1974 Volkswagen Beetle 1600

Lot details
Registration No: PKE693M
Chassis No: 1142236989
Mot Expiry: March 2003

Along with the Ford Model T, Citroen 2CV and BMC Austin/Morris Mini, the Volkswagen Beetle is generally reckoned to be one of the elite pack of pop motoring icons. Conceived in the small Stuttgart design office of Dr Ferdinand Porsche, the air-cooled, rear-engined 'People's Wagon', sponsored by the new German Chancellor, one Adolf Hitler prewar, and resurrected by the British in the person of one Army Major Ivan Hirst as part of the Allies postwar rebuilding of bombed out German industry, went on to clock up a 21 million world record production milestone.
Only one standard Beetle was made 1946-1948 with 1131cc flat-four motor, which produced a rather modest 25bhp, and non-synchromesh gearbox. Improvements came to market in a non-stop stream, the 50bhp 1584cc engine option being offered from 1972 in the then brand new 1302 model where MacPerson strut independent front suspension replaced the original torsion bar set-up.
The vendors says that this 1974-manufactured VW, a righthad drive saloon and with the preferred 1584cc engine in the tail, is still in good condition following a full restoration completed in 1992, with photos in the history file recording much of the work carried out. The current spec includes conversion to pre-1967 body panels with gutters removed, an oval rear window, lowered suspension and disc brake conversion. The entrant claims that his much improved Beetle has been well maintained and always garaged.