1966 Volkswagen Beetle

This vehicle has the chassis number 117161187 and is showing

56,105 miles on the odometer.

A UK market RHD 1966 Beetle was the basis for this Herbie replica.

Early flat-screen Beetles, while built in their millions, are rare in RHD form and most have succumbed to corrosion and sheer neglect.

While this low mileage example is a survivor, it hasn’t escaped the attentions of either time and oxidisation.

The car will require some recommissioning but, being a ‘Beetle’, this shouldn’t be too difficult.

Its last MOT was issued in 2007 but the car is believed to have covered very few miles since, having been a ‘museum’ exhibit.

The car has come to us from the now defunct London Motor Museum and is offered for sale on the instruction of a high court ruling.

Like virtually all other Herbie replicas out there, this one didn’t feature in any Disney film or TV productions that we’re aware of.

Also, we’ve noticed that it doesn’t speak or drive itself, so it can’t be the real one.

White with all the expected stripes and numbers, this Herbie has managed to avoid bending its panels or picking up too many dents, dinks, creases or folds over the years.

Clearly, though, it’s been rather less successful in fending off corrosion.

There are superficial spots of rust in many places, notably over the front luggage compartment hood.

Elsewhere, particularly around the engine bay, the rear wheel arches, the headlights, the running boards and the front wings, the rust is decidedly less superficial and has created holes here and there.

The chrome work is foxed, pitted and corroded in places.

The wheels, chrome work aside, look to be in decent nick, including the spare.

These bodywork issues, though not terminal by any means, will need looking at sooner rather than later.

Clearly, you’ll need to see for yourself and reach your own conclusions.

The inside is functional and spartan in the early Beetle way.

The front seats have retained their structural integrity and are fairly comfortable and supportive. There’s a rip in the backrest on the driver’s seat.

The rear seats are a bit dusty, but otherwise OK as far as we can see.

The dashboard is in decent nick, although there’s the odd touch of rust dust in one or two places, as there is elsewhere on the car’s interior metal surfaces – particularly the tops of the sills.

We haven’t tried to start or drive the car, so we can’t vouch for the efficacy of any dials, levers, knobs, switches, levers or gauges.

The door cards are in fair condition, the headlining is discoloured and stained in several places.

There’s some corrosion in evidence underneath, but it’s hard to say how much if any is much more than superficial.

Again, you’ll need to see it for yourself to assess the full extent and significance of it.

We can’t see anything that overly troubles us in the engine bay, aside from the fact that the oily bits look a bit too oily.

We know it’s been in a ‘museum’ for quite a few years and we know that it has been a running, working vehicle at some point in the not-too-distant past.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

Take all the stripes, numbers and ‘Disney’ stuff off and what you’ve got is a rare survivor of a RHD early flat-screen Beetle.

No, it’s not perfect.

In fact, it’s a long way from perfect and, if you really want Herbie to ‘ride again’, you’ll need to spend some time and money on him.

In the end, though, it could well be worth the effort.

We are happy to offer this vehicle for auction with no reserve and an estimate in the range of £3,000 - £6,000.

The car is located at a secure storage facility in Northampton; it is not possible to view the car before the auction end. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’