Car & Classic: a tale of two Beetles

- Car & Classic’s eclectic mix of interesting and sought-after cars spans history and technology

— VW Beetle is one of top ten models searched in 2021 on Car & Classic’s website

— Fully-restored 1974 Beetle in bright yellow has twin Weber setup

— Converted 1972 sage green Beetle is powered by a 120bhp Hyper 9 three-phase unit

Car & Classic’s ever-expanding classified and online auction website is a fertile ground for those seeking classic, wonderful and (sometimes) unusual automotive treasures.

Currently listed for auction are two versions of probably one of the easiest-recognisable models in the world, and an icon in its own right: the Volkswagen Beetle.

The 1974 Rally Yellow Volkswagen Type 1’s careful mechanical and cosmetic restoration, completed in 2007, has been followed by only 10,000 driven miles; the matching-number car was with the same (penultimate) owner for 21 years and is a turnkey classic, with much of its drivetrain replaced or reconditioned and a fresh MOT. A full engine rebuild with new crankshaft and cylinder head also saw the original single carb changed into a twin Weber set up (the original parts are included in the sale).

If driving around in a bright yellow, universally-liked classic car appeals, but current fuel prices are a worry, perhaps a Tesla-powered 1972 Beetle may ‘feed the bug’ more efficiently: also offered on Car & Classic’s online auction site, a suitable alternative could be a Beetle which has recently been converted to electric power by its current owner, the proprietor of EV Retro, who has replaced the traditional air-cooled four-cylinder engine with a 120bhp HyPer 9 three-phase unit. There are five 5.3Kw Tesla modules in the car, giving out 26.6Kw of power in total.

“Despite the latter’s upgrade and lack of familiar engine noise, both Beetles still enjoy the road tax-free Historic Vehicle status, and are equally good examples of Car & Classic’s wide range of offerings within the classic vehicle landscape,” says Car & Classic Head of Editorial Chris Pollitt.

Europe’s largest classified site for classic and niche vehicles, Car & Classic, boasts four million unique users a month and has run over 4,000 auctions since June 2020.

The 1974 Beetle’s auction finishes on 4 March, when that of the 1972 converted Beetle starts.