1963 Ragtop Beetle, Clean and Solid California Driver!

This cool early Ragtop Beetle features just over 55,000 original miles and was recently awoken following a 22 year hibernation here in Southern California, extensively serviced, thoroughly detailed, and is ready to enjoy.  It was previously owned by a family that owned their own VW Dealership, "Summit Porsche, Audi, Volkswagen", in Victorville, California until the 1980's.  They fully refreshed this Beetle at the dealership for their daughter to enjoy while she was away at the University of California at Irvine back in the mid 1980's.  After she finished school the Beetle was retired from use until its recent revival.  It is an original California car with no rust, one older repaint in the original L380 Turkis color, and has slightly updated mechanicals including a rebuilt 1600 dual port engine and a 12 volt conversion for improved driveability.  This last year Ragtop Sunroof Beetle is a great little survivor.

The body is in nice and extremely solid rust free condition having just one exterior respray in the original Turkis (German name for Turquoise) color many years back.  The doors, hood, decklid, aprons, fenders, etc. are all correct.  The glass is also all matching original Duroglass/Sekurit logoed with the exception of the windshield which was a dealer replacement years ago.  All of the original style window seals and body rubber were also replaced at that time of the respray.  There are some small dings, chips, and scratches around but overall this Beetle has a nice appearance and holds a brilliant shine.  Turkis is such a great and representative color of the early 1960's.  The original pan is in excellent shape with no rust or rot, a perfectly solid battery tray, and clean dealer optioned undercoating still intact down below.  We detailed, polished, and waxed everything inside and out and added a new set of polished stainless steel body trim as well. The original 15 inch smoothie rims are wearing a very cool lightly patinaed coat of Sea Green and Turquoise White paint.  The bumpers are the original German units which show some age to the chrome but still display nicely.  We opted to keep those items original to preserve some of that vintage German quality appeal.

The interior is very presentable and features freshly polished original paint throughout, beautiful original interior panels, original German square weave carpets, and brand new original style grey rubber mats from Wolfsburg West .  The seats also have brand new original style Wolfsburg West pleated seat covers. The headliner is nice and clean and the factory original and correct Golde handle equipped sunroof operates beautifully.  There is a beautiful and correct Sapphire I radio in the dash but it was disconnected at the time of the 12 volt conversion.  The original glove box liner is in excellent shape as well and there is even a original VW Turkis touch-up paint container inside.  The original owners manual and tool roll are also present and included.

Mechanically this Ragtop received a fully rebuilt 1600 dual port engine just 16,000 miles ago, with an alternator, new Bosch 009 distributor, and the electrical system was converted to 12 volt for added reliability and brighter lights.  We just fully serviced it with completely rebuilt heads with new valves and guides, carb rebuild, new fuel pump, full tune up, valve adjustment, oil change, new fuel lines, new push rod tubes and seals, replaced engine seals as necessary, new axle boots, transaxle gear oil change, new heater cables, repacked original ball type front axle bearings with new seals, fully rebuilt brakes including all new wheel cylinders and master cylinder, rubber lines, and even the brake drums were new German units replaced just a few hundred miles earlier at the dealership.  The battery is also a brand new Interstate unit.  The tires are correct vintage style Firestone 5.60-15 bias plies with nearly 100% tread.   Everything works, horn, wipers, blinkers, brakelights, interior dome light, gas gauge, turn signal canceler, heat, etc., and I suspect the radio would work with the installation of a volt-a-drop.  This Beetle fires right up, runs excellently, the choke is perfectly adjusted, and it drives and rides absolutely beautifully.  The positive and tight feel on the road is evidence to the 55,000 original miles and well-cared for life this Ragtop has lead over the last 47 years.  There is nothing left to do on this car, it is fully dialed, ready to enjoy, and is certain to draw compliments.

SOLD!

This Ragtop Beetle is located in San Diego, California.

*  Please note that the car is currently registered through October 2010 with new White Plates.  The original California Black Plates were on the car many decades ago and will be included with a full priced sale in the event that the car stays here in California.  Thanks!

Please visit our website at http://www.holygrailgarage.com to see more pics of this super respectable Ragtop Beetle, more interesting Vintage VWs, Classic Cars, and Parts for sale.  Thanks!

Brendan Finn (858)366-2549
http://www.holygrailgarage.com
brendanfinn666@yahoo.com