Older Restoration/Very Nice Paint/Factory Sunroof/Rebuilt 1200cc 4-Cylinder

1963 Volkswagen Beetle Coupe

What started off as a brainchild of a dictator, only 2 decades later became the juxtaposed icon of the peace movement. The Beetle really is a fantastic car for everyone, from the learners to the pensioners, it's so easy to maintain and great to drive. There really is so much more to find out when it comes to the beetle. Keep an eye out for them, from the original to the latest bug-eyed beauty, you really never know where one will pop up.

And pop right up it has, right out of the blue with this 1963 Beetle. It retains the correct rebuilt 1200cc power train with a 12-volt system as well. A restoration 10 years ago has left the exterior paint in wonderful shape, and it is mechanically sound, 59 years old and still plenty of flower power!

Exterior
Now bathed in cream white, this bug has in the writer's opinion the nicest line since the split window departure. A wonderful profile can be seen on the side view, and in particular that rear deck from the roof to the rear bumper…it is simply sexy. Small taillights remain which adds to the mystique, and a simple rear bumper is noted, all beautiful. Up front the panels are straight, the front bumper is just as simple, and round headlights with chrome visors bugeye themselves out from fenders that are rounded in a shape that only an English wheel could really reproduce, but certainly a German press could pump out by the tens of thousands. All rubber seals and exterior piping for the bumper seams in black are looking good as well. Chrome is excellent and was replaced if needed or polished at the same time of the body redux. The window surrounds and seals are good, and glass is clean and clear. Up top is a manually operated crank back steel sunroof, an option that appeared after August 1963. As a matter of fact, the only flaw that attracted this writer's eyes is some delamination of the chrome on the corner of the rear bumper. Cream white steel wheels with dog dish style moon caps in their centers complete the look on the bottom on all 4 corners.
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Interior
A swing of the door and we see white metal painted surrounding a mix of horizontally ribbed vinyl panel in cream and emberglo, complete with the door handle window crank, map pocket, and a vinyl door pull/armrest. Dual emberglo vinyl seats are covered in broad tuck and roll vinyl and lots of clean cream piping. The rear seat is a long bench and stretches from C pillar to C pillar. Tan carpet is on the floors, and this carpet appears again on the front kick panels. A simple cream white painted dash with circular speedometer and square gas gauge sit within the vertical ribbed speaker area which is fronted by an original steering wheel in good condition and shows off the Wolfsberg logo within the chrome 2 spoke horn pad. A wooden Jesus bar is noted in front of the passenger and just below is a glovebox. A Bendix Sapphire 1 AM radio is also mounted in the dash and shows very well with brown knobs and cream bakelite buttons. The headliner is white and is nice and tight in its perforated pattern providing the backdrop for the manually operated sunroof.

Drivetrain
A cleaned up and rebuilt 1200cc horizontally opposed 4-cylinder engine sits in the rear of this car. It has a 1-barrel carb on top, and a 4-speed manual transmission which turns the rear tires via a 4.375 final drive. The engine appears to be the original and has a clean wiring harness, ducting, and hoses.

Undercarriage
Minor surface rust is attaching itself to the untreated areas of the flooring and just a bit on the suspension, which shows as transverse torsion bars upfront and swing arm with torsion bars on the rear. Floor pans are totally rust free, showing some signs of previous repair and patching, and are all nice and black. Drum brakes are noted on all 4 corners and a stock style exhaust system, looking nearly new handles the fumes effectively.

Drive-Ability
This car fired right up and gave that nice tinny sound only a rear engine VW can give. It shifted smoothly and cornered as it should. It provided a nice ride, and even the simple interior was comfortable with plenty of interior room, Sehr Gut!

A good restoration with a few stones left unturned, but not anything to write home about. Nice paint, interior and a good runner, a classic and sounding like it 63 V-Dub. California here we come!