1972 Volkswagen Beetle

With just four owners from new and freshly refurbished, this Beetle offers a cost-effective way into classic VW ownership.

While a few hours spent tidying up a few small areas (detailing the engine bay, for example, would transform that area, as would restoring the steering wheel and repainting the steel wheels) would pay dividends, the hard work has been done and the car goes as well as it looks. 

It’s only for sale as its owner has too many cars; like so many of us, his classic collection is constrained by a lack of garage space, forcing the reluctant sale of his treasured Beetle.

In 2013, the Beetle received four new wings, a horn grille and both front and rear valances; the car was resprayed in an authentic period orange at the same time at a cost of almost £3,000. The work was carried out by respected marque experts South West Classic VWs, and, as you can see, the work is holding up very well indeed - and is likely to do so for some time to come thanks to the simultaneous application of lashings of Waxoyl underneath and within.

All the brightwork – and there’s a lot of it - is in similarly good condition and sets the paintwork off nicely.

The dashboard must be the simplest we’ve seen for a long time, which adds considerably to this car’s period charm. The single large instrument, and twin-spoke, thin-rimmed steering wheel are a far cry of the sort of over-blown, faux retro interior that blights the new Beetle.

This car has been subtly updated with retrimmed seats and door panels, in blue and grey vinyl respectively. Both have been piped in orange to coordinate with the car’s exterior paintwork.

The rear seats were retrofitted with rear seat belts in 2011, making this a safe, and hugely entertaining, four-seater ideal for runs to the beach, café or local car meet. If it were ours, we’d be scouring eBay for a period wood ‘n’ chrome roofrack to pop a surfboard on…

The Beetle benefits from a reconditioned engine, fitted in 2014 by South West Classic VWs of South Molton, Devon. As a result, it starts “on the button, first time, every time” according to its owner.

Since then, the car has done under 2,500 miles, so the new owner will profit from a nicely run-in engine, with the all reliability that should confer.

While the history is a bit patchy, the receipts for the recent bodywork and engine should reassure owners of the quality of the work undertaken.

Good Beetles are hard to find, and while this isn’t a concours car, the reconditioned engine and extensive bodywork restoration should mean that the new owner has dodged two of the larger bills that are inevitable when you buy and run any classic car.

We can see this Beetle being used and improved over the years, with a series of careful and sensible modifications and upgrades being made as components wear, slowly turning the Beetle into a car that is fully fit to face the challenges and rigours of 21st century driving.

The car can be viewed in SE London, to arrange please use the 'Contact Seller' button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions in the comments or view our frequently asked questions below.