1957 Volkswagen Beetle - Classic

Sedan

36hp

4 speed manual

1531662

Clear

Gasoline

for sale is my 1957 standard vw beetle in light blue (unsure of the factory name for it) the car had the same owner from 1957, when new, until 2003, when he was convinced to sell it. the original owner kept meticulous records, including every oil change, tune-up, brake job, etc, until it left his hands in 2003. this is a california "black plate" car, with both original tags included in the sale, along with VERY complete service records dating back to 1957. i am selling this car because i need to make room for an unexpected project which fell into my hands. there is an album on my photobucket account which contains over 120 photos of the car and the extensive records which have been kept. here: http://smg.beta.photobucket.com/user/sefb13/library/57beetle the car had two owners from 2003-2011, during which time some of the mechanicals had started to deteriorate. when i purchased the car from a friend in 2011, i had it transported from southern california, where it had spent it's entire life, directly to a reputable vw mechanic in portland, oregon. i had the car gone over, from top to bottom, during which a number of issues were found, none of which went ignored. we ended up doing the following: transmission cradle mounts, nose cone mount, rear main seal, axle boots, steering coupler, new battery, new heater cables, rag joint, inner wheel bearings, outer wheel bearings, front and rear wheel brake cylinders, axle seals, new firewall insulation, new starter, powdercoated engine tin, rebuilt engine to factory specs, transmission cleaned and repainted, new shocks, and probably a ton more i'm missing. (service invoice is pictured below) after the car was made roadworthy, i took it to an auto body shop where all trim and lights were removed, for the sake of a proper buffing and detailing. the mid 90s repaint was brought back to a brilliant shine, and all exterior trim, including bumpers, was replaced. we used new seals, where available, for the lights. the interior was recently re-done in a two tone brown and creme, which i feel contrasts nicely with the baby blue exterior. the headliner is a light grey mohair type material which has been replaced at some point prior to my ownership. it is in excellent condition, but on the driver's side where it meets the carpet behind the rear seat, it could use a little of attention to neaten it up a bit. the carpets have all been replaced with german square-weave, in "oatmeal" color. the dash is pristine, and uncut. the cardboard glovebox is original, and un-cracked. there are rubber floormats covering the entirely rust free floorboards. there is a very rare VW/kamei parcel tray, in amazing uncracked and pristine condition, as well as a rare, dealer installed fuel gauge. also included is the original windshield washer bag, which connects to a pump located in the left side of the dash. i've been told this is an exceptionally rare set-up. the exterior is in remarkable condition, showing VERY few blemishes, and virtually no rust. i have uploaded pics of the only two known spots of rust, each of which are smaller than a dime. one along the lower edge of the rear window, and one along the passenger side front fender. there are a few spots on the paint which have been touched up by hand, but the color match is so perfect, they are hardly noticeable. there was a small rust hole in the lower rear wheel arch, on the passenger side, which was cut out, and replaced with fresh steel, welded in place and sealed. (also pic included) the original wiring is all in place, as well as the original spare tire, and tool kit. it is a black plate california car, with all service records recorded since new. included is a copy of the original sales order, both license plates, and the restored 1957 oregon plate which i currently run on the car, legally. the driver's side rear window has some visible scratches, the turn signals sometimes decide to work, or not to... depending on their mood. i suspect the switch is the culprit. the electrical system is still all 6 volt, and works perfectly. she starts every time, on the first fire, although sometimes you have to click the key over to the right 2-3 times before the starter engages. as soon as the starter is told what to do, the engine fires right up. she leaks a tiny amount of oil when left to sit for extended periods. less when it's being driven more frequently. since the engine rebuild, i've clocked about 500 miles, with no issues. this is a VERY clean and solid time capsule of a driver. with a small amount of attention, it could easily be a contending show car. this car is DRY as a bone... no leaks, no moisture. the car is for sale locally, so i reserve the right to end the auction early.i encourage interested parties to come see the car in person, and drive it. i am VERY particular about the cars i own and drive, and this one is no exception. having owned many classic VWs over the last 20 years, this is among the cleanest and most original. feel free to call or text me with any questions at 443.938.6256, or if you would like to see additional photos of anything in particular. there is an album on my photobucket account which contains over 120 photos of the car and the extensive records which have been kept. here: http://smg.beta.photobucket.com/user/sefb13/library/57beetle