1600cc 4 Cylinder/Custom Interior/New Exhaust/New Brake Lines & Master/4-Speed

We proudly have bugs here at the Classic Auto Mall!  No, not the kind that makes you itch or the kind you swat, but the type built in Germany by the millions and that have invaded countries around the world.  For consignment, a 1971 VW Beetle with more custom touches than there are Spotted Lantern Flys in South Eastern PA.  All redone with lots of maintenance and upgrades, this classic version is in nice condition, and ready just like the ads of the day to dip in our test lake, although careful we have no way of getting you back, so you'll have to take the ads of the day's word for it.

Exterior
A deep application of red covers the laser straight panels on this bug.  All gaps are well minded, and the curvature of the rounded fenders is flawless.  While the non-integrated fenders, a design which dates back to the 1920's, are still present, they are attached front and rear by black ribbed rubber covered running boards.  Curved chrome trim spears follow the contour of the beltline and match nicely with the trim spear running the length of the running boards.  Up top, partially obscuring the steel sunroof is a chrome roof rack that holds a pair of picnic baskets and an old skool kewl surfboard, I LOVE it!  The chrome bumpers are nice, and badging is showing just a little wear.  Glass and surrounding trim is good and since this is a pre-elephant footprint taillight car the taillights are in proportion to the car.  Those other tail lights tend to bug me.

Interior
Two tone black and red vinyl door panels with blackened handles and billet style window cranks make the door presentation.  Seen upfront is a molded curved and padded dash in matching red and black.  It is nicely curved and has a radio delete panel in the center, as well as an aftermarket AM/FM/CD player.  Even a bamboo support makes its way across the kick panels under the dash, giving some highlighting to the black and red.  High back buckets with red tuck and roll inserts and black vinyl bolsters bordered by black piping to define the two surfaces, make up the front seats.  The rear bench carries this motif and provides room for 2, albeit cramped for larger folks such as myself.  Red carpet, nicely cleaned with bug floor mats are seen under the seats, and a tight black headliner in vinyl is above framing the pop up sunroof.  Crank up the 4 speaker stereo and drown out the buzzing of the bees.

Drivetrain
Opening the hood, we were blinded by the bling going on in the engine bay.  A louvered mirrored panel sits behind and gives a great view of the 1600cc flat 4-cylinder engine which sports a new air cooling fan and alternator.  Everything on the engine is either polished, red or a natural aluminum finish and clean enough to eat off of.  A 4-speed manual transmission, actuated by the new floor shifter with new shifter bushings is attached to the engine and sends power to the tires via a 4.125 final drive ratio with rebuilt axles.  Our consignor notes the addition of a new fuel pump, sending unit and gauge...that way the fuel gauge won't drive you buggy.  Just the sight of this mechanical masterpiece puts butterflies in my stomach.

Undercarriage
Showing minimal to no wear and only minor traces of road dirt and surface rust down here.  No invasive rust to speak of, it was all handled during the restoration.  New brake lines and a master cylinder help the drum brakes on all 4 corners for good stopping power.  Independent suspension with transverse torsion bars are up front while a swing arm independent suspension is on the rear.  New dual exhaust feeds a new single muffler then out a dual set of tail pipes.  Time to fly off for our test drive!

Drivability
I love getting to drive European cars of yore and this car did not disappoint.  A turn of the key and I was met with those exhaust sounds that only can be heard from an older VW.  The car ran swimmingly, shifted effortlessly, handled corners competently, and came to a halt fast enough to give change thanks to the 4-wheel drum brakes.  I was happier than ants at a country picnic after this drive!

A full-on restoration and minor customization with no stone left unturned.  A striking color combination and 1971 German engineering never looked so good.  Based on past experience with Beetles you had better hurry over to the Classic Auto Mall to beat the swarms of people buzzing around this one.