1966 Volkswagen Beetle - Classic

Sedan

4 - Cyl.

Manual

116511574

Gasoline

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to buy a truly historic VW. This 1966 Beetle sedan is documented to be the 100,000th vehicle to roll off the VW assembly line in Emden Germany. The birth certificate from VW is included in the sale along with two photographs of the car coming off the assembly line showing the celebration. In all my years of working with and searching for VW's, I have never seen a milestone car such as this in private hands, the only other VWs I have seen that have photos of them coming off the line are cars within the VW museum in Wolfsburg! The car and it's discovery has been featured in VW magazines around the world in the past year and it has been an amazing thing to be involved with the discovery, resurrection and bringing it out to the public once again. Here is the story of the car as I know it. Volkswagen opened the Emden assembly plant in 1964 to keep up with production demand for Beetles in the US. The cars produced there were focused primarily on US delivery. On Jan 11th 1966 they reached the 100,000th production car. The production line stopped for the celebration and the workers posed with the car at the end of the line. After a few days the car joined the rest of the flood of Beetles destined for the US. It was originally delivered to San Francisco California.The story relayed to me through the gentleman that I purchased it from, is that is spent it's life in San Francisco and much of it in the Haight Ashbury district during the height of the scene there. I was told that singer Janis Joplin rode in this car at one point and that it was seen in the background of a TV commercial in which Fred Astaire danced. I have attempted to contact the owner of the car during this period of time for documentation of these stories but have been unable to get a reply. He apparently moved from San Francisco farther north to become an organic farmer and he brought the car with him. It sat outside at the farm for many years until a gentleman talked him out of it, then it came to me. In cleaning out the car I did find a fair bit of evidence that supports the Haight Ashbury days in the form of Narcotics Anonymous memorabilia and other "clues" from such activities (LOL). If this car could talk, I am certain the stories would fill a book well worth reading...if not making a movie of! When I got the car I sent photos of the badge under the hood and the vin number to the VW archives in Germany and received in return the photos of it coming off the assembly line and information on the date of production, paint colors and options and delivery location. It is in my opinion, without any shadow of a doubt, the exact car in these photos!! The car is all original and unrestored and has a heavy dose of Mother Nature's aging process. The paint has faded through on all panels and it has it's fair share of dings and dents. It does not look like it has ever been in a serious accident and all panels appear original to the car. The passenger side rear fender looks to have been resprayed, but the ages have made it match the patina well. There is a little rust under the battery side of the floorpan and a couple other spots here and there, but overall structurally it is quite sound. The car had a later model engine in it when I received it that was frozen solid, so I searched and located a proper 1300cc 1966 engine to replace it with and have gone through the brakes and fuel system to make the car operational. It is currently registered and insured and drivable. The seats must have been recovered at some point as the material is not factory stuff, there is one missing door panel and the original carpet is gone...but the rest of the interior looks all original, the paint on the dash shines brightly, the original radio is in place, etc. The patina of the car is consistant inside and out and as an artifact it shows the ages of time very well. I sat on the fence for quite some time considering to restore or preserve and decided it was as exciting a find all worn and untouched as it would be restored, and it was better to leave it as it is and just clean and enjoy it. Close inspection of the car shows two details that are the most important in the documentation of the history, the first being a brass or bronze plate under the front hood that was attached at the factory that reads 100,000 Werk Emden Made in Germany. The second being a grease pencil inspection marking on the drivers side hood hinge that reads 100,000. I have replicated the original display sign shown in the factory photos and have put together a similar garland for the hood that is included in the sale as well. The car was used in a recent promotional video for the newest generation of the Beetle which is another feather in it's cap. (email me for a link to this video) In addition I have a short video of it's maiden voyage after being revived on youtube so you can see it running and driving. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfhsZDCjjOs ) It is a car that deserves a home where the history will be celebrated. I would love to see it in a museum somewhere where others can see and enjoy it, but in the end it absolutely needs to go to a serious collector. This is not a car for someone to buy and modify or put into daily use. I have enjoyed it's stay here with me...I feel like I have been a good custodian for it, now the history will continue... is it with you?