octane unleaded gas; leaded gas requires an appropriate additive. This is a nonsmoker vehicle (tobacco smoke damages electricals). Also Included are an unprecedented amount of support materials, including the information herewith, plus accessories, peripherals, tools, dress-ups, replacement parts, service manuals, detailed restoration and maintenance logs, general and vehicle-specific maintenance and replacement specifications and graphics (all about which see more further down and in the photos). Restoration Work This car rolled off the assembly line in Wolfsburg, Germany, on October 2, 1967, and was put on a ship bound for the US four days later. Since then, she has spent her entire life braving forty-two New England winters; and, in my opinion, anyone in the Northeast who tries to sell a car of this vintage and advertises "no rust," needs either a primer on how to look for it, or a seeing-eye dog. When I bought her from a friend for a mere $500 back in 1984, the floor pan was so weak from rust that the front passenger seat was bottoming out, as well as the battery, and the front axle was riddled with holes. My mechanic casually rendered the opinion that she would not survive another winter. Having already rescued two classic BMWs from "The Grim Salt-Spreader," I took his assessment as more of a challenge than a death sentence. First, with no time to spare for subtleties, I had a welder anchor the sagging front seat to the rocker panel and transmission hump, which meant it could no longer move back and forth, but it was no longer in danger of moving downward, either. I also had the welder attach a large, 1/2" steel plate to the front undercarriage (see photo), and reinforce the front axle, which I later supplemented by filling the hollow innards with "Tiger Hair," a long-strand fiberglass epoxy produced in England for Navy submarine applications. This not only restored its strength but also added rustproof support. The belly pan also received the same attention, this time with the same filler further reinforced with embedded steel and aluminum. Free time permitting, my extensive restorative work continued for the next two years, all of which is detailed in my comprehensive Restoration Log (available upon request). What began as a do-or-die necessity quickly became just plain fun; I became the old girl’s Champion, honor-bound not only to rejuvenate her, but also to give her more femininity as well as a gentle goose into the new millennium. After-market Additions, Upgrades, and Included Extras (1) Engine: in 1991, due to a failed front oil seal (the result of my confusing the unlabeled oil and generator warning lights -- now labeled), cylinder #3 blew a hole in the block. For the next two years the car was inoperable, stored in a garage. In 1994 I installed a similar rebuilt one -- no turbo charger, nitro blaster, or flux capacitor -- plus a new clutch, generator, distributor, ignition wires, and voltage regulator. Additional engine enhancements include an oil system breather assembly, an engine block heat sensor, new hood- and engine-compartment gaskets, several retro dress-up accessories, and fluted tail pipes that eliminate the usual "whistle" and give the engine a more throaty sound. (2) New brakes all around 1500 miles ago (3) Four New tires: Nankang CX668 165/80/15 87T BSWs; average reviewer rating = 4-1/2 out of 5 stars. (4) After-market Additions include an electric windshield washer, lights-on warning buzzer, door-window visors, front bumper guards, headlight "bug eyes" and "eye lids," a new beep-beep horn, and many interior extras (described further down). (5) External Decor: Since a previous owner had her repainted with a lighter green than her original color, I decided that this time she needed to be spared the look of an army car and treated to a more classy makeover; so I took advantage of MAACO's yearly springtime special Ambassador Service, and for only $200 I chose Ford's Alpine Green Metallic. She came out looking so great that I then complimented her new paint job by coloring the rims, bumpers, and headlight trim with rock-hard POR WhiteCote. Though this was done fourteen years ago and bears some touched up spots to prove it, the upsides are (1) it still looks great; (2) MAACO's springtime special is still so inexpensive that it can easily be redone any time; and (3) this decor creates a striking beauty-with-attitude that never fails to attract delighted attention, whether she's parked or on the road. (7) Passenger Compartment Decor and Accessories: The all-original vinyl has been colored cordovan brown; terry seat covers added, front and back; faux sheepskin seat covers up front; leather steering wheel cover + retro "spinner" and hanging dice; battery-operated clock; cigarette lighter; tinted rear windows; third brake light; gearshift extension; a center console, floor carpeting (+ both brown rubber and clear plastic mats for seasonal supplementation), and an inexpensive radio (am/fm/cassette deck) that's about all the amps her original speaker can handle. (8) Additional Shelved Accessories include everything I've managed to acquire relevant to her over the past 26 years, including -- but not limited to -- the following: (a) The Spare- and Replacement-part Inventory includes two snow tires, heat tubes, fan belt, oil change kit, headlight, var bulbs, gas filter, muffler hardware, gear shifter, and lots of hardware, plus trunk staples such as a well-stocked tool box, scissors jack, jumper cables, trouble light, spark-plug cleaning and service kit, sun shade, spare tire, various fluids, etc. (b) Other Inclusions: An as-yet-to-be-installed dash-mounted fan, a right side mirror, an Engine EconomiZer, five service manuals; extremely detailed, up-to-date electrical schematics (since quite a few modifications have been made to the system over the years) [see photo examples]; plus extensive maintenance-and-upgrades records and specifications (available on request). (c) A 9" MaiSto die-cast replica of the 1951 Beetle with great detail and many moving parts (see photos). This is the closest I could come to my Bug: Same original color and general styling so that non-Buggophiles don't notice the differences. In any case, it's way kewel. Present Value and Listing Restrictions Sources: The Gold Book Guide and the National Automobile Dealers Association Appraisal Guide: Original Manufacture's Suggested Retail Price: $1,699 Present Value Low Retail Average Retail High Retail $2,425 $4,875 $9,500 "Average Retail Value" description: "This vehicle would be in good condition overall. It could be an older restoration or a well-maintained original vehicle. Completely operable. The exterior paint, trim, and mechanics are presentable and serviceable inside and out." This accounts for my Buy It Now Price of $5,000 -- an especially good deal since included with it are at least $1,000 worth of extras. IMPORTANT NOTICE: This car is now also being advertised in my local media, so I must reserve the right to cancel this Listing at any time if a local buyer meets my Buy-It-Now price before an eBay member does, or makes a down payment on an offer that exceeds the highest bid before this auction ends; so I urge everyone interested in purchasing this car to do your serious bidding right away. I love this car, but it's time for her to move on; so it's up to you to decide how much you want her and what she's worth to you. Present Condition The mechanic says she's good to go, with some stiffness evident of her needing to be driven more. The left front fender shows signs of having been dented by a past owner and pounded out so that this is visible only on close examination. The windshield contains a small pit-fracture on the passenger side from a flying pebble; and there are light scrape marks on the drivers side where a previous owner used a broken bottle to remove ice buildup. This can be polished away and has been on my list, but I've gotten used to it instead. (A polishing kit is part of the included accessories.) There is evidence of some rusting beneath the running boards; these are only for show, are quite inexpensive, and their refinished rubber treads are still quite serviceable. I have removed the front license plate holder, since most states now require only one in the rear and the front bumper looks better without it. I'm including two plate holders in case you want to reinstall one. I have also temporarily removed the bug eyes, since they are illegal in some states (including mine). Only state-police vehicle inspectors know this, however, and you may be required to have the car inspected when you gain title; in which case you can replace them afterward without further concern. Transmission The tranny is a frisky 4-speed Manual with Controlled Synchromesh in gears 2, 3, and 4. Personally, I prefer to use the clutch in the normal way; but, if you want to shift without it, all you need do is watch for when the speedometer needle reaches the appropriate gear's hash marks on the dial (II, III, IIII) , then simply take your foot off the gas, shift into the next gear, and hit the gas again without using the clutch pedal. Soon, you learn to do this by just listening to the sound of the engine. This comes in most handily in stop-and-go traffic, which is taxing on your clutch leg. Known History Most of the history that predates my ownership has come by me because this old gal has spent her entire life in my home area. Thus, throughout the years before I changed her paint job, previous owners would approach me beaming, delightedly putting their hands on her in lieu of a hug, and sharing stories about how this or that blemish had been sustained. This, plus my own research, has yielded the following historical information: 10/02/67 Production Date 10/06/67 Date Shipped to USA '67-'75 Owned by a resident of Norwalk, CT '75-'82 Owned by a family in Norwalk, CT. '83-'85 Owned by a friend of mine in Old Greenwich, CT 2/1/85 My ownership Began. 1991-1993 Blown engine; stored in garage 1994 Professionally rebuilt replacement engine installed 1994-1996 See Restoration Log. 07/96 Car is once more completely roadworthy, driven only sparingly ever since, mostly garaged and taken out for an occasional sprint. Summary The photos should be sufficient to verify that this born-again baby can be put alongside any brand new Lexus, Infinity, Bimmer, or Mercedes, and she will always steal the limelight, hands down. Though I didn’t intend it, those headlight visors and white trim are mainly responsible for her compelling attitude. If you stand before her, the visors block out half the headlights, making them look like half-closed, languid eyelids with long lashes, uncannily reminiscent of another German femme fatale -- Marlene Deitrich -- and this stunning effect is the same from the side, as if she knows there are lovesick guys all around her and she doesn’t mind; but she doesn’t revel in it, either -- it’s just part-and-parcel of who she is. (Go ahead, laugh; but be forewarned that I’m only half kidding.) To be honest, I really hate to part with her, but a recent move has required the sale of my garage workshop, and I refuse to park her outside and open to the elements. Though not meant for one's primary means of transportation, she needs to be driven. However, she's also not a hot rod (top speed, 65); she's a lovely old-timer that needs someone handy to treat her with respect and keep tweaking her toward even greater glory. These classics are a rarity in the Northeast, since very few have survived its extreme weather conditions. Thus, everywhere she goes, people gather round and reminisce nostalgically about the Bug they once owned and loved in days gone by; and they never fail to compliment her colors. Please keep this tiny Time Machine akin to that other cute little animal that just keeps going, and going.... Give her the simple, affordable care she needs, and she'll keep turning heads forever. Please don't hesitate to contact me directly (drshi@optonline.net) if you have any questions; and I urge you to have me send you my Restoration and Maintenance Logs (WordPad formatted) so you can decide for yourself the condition she's in. Thanks for your interest! RobOn Nov-29-10 at 20:36:56 PST, seller added the following information: 11/29 ADDITION $300 REBATE OFFER ON THE BUY-IT-NOW PRICE Since I have not been able to match adequately the Ford Alpine Green Metallic paint to touch up all the flaws it has collected over the past fourteen years, I’ve decided to offer a rebate of $300 to anyone who purchases the car at the Buy-It-Now price of $5,000 so they can have it repainted the same color, or any other they prefer. I paid MAACO $200 for its springtime special in 1996, so I figure it costs around another Benjamin now. The current paint job still looks presentable, as the photos verify; but were I to keep her I'd be planning to have her repainted in the spring. On Dec-01-10 at 21:09:57 PST, seller added the following information: 12/1 UPDATE FYI -- I now have two offers of $5,000 from non-eBay members, so I’ve advised them that this Listing is open to members only and that they must first register and then choose the Buy It Now option. I don’t yet know the legitimacy of these offers; and several people in my area have also responded to my ads in the local media and made appointments to see the car. So far, there have been no serious bids on this site, so I just want to give everyone a heads-up on what’s happening elsewhere. On Dec-02-10 at 17:05:57 PST, seller added the following information: 12/2 ADDITION Forgot to mention -- New Battery.On Dec-04-10 at 23:05:53 PST, seller added the following information: CORRECTION One of my Watchers has spotted an error in my Description that states: "Uses low-octane unleaded gas; leaded gas requires an appropriate additive." I guess my unconscious feels that adding lead to the gas was an improvement; however, in reality it's the other way round. She uses leaded gas, which for environmental reasons is no longer sold, so an appropriate additive is needed to simulate the lead she's accustomed to munching on.