CALIFORNIACLASSIX Fantastic, Original 1964 Volkswagen Beetle

1964 Volkswagen Beetle - Classic Description

Beloved by multiple generations of motorists, the Volkswagen Beetle is an automobile icon. Defying comparison with other means of transportation, naked data of horsepower, acceleration, and maximum speed is all but secondary to the true vintage VW enthusiast.

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A classic Volkswagen Beetle offers everything one ever needs from a car, not more, not less. Without black boxes, oxygen sensors, power options, and electronic gimmicks most people nowadays believe they can't live without, it is as pure and basic as one could imagine and, if treated well, destined to live forever.

The '64 Beetle featured here has been a California resident from new. Service records, going back to 1979, indicate that it was owned for the past 37 years by the same couple residing in Simi Valley until 1997 before moving to beautiful Oak View in the countryside between Ventura and Ojai. This one's the proverbial "local little old Lady" car!

There are at least 85 pages of maintenance receipts, neatly filed in chronological order in a dedicated three-ring binder. It appears that the odometer is on its third go-around; the records perfectly illustrate the conscientious service regimen this '64 has always enjoyed. Engine and transmission were rebuilt during the years, tires, clutch, brakes, and other consumables saw timely replacement, and in 1988, the car was converted to a 12-Volt electrical system.

The owner opted for the pretty blue-and-gold license plates sometime in the early 1970s. Today, collectors are allowed to buy and install the old black plates again within the Y.O.M. program. Interestingly, the quintessential six-digit, blue-and-gold California plates from the Seventies are unavailable and can thus only be found on true survivor cars that were able to hang on to them for at least 35 years. Talk about rare!

Trunk is clean, with a spiffy wiring cover and an equally nice cardboard liner. Also included are factory jack and a lug wrench, as well as a spare generator belt.
Note factory "Panama Beige" paint sticker lurking through the center opening of the -- matching -- spare.

Most importantly, the vulnerable "nose" section is wrinkle-free. Many Bugs show signs of accident damage here. Not this one!

Almost unheard of, this 52-year-old can proudly show off its original floor pans. Still carrying their black factory coating, they have never been painted, never been undercoated. What you see here are the factory finishes from 1964. We were tempted to remove the touch of surface oxidation, but in the end decided to display the undercarriage au naturel and unmolested, as it can be found only in very dry places like Southern California and Arizona, displaying a patina only time (and a benevolent climate) can create.

Almost unreal: half-century old finish underneath the original fenders.

Many of these wonderful old Beetles are still being heavily modified by well-meaning but clueless juvenile owners, lowered and customized beyond the boundaries of good taste, often to the point of no return. Rarely will you find a car that has been allowed to age gracefully. A car that has never needed restoration, like this one. It features rust-and-bubble-free coachwork, nice paint with only light signs of age and use, excellent weatherstripping, good glass, shiny chrome with just a few bumper dings, stock rims, and a new set of radial tires.

Beautiful, correct headliner is a recent replacement; sunviors are original.

All the information you need, housed in one central, easy-to-read instrument, the radio being pure luxury.

Brick red interior is all new. Seat belt buckles show chromed Wolfsburg castle logo.

Never been used: the rear bench seat.

Now, let's guide our attention to the back of the car and have a closer look at the engine compartment, shall we?

Engine bay is super clean, with correct tar-paper-based sound deadening mat. Engine number *D222941* decodes as a 1,192cc (1.2-liter) with 34 horsepower. It's fair to assume that this is the correct engine for the car.

There are no fluid leaks, no exhaust smoke. Considering the way this Bug cruises easily at California's elevated freeway speeds, it's quite possible that an 1.6-liter cylinder-kit has been installed, invisible to the naked eye.

Driving this classic Beetle is a pleasure that needs to be experienced in order to be fully appreciated!
Turn the ignition key and the 4-cylinder boxer starts instantly, cold or hot. Idle is stable, the sound simply heavenly. Throttle response is crisp, much like that of a contemporary Porsche 356 "1600 Normal." Step on the gas pedal and this Bug effortlessly scoots along, strong enough to run with the big boys in the passing lane!

Everything on this car is clean, tuned, balanced, and well taken care of. Driving it, we get thumbs up wherever we go, even in VIP-studded Montecito, the part of Santa Barbara Oprah Winfrey chooses to call home. Fuel consumption? About one gallon every 30 miles!

Handling is precise, shifter engages with the characteristic "click" of a Ferrari gate shifter, and the car just emanates the joy of simpler times.
It's currently licensed and ready to be driven anywhere, across the country if that's where you live. We trust it to continue to perform flawlessly, like a Swiss watch, with just minimal, regular maintenance.

Given the sheer number of Beetles produced, it seems impossible to comprehend the cold, hard truth that finding one so unmodified and well-sorted has become increasingly difficult, even in sunny Southern California. You'd have to look at dozens of promising candidates to find one that has been left alone and essentially stock so you'll be able to show your kids and grandkids what a Beetle really was meant to look like, way back then.

If you are ready for an inexpensive classic, an automobile icon that's easy to live with, yet will make you smile everytime you get behind the wheel, please consider our '64. You won't regret it!

You are most welcome and encouraged to view this fine automobile in Ventura, by appointment, during the auction, or have someone inspect it for you. Please, perform your due diligence before you bid.

Please, note that this car is currently advertised on our Web site and on display in our Showroom. We reserve the right to accept a satisfactory offer and close this auction at any time.

Please, direct all inquiries to bill@californiaclassix.com or call us at 805-653-5551.

• By bidding in this auction, you declare that you have read and accept the Terms of this Sale as outlined below.
• If you have any questions, please ask them before you bid. After the auction has ended, the sale is final.
• Please, only bid on this car if you are serious about owning it and have the necessary funds readily available!
  We require a $1,000 deposit to be paid via PayPal within 24 hours of the end of the auction and the balance to be paid via bank wire transfer (or in cash) within 5 business days, unless other arrangements have been agreed upon during the auction.
• The car comes with a clear California Certificate of Title. It is smog exempt and sold "as is, where is" with no warranty stated or implied. Mileage stated above is the current odometer reading.
• You fully understand that you are not bidding on an "option to buy" this vehicle. You bid to own! There are no contingencies.
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