Unusually clean and mostly original, this 1965 Volkswagen Beetle Type 1 is for sale. This California VW was sold new at McPeak Motor Company in Walnut Creek, California, on August 18th, 1965, to its first owners in Murphy's California. It still wears its original L572 Panama beige paint, rear original-issue black and gold license plate, and original owner's manual, distributor, and service booklets.
The original 1.2L (1192cc) air-cooled flat-4 starts and runs well. The 4-speed manual transmission shifts nicely through the gears. The car was recently serviced at 80,447 miles at our local Sonoma Volkswagen repair shop. The work included a 6,000 Mi service with a tune-up, oil change, valve adjustment, Lube, brake check and adjust light check, and various miscellaneous items, making it ready to enjoy.
The original exterior has held up beautifully after 60 years! The factory Panama beige paint still has a nice shine, and the chrome, stainless steel, and lenses are still present nicely. All of the glass, including the windshield, has the VW logo, and even the running board rubber looks to be original. The car currently wears a vintage set of Denman Elegante whitewalls, 5.60-15, with roughly 50% tread that should be replaced due to age.
The inside of the car is primarily original, though the front seats were recovered years ago in standard vinyl, likely before the now widely available factory-style replacement options. The car still has its original rubber floormat, headliner, cards, door panels, etc.
Under the rear seat, wearing its original upholstery, I found the factory paper tag tucked in the springs and factory chalk marks in the battery cavity area. Reproduction of front seat covers and new factory-style rubber matting will make an enormous difference. All systems are in working order except the factory radio, which powers up yet has no sound.
This is the most well-preserved Type 1 VW I have ever had in my 20+ career as the owner of Left Coast Classics!
While we cannot document the low mileage shown on this special Type 1, several clues tell me that the 80,481 miles are more than likely accurate, making this a pretty exceptional preservation-class Beetle.
Be sure to check out all 400+ photos and the video below. Call or text Donn with questions, shipping, and financing options. 707-332-8331. For loan pre-approval visit https://www.lightstream.com/apply
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