THE ONE AND ONLY

Every now and then an outstanding car comes along that is in exceptional condition and a buying opportunity you don't want to miss. A true classic that is in remarkable original condition with genuine low miles. An example that has been extremely well taken care of, looks like it just came off a showroom floor and performs accordingly.

This beautiful VW Cabriolet can be driven anywhere. And it's not just a car...it's a Volkswagen...the 'People's Car'. Whether it's the favored pastime of a millionaire or celebrity car collector, or the main transportation for a starving student, everybody loves "Herbie". There is just no other car in the world with such a long and fascinating history.

The origins of the Beetle - the most popular small car in the world - lie in Nazi Germany were two very different men shared a common ambition. The infamous Adolf Hitler wanted to provide transport for the masses, and Dr. Ferdinand Porsche wanted to produce a cheap small car that everyone could afford. And so the Volkswagen - the People's Car - was born.

After WWII the Beetle was dismissed as an out-dated creation, unworthy of further attention. Within 10 years however, Beetles were built at the rate of one a minute, 365 days a year. They were sold all over the world and an army of devoted followers quickly established itself. By the end of production life in Germany in 1978, over 16 million units had been produced and the Beetle had overtaken the Model T Ford as the world's best-selling car.

The Volkswagen Cabriolet was conceived and built by the KARMANN company in Osnabruck, Germany. Karmann later became best known for their KARMANN-GHIA automobiles.

The four-seater convertible was an essential part of the Volkswagen range from the earliest days of Beetle production. Although the shape, trim and mechanical make-up have improved over the years, the basic Beetle profile has remained remarkably faithful to Ferdinand Porsche's design.

After Volkswagen ceased German production of the Beetle in 1978, the Cabriolet managed to hang on at the Karmann plant a bit longer mainly due to US demand. The last few cars were all either black or white. And the last Beetle Cabriolet ever produced on January 10, 1980 was a triple white combination, just as the one offered for sale here.
A total of 331,847 Cabriolets were built.

In the history of motoring not one other car has generated so much enthusiasm, so many incredible stories, and indeed, so much love from owners of all ages. And few cars have generated such trust, earned of decades of good service, reliability and longevity that is world renowned. There has never been anything like the original beetle and most probably there will never be anything like it again.

The Cabriolet for sale at this auction was built in 1979 and finished in the popular and beautiful triple-white combination.

It is an original car from Southern California and has spent its entire life in a sunny and dry climate. It has hardly ever seen a drop of rain in its lifetime and was never involved in an accident.

As you would expect, the body is totally straight and virtually rust-free. Throughout the years it has only traveled 63,471 miles, less than 3,000 miles per year.

The all original interior is just the way you would expect in a genuine low mileage car. The seat are firm with covers in great condition.

Back seats and passenger seats without any rips or tears, just the driver's seat shows one minor tear on the seat.
The dashboard looks great and all switches work flawlessly. Even the clock is all original with the sweeping second hand.
The weather-stripping and all rubber parts are original and in nice condition. Nothing is dry or brittle.
The window chrome frames as well as all other chrome is excellent, no signs of fading, everything shines like new.

To keep the Cabriolet in showroom condition it was only deemed necessary to repaint the fenders and hood in the original factory color 'Alpinweiss' (color code L90E).

Very recently the convertible top including padding and headliner has been completely renewed to match the car's overall appearance. And while you drive with the top down it is neatly hidden underneath a brand new boot cover.

The VW's engine was legally declared a non-catalyst upon entering the United States which was quite fortunate for a continued reliable performance. The legendary air-cooled, dual-port, overhead-valve, 1584 cc boxer engine is equipped with a fuel injection system and rated at approximately 65 hp. Designed to run forever and good for top speeds exceeding 85 mph.

This particular Cabriolet's air-cooled boxer engine starts up at the first turn of the ignition key. It runs like a charm and does not leak any oil. The 4-speed manual shifter is stiff, the brakes respond well. The shocks provide for a smooth comfortable ride and the overall feeling you experience is that of a genuine low mileage car.
It handles nearly as it did when it was driven off the Volkswagen dealer lot in 1979.

When you make the transition from your late model daily driver to a quarter century old car you expect poor driving & handling characteristics. Not this beauty though, it handles surprisingly well for a 22 year old classic. It truly is what Volkswagen calls 'Fahrvergnügen', the joy to drive. And the impressive condition of this timeless convertible will earn you admiring looks and compliments wherever you go.

Even thought the car is in impressive condition, please keep in mind that it is a 22 year old vehicle that has been kept mostly in original condition. As with every unrestored car there are a few minor marks and scratches. This does not diminish the overall appearance of this beauty. Any car can be restored many times over but it is only original once. To the discriminating collector, the originality of this Cabriolet actually increases its value.

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TERMS OF SALE:

Please do not bid if you do not intend to follow through with a purchase.
Keep in mind that by bidding on e-bay you enter a legal contract
and you are responsible for completing the transaction.

The vehicle for sale in this auction comes with a clear Certificate of Title
and is sold "as is" and "where is".

Payment in full is expected within 7 days after the auction closes
and I am not able to assist in any kind of financing.

The winning bidder is responsible for all transportation charges.

If there are any further questions please contact me before the auction ends.