Value My Classic: Will this VW Beetle’s value leave owner blue?
I bought it in 1971 and have owned it ever since. It served as our sole work and family transport until 1986 when it became our second car. In those 15 years it took my wife now of 44 years on our first date, brought our three children home from hospital and took the five of us camping on numerous occasions with a trailer on the back and the children sitting on their sleeping bags. HOW MUCH HISTORY? I have kept it all, including the original bill of sale, service books and brochures, service invoices and MoTs. Its first service at a VW dealer cost the grand sum of £2.34p. By 1998 we decided it deserved a body-off restoration and VAG Mexican inner front wings, barrels and pistons were obtained through VW Heritage, along with four glassfibre wings from Day Mouldings. The body was resprayed original Gentian Blue, all rubbers replaced and the tarnished original bumpers re-chromed. The floorpan had been rustproofed from new and required no attention. Other than replacing the hardened rubber floor mats with identical carpet to the sills and parcel shelf, the interior – including the original white plastic seat covering and Blaupunkt LW/ MW radio – is original. The car made the final of The Festival of The Unexceptional last year and now lives a gentle fine-weatheronly existence. WHAT’S LEFT TO DO ON IT? Nothing. The value is, of course, academic because I’ll never sell it. HAS IT BEEN MODIFIED? The car is totally original apart from the 1600cc VAG barrels, pistons and cylinder heads.