1955 Volkswagen Beetle

The seller writes that this 1955 Volkswagen Type 1 Sedan, universally known as a Beetle, was restored with some updates by the previous owner, and mechanically refreshed fewer than 1,000 miles ago. The car is reported to have an updated, later 1,600-cc engine with an EMPI Quick Shift kit and EMPI disc brakes on the front wheels. Despite the recent restoration, the seller elected to have the exterior refinished in dark blue with wine red side panels to match the interior, and says this Beetle is in stunning condition inside and out, with -some small wear from usage.-  The engine in this 1955 VW Beetle has been upgraded to a 1.6-liter, air-cooled OHV horizontally opposed four. - the engine was last rebuilt 2,500 miles ago by the previous owner. No power figures are provided. The engine starts from cold with no smoke but needs time until it is warm like all Volkswagens, states the seller, and runs perfectly after it's warm. The four-speed manual transaxle with an EMPI Quick Shift kit is a big improvement and shifts quick and clean without any problems. Any leaks or weeps beneath the car are described as, only a few drops here and there, after standing in the garage. The dark blue exterior finish was redone five months ago with base- and clearcoat on a rust free- body, but the wine red exterior dates to the restoration. Both the exterior and the underside of the floorpans can be seen in the photos provided. The seller writes that the refinish speaks for itself, with minimal blemishes and no swirls. Only surface rust on the screw heads of the underside of the pan are pointed out. - that this is normal for a 'driver,' and can be easily polished away. All plated trim can be seen in the photos as complete and polished, except for a missing badge on the nose of the Beetle, which comes with the car. Slight modifications include stone guards over the headlights, fog lamps mounted on the front bumper, and a reverse light on the rear, as well as polished stone guards protecting the edges of the front and rear fenders. The glass is clear and in good condition with no cracks. The seals were all renewed by the previous owner and you still need force to close the doors, as evidence of how tightly the car is sealed. All lights are said to work perfectly, including the semaphore turn indicators mounted on the B-pillars as also shown in the photos. The taillight bulbs have been updated with indicators for increased safety - The wine red vinyl interior has been upgraded and is described as in good condition, almost like new with minimal wear from use. The seats and door panels are covered in red with creme piping over white seat frames. More contrast is provided by the ivory steering wheel, door hardware, brake handle and shifter knob. Some cracking, consistent with the age of the vehicle, can been seen on close inspection of the steering wheel. All interior trim is described as complete. The special carpeting and protective mats look like new, and are made from material imported from Italy . The dashboard and window and door surrounds are painted dark blue, with polished trim surrounding the minimal gauges and ashtray. The gauges are said to be all working. The headliner is also described as like new, and all lights are reported to work. The window lifts and locks are manual. There is no radio, no heat, or air conditioning. - The steering wheel points straight, and the car drives straight with minimal play in the manual steering, . He also writes that the suspension was renewed completely during the restoration and is absolutely perfect for the car. Stiffer Boge Automatic shocks have been fitted to all four corners. No issues are reported with either the suspension or the brakes, which the seller describes as the best brakes ever! Five-spoke cast-alloy wheels with a wide bolt pattern can be seen in the photos. No marks are visible on the wheels, although the VW emblem is missing on the center cap of the driver's-side front wheel. The unidentified tires are described as 2-3 years old with 80 to 90 percent of tread remaining. I writes that the car is driven only up to 50-60 mph as a daily driver compatible with city traffic and all is good up to that speed. The previous owner did a complete restoration before I got the car. I had the car resprayed, and now I need to pass it along because I'm really too tall for the car and for me it's not a long-distance car. It's an amazing city cruiser. With the modifications, this is car is perfect in the city; small and quick.