1971 Volkswagen Beetle

Registered on the 16th of November 1971, this wonderfully retro Beetle is finished in the two-tone colour scheme of sky blue and cream. In the care of the owner since August 2017, it was fully restored in 2013-14.

The work was extensive and included many new body panels, a full respray, a rebuilt engine and gearbox, and some choice mechanical upgrades to help it better cope with 21st roads and traffic.

Fitted with the 1300cc engine, it also has one of the most interesting and amusing interiors we’ve ever seen. Being offered with a very sensible reserve, this is your opportunity to get your hands on an iconic car to enjoy this summer.

The restoration work in 2013-14 included new floor heater channels, new wings and doors, and new glass seals. It was then painted in sky blue and cream, inside and out, including the underside.

As you can see in the video and comprehensive photo album, the bodywork on this delightful Beetle is holding up very well despite now being half-a-dozen years old.

It’s clear that whoever painted it knew what they were doing, as the panel alignment is every bit as good as the paintwork. It’s been looked after too because there’s a complete absence of dents and other damage; bar the odd small mark, the bodywork could have been restored only a couple of years ago rather than six.

The chromework is only lightly pitted, and would almost certainly polish up very nicely with a couple of hours elbow grease and some Autosol.

The steel wheels were powdercoated and are still in good shape. They were fitted with new chrome hubcaps too, all of which are still shiny and bright even if the nearside rear one is dented.

The rear tyres at 205/65R15 are slightly bigger than the front pair, a change that gives it a subtle, nose-down, tail-up stance that we really like. All four tyres have good tread and have been fitted with ‘Atlas’ whitewall trims.

Interestingly, the nearside door is fitted with two-piece glass, which includes an opening quarterlight. On the other hand, the offside door is fitted with one-piece glass. However, the Beetle comes with spare glass, so the new owner will be able to match them in whichever style they prefer.

The car also comes with other spares including a painted nearside rear wing. Please see the photographs for full details of what is provided.

Problems are few: There is a rust bubble to the offside of the front wing where it meets the bonnet, there are a couple of cracks to the paint near the offside headlight, some of the headlamp mounting screws are rusty, and the front number plate has seen better days.

However, bar the rust bubble that will need attention, if it were ours we’d chalk the few issues that remain down to a developing patina and just get on with enjoying driving it.

The interior features two black low-back bucket seats in the front, along with the standard rear bench seat in the back. The driver and passenger are held in place with four-point OMP racing harnesses, while the rear is fitted with conventional safety belts.

The sporting theme is further developed by way of the steering wheel, which is a fat-rimmed, small diameter jobbie. Other modifications include an aftermarket bracket with three red switches installed and a handbrake that has been painted to match the dashboard and exterior.

And yet, this is very far from being a mildly customised interior because the headlining, parcel shelf, and the front bulkhead are covered in Minions. Notoriously faithful little creatures, the owner assures us that they’re all set to serve their new (despicable) master...

The carpets were new when the car was restored, and they are still in a good condition. Lifting them reveals the floor has been covered in Dynamat sound-deadening, a nice touch that gives the Volkswagen a touch of refinement that would have been missing when it was new.

The door cards were new too, and they have been fitted with some very nice upgraded window winder handles. A new wiring loom was also fitted during the restoration.

Aside from the Minions lining the bulkhead, the Beetle’s front ‘boot’ is also fitted with a pair of speakers, making the VW ideal for beach barbecues and impromptu open-air parties.

It’s very clean in there too, and beautifully organised, so no matter what your feelings about the presence of dozens of yellow cartoon characters, there’s no denying the quality of workmanship that went into crafting it.

Problems? Well, the headlining has come adrift on the rear offside corner, the trim on the C-pillars is a little wrinkled at the rear and has a couple of rips along the side, there are a couple of small holes to the vinyl on the base of the passenger’s seat, one of the driver’s door stays has broken and the nearside door trim looks to be missing some clips .

The engine and gearbox were rebuilt as part of the car’s restoration a few years ago. The work included new pistons, rings, and barrels plus a rebuilt carburettor. As you can see and hear on the attached video, the engine starts, runs and revs very well.

Other mechanical work and upgrades made at the time include new front and rear adjustable beams, a front brake disc conversion with new hubs, calipers, discs, spindles and hoses, and refurbished rear brakes that included new shoes, backing plates, wheel cylinders and pipes. The Beetle was also fitted with a new fuel tank, alternator, and clutch kit.

The Beetle was then fitted with an electronic distributor, and a 55amp alternator and regulator, in 2017

The owner tells us that the Beetle “starts on the button” and “drives extremely well”, both of which we can confirm as being true following a brief test drive.

The underside looks to be strong and tidy bar for some straggly wiring to the horn.

The Beetle doesn’t have a current MOT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have the car re-MOT’d at the earliest. The cost of an MOT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic car, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

Having said that, its MOT only expired in May 2018 and the online MOT history doesn’t show anything of any concern.

It comes with a number of expired MOT certificates plus a thick sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it over the years.

It also has two keys and a copy of ‘How To Keep Your Volkswagen Alive’.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been restored to a very good standard.

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.

NB. We know that many of you will be limiting your social exposure over the coming days and weeks, so if you’d rather not come to see the car in person, please give us a call and we can shoot a personal video of the car honing in on any areas you’d like us to concentrate on.

Or, even better, why not contact us with your mobile number and we can set up a WhatsApp video call? You get to direct us in real-time, giving you a virtual personal viewing experience while maintaining the lockdown. We like to call it ‘The Market’s 2020 Vision’…

There are probably millions of old Beetles still giving faithful service to their adoring owners across the world, and there are probably tens of thousands of them for sale at any one time - and some of them are very nice indeed.

Like this one. Recently restored, beautifully painted, and gently customised, it also contains flashes of humour that aren’t immediately noticeable to the casual viewer.

Utterly solid, it is in need of only minor cosmetic fettling as and when time and funds permit, so would make an ideal daily driver for a Beetle enthusiast who is looking for an opportunity to add value as they enjoy life with one of the nicer examples we’ve seen in a while.

And it won’t be expensive either; while the previous owner lavished vast sums on it to bring it to the condition you see today, it will probably only sell for somewhere between £7,000 and £12,000, which is outstanding value for a car that will make you smile every single time you use it.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Footman James for classic car insurance Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car and AnyVan for transporting it.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive.

Also, localised paint repairs are common with collectable and classic cars and if they have been professionally carried out then they may be impossible to detect, even if we see the car in person. So, unless we state otherwise, please assume that any vehicle could have had remedial bodywork at some point in its life.

 Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.

Please note that this is sold as seen and that, as is normal for used goods bought at auction, the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. See our FAQs for more info, and feel free to inspect any vehicle as much as you wish.