Old Beetles aren’t that common anymore around the streets of San Salvador, but they aren’t all that rare either. However, there’s no way to deny that they’re dwindling in numbers, and somewhere in the back of my head, I’m slowly trying to come to terms with the idea of a world with no Beetles by the roadside.
On the other hand, while old Beetles aren’t that rare, daily-use ones tend to be post-1968 models. As you can easily guess, most pre-67 Beetles have been snatched by collectors and restomod folks. To find any pre-68 Beetle, still providing regular service and in stock condition, has truly become a rarity. At least, around my surroundings.
So I was quite pleasantly surprised when I came across this pre-67 stock-looking one on the curbside. And getting some nicely needed service, I guess, in at least three of those drum sets.
Also, the nice thing about finding it this way; no need to crawl around to check its condition. As far as I can see, no tin worm in any of those panels. This old Beetle has enjoyed a good working life. Not pampered, but good.
Not that it’s one hundred percent original. The vehicle certainly got a respray quite a while ago, with enough nicks to show that it remained in service afterward.
And if you wonder about the stickers on the windshield and back window, they’re old Salvadorian transit permits from the ’70s. They’re incredibly rare to see, and just bring memories of my days riding our family Toyota around San Salvador in the late ’70s.
Now, those stickers send some conflicting signals to me. Well, the whole car does actually. For a Salvadorian car, it seems awfully well preserved, up to the still-remaining stickers. None of the funky customizing locals just love.
Yet, the car has certainly served as a daily driver.
But well, it all adds to that quality we like over here at CC; authenticity. No glossy restorations on this one, nor any way to deny the car has earned its character by performing its duties. A true curbside classic.
The interior is just as oddly stock, for this nation. No modern radio, weird stickers, odd seat covers, or Catholic decorations. Weird… What kind of Salvadorian is this? Don’t they know how to soup-up a car properly?
As many of you know, I own a ’68 one. But that attachment aside, I honestly always preferred the pre-67 design. And I always regretted the loss of the original flush headlights on the post-68. It’s one of my favorite details of the original.
Three generations of automobilia in one shot. The quirky and fuel-efficient foreign car, the van, and the crossover.
Seeing this getting some service, I wonder; has it found a new owner? Someone about to finally take it away from the streets? Or is it just getting ready to keep on going some more?
Whatever the case may be, I’m glad I came across it. I rather enjoy these moments, before a world without daily Beetles finally falls over us.
Related CC reading:
Curbside Classic: 1945 Volkswagen 1100 (Type 11) – The Beetle Crawls Out Of The Rubble
As a 1963 beetle owner I agree, this is nice to see. The rear fenders need a little help, the mechanic could rough out the dents quite easily while the wheels are off.
Wish that car was parked under a carport or in a garage to protect it from the weather!
Looks familiar. I remember giving my ’63 a brake job. I used various timbers and such to prop it up as I only had one jack.
In 1967, my father traded in a tan ’60 Studebaker Lark coupe for a brand-new Ruby Red VW beetle at Holberts Volkswagon in Warrington, PA. I still have this little red car complete with the roof rack he put on it. It is in poor shape unfortunately, as it has been off the road since about ’85, and stored inside a Freuhauf trailer on my friends farm since 1995. Mice have done their damage, and it is rusty, but it probably could be saved. Maybe someday… It has just over 100k miles on it and literally “ran when parked”, but that was long ago.
Nice looking Beetle! The non-stock color is striking, and I can’t decide if it’s better than a standard color, or not. I’m a fan of green cars, so I’m leaning toward “better”.
I agree with Doug, I couldn’t resist trying to pop out those fender dents if it were my car. But odds are the end result would look no better than what’s there now, so maybe the owner is doing the right thing by leaving them alone.
Nice find!
Nice to see a working survivor .
The paint color is odd but as long as someone’s taking care of it .
Brake hydraulic works in the rain, sucks .
I wonder how original it is as the interior looks really good .
1963 would have had a 40HP 1200 engine with the new “Fresh Air” heating system that really did work well .
-Nate
There have been some changes. The dash gas gage was ’67, but the overall car looks more pre-64. Still a nice car, and the owner resisted the urge to put an ugly roof rack on it.
The gas gauge came in 1962. I don’t see any apparent changes from stock.
It was NOT a particularly fuel-efficient car. I had a 67 with th 1500 engine and got something like 28mpg on the highway. I’ve gotten into the 30s with a Ford Fiesta, both with the 1L 3-cyl and the hopped up ST.
Today I have a Corolla hybrid that gets around 60. Driving a beetle in Phoenix, with lots of miles to cover and no AC, would not be a pleasant, productive experience
You’re comparing it to modern cars, which is not a fair comparison. It was fuel efficient in its time.
In my life, I’ve probably owned around 25 Volkswagens. Most were beetles and busses, with the occasional type 3 and Thing thrown into the mix. Loved them all. There is just nothing quite like VW air cooled vehicles.
I owned a 68 and 69 beetle. These were cars you could change oil with an oil change packet sold at the car lot .took 20 minutes to do the job. These cars were easy to drive great in the snow. The 68 had a roll back roof I used all the time . Wish I still had them.