All original 1974 Standard Beetle For Sale

A long time VW buddy of mine called me when he found this one...he's a Bus guy primarily, but he knew
this was not one to pass up. It took a while for me to get out to see it...but now I know what he was raving about.

So it's a bright red 74 Standard Beetle. Not a Super Beetle...a Standard model with the ball joint front end
and no curved windshield. Its a 74 model which is the last of the carburated versions before the went to fuel injection
and here in California this means that you dont need to pass the smog test every couple years, as it is exempt.

The car is really super clean and the gloss to the paint is impressive.
What is even more inpressive is that it is all original and unrestored.

Its really a bit of a time warp machine and it is so nice that you really start questioning the originality.
"oh come on...it must have been repainted!".... uhhh no...it looks all original to me and I looked
way too close at it!

74 has the big bold bumpers with the shock absorbing bumper brackets...the bumper has a rubber impact
strip as well as plastic end caps.

The chrome wheels are in excllent condition and the tires look great too.

Very straight and smooth down the sides.

The gas cap still has it's gold-ish tint ...a little polish left on the inside of the gas door,
but that will clean right off.
Note that the fender beading is red...matching the body color. The owner and I had quite the debate about this
as I had thought that black beading would be correct for 74... but I was proved wrong and I will show you the proof shortly.

The impressive bits about this car are the small things...look how clean this door hinge is and the little plastic cap is still on the top.

Wow!

Peek in past the wheel here into the fender wells... remember that and I will take you further in in a moment.

Great fit and finish, no signs of damage or repair.

Nice taillight lenses.

So clean

OK...the car is not flawless and I will point out a few flaws as I feel that is a part of my job here.
On the standard models in 74, the vent wings were painted in silver, and the paint wasnt that great
as this one has oxidized a little.

There are a few small paint flaws like this spot on the hood that must have started out as some bird's toxic
in-flight bowel evacuation...it stuck, and burned and forever left its mark.

Here is another one here on the hood...a spot that was just polished too much... but speaking of polish...look at that shine!!!

Back out a little ways you can see that spot on the hood in the photo...
The chrome on the bumpers has a slight fade to it too by the way, but they are very clean and straight.

Here's where things get exciting for me... looking in the nooks and crannies...
Check out how clean this is in the spare tire well!

Wow!

"Senegal Red" is the paint color!

Body tag

Tool roll and jack handle are wrapped up

A peek under the trunk liner...just like it rolled off the factory line!

Original spare tire I believe

Look...the washer bottle in in place...and the little plastic pins are present that hold it into the spare.

And yes...it works.
Check out that wheel weight in this photo...thats what the factory weights look like.
Cant find those in the US anywhere!

Under the hood is clean

Hood latch still look like new with its shiny gold cad-plating.

Yeah baby...check out the fender wells!!!
This car was never undercoated and the original finish underneath is impressive.
If you were a total nutcase like myself, I think spending a couple days under here with polish and some q-tips
you could make this all look spotless...show the cars with mirrors underneath!

Wow.. was this car never driven in rain or on dirt?

Even behing the wheel it is clean

Lets continue around the back...

Its things like this photo that will sell this car fast... when is the last time you saw
a fender well this clean?

OK...remember the debate on the colored fender beading?
Here's the proof...this is a shot of the beading where it wraps
around under the car and is pinched between the fender and the body.
Its red...and it wasnt painted that way by some restorer, or there would be red paint on the fender bolt...right?
Proof that I am always learning more about old VWs... colored fender beading was original in the 70's.

Wow...

Floor pans are perfectly solid and very straight... I know Im insane but it would be so fun to polish all this under here!

The engine...oh yeah...it has one of those...a totally stock and fully equipped 1600
with all the factory hoses and bits and assorted plumbing in place.

Runs fantastic by the way...the car drives as nice as you would imagine it to in the condition it is in.
The car has 51,000 miles on it since new (which seems like a lot for it's condition)...this car was wildly well maintained.

Clean too in here, dont you think?

The little thermostat operated vent flap is all here and functional as well.

Have I set the hook yet?
Do you want the car to be in your garage?
Let me now reel you in with the interior of the car.... I think you will like this part too!

Wow...all original and in amazing shape.
OK...I think the interior could use a good cleaning...shampoo the carpets, scrub and treat the vinyl
and then it is show time!

Door panels are in fantastic shape...again...need a quick cleaning.

Seats look amazing!
The plastic end cap on the drivers side here has a cracked spot at the top...easy to replace/

Headliner is in great shape as well...just needs a little cleaning to be perfect.

Odometer reads 51,440 miles which is thought to be original...and the condition of the car certainly supports that.

Glove box...

The car has two sets of floormats in it...the ladybug mats and a second carpet mat below that.
Nice little center console accessory.

Rear deck

Rear seat and panels...note the aftermarket speakers

Production sticker..rolled off the line in September of 73...one of the early 74 models.

Look at how clean and bright the door latch is here...

Nice seats

AM FM cassette radio is not original but was probably installed in the 80s based on the look of the thing.
Doesnt look like the dash was modified at all to fit the radio...so a stock one could be put back in if you wanted to
go back to 100% original. The only speakers were put into the rear panels too, so they are a bit hidden
and finding nice original rear panels is easier than nice original front panels so eventually you could swap
those out as well.... not that it needs it, just if you wanted to go back to factory with everything.

Door jams are clean!

OK...Ive rambled on too long on the car...I think you can see why I got excited about this car though...its great.
Awesome weekend driver and play toy, suitable for a collector as well... hard to find them this clean, and it is getting harder
each and every day. If I had the big dream warehouse and the funds to fill it...this car would join the fold in my collection for sure.
And it is a screaming deal at the asking price...how long will this one last?

Asking just
$7,750