Roshake found these tow vintage VWs snuggling up in Budapest. The Golf may interest you more, but not me, as I have Beetlitis, especially so for the European “Standard” 1200, which was a “stripper” and built for many years with components that had long been dropped from US-bound Beetles. In other words, this was more like a 1961 Beetle, except for the bigger windows: 40 hp (34 net hp or DIN PS) 1200 engine, swing axles, and a very spartan interior.
I have particular memories of a ’69 1200, as that’s what my father rented for several weeks when we were in Austria that summer (it was of course the cheapest car they rented). It took us all up some pretty steep Alpine roads, albeit in leisurely fashion.
Here’s that interior. No gas gauge, even! Just like Prof. Porsche intended. When it starts to sputter, just reach down under the dash and flip the little lever, for an extra 0.6 gallons, enough to hopefully get you to the next gas station.
Basic old-style bumpers, no more trim than necessary. I’ve seen Roshake post quite a number of these now; they’re obviously still popular, and make good basic transportation. You’ll always be able to get parts.
Is that a parking ticket?
Don’t even get me started on old VWs; maybe one of you might want to give the Golf a bit of attention?
NEVER a fan of small cars, the Beatle (or BUG?)was cute. Rode in one once and was scared to see nothing in front, NO visible part of the car only the road ! Anyone remember the few conversions to the MiniRolls? 😊
I found this excellent video on the design and function of the air cooled boxer engine of the beetle. Enjoy!
https://youtu.be/zcutz6NJR4k
On closer inspection thats not a parking ticket, but a flyer promoting a yoga studio 🙂
An old air cooled VW bug is the one car in my past that I would love to drive again.
But just for fun and memories. I can’t even think how nervous I would be if I had to get onto an on-ramp of NJ’s Interstate 287 (aka NJ’s high speed race track). And if I made it onto 287, even right foot to the floor would still result in me being a dangerously slow vehicle (even in the right-most lane).
But way back in the 1960s and 7190s, type 1 bugs operated within the normal range of vehicle highway speeds, albeit at the lower – but still acceptable – rung.
As discussed in VinceC’s 1957 Chevrolet 210 Sport Coup post comments, nostalgia is a mental process; buying that old car or moving into the old neighborhood might be interesting, but (as an old saying from Buckaroo Bonzai goes): No matter where you go, there you are.
Early in the life of the Beetle in the U.S. there were drivers who did drive them flat out, maybe to prove something or maybe not. I recall one driving across western Louisiana and east Texas in 1957 that was going as fast as anything on the highway and rather faster than my father was inclined to push our ’51 Buick Super convertible. I think it was going 70 on the level and downhill patches. Or maybe the driver had added a Judson supercharger?
Those later VW 1200 isd where the engine came from for the 59 I rebuilt oddly enuff it went better than the 1500 I removed, Golf? thats game played with a selection of bats you carry about chasing a ball.
Cause the guy who put the flyer is looking for 16 ( or 18 ? ) flexible people so he can break the Guinness World Record for human capacity into a Beetle .https://pascotourist.blogspot.com/2009/11/pasco-bug-jam-sets-world-record-for.html
I remeber being one of 13 in a Beetle. We went to a bowling alley. Parked next to a guy exiting a Country Sqiure.
The Type 1 needs, as my father used to say “some wind in its casings.” I do like it better than the U.S. market ’69 model, engine aside.
Rear suspension aside, too.
Yes, I did overlook that.
SWEET ! .
I wonder if Brazilian or Mexican made ? .
The 1200 in these wasn’t the 1959’s 36HP .
I’m pretty sure even these late standards had the fuel gauge in the speedo .
I’d buy this in a heartbeat and drive the wheels off it .
I am noticing my ’59 Bugs 36HP engine isn’t going 55 MPH when I merge onto the freeway .
-Nate