1955 VW Beetle Dual Control Drivers Ed Car - Two Cool!

1955 VW Beetle Dual Control Drivers Ed car – Two Cool!

Rarest of rare! Absolutely crazy! Totally unbelievable! Call it what you want. but you will probably never see another oval window beetle like this again in your lifetime! The looks I get in my 21-window bus. my Isetta and my Ferrari pale in comparison to this car.   I know of only one other in existence and it was located and photographed back in 1999 in Portugal by Bob of BBT Belgium (I have the photo in hand). To see pictures and read about MY car. please Google “1955 VW dual control car. ”  This Oldbug. com ad is the website from which I purchased the car a little over two years ago. It was owned by a well- known Southern California car collector and I have driven it about 200 miles since then.   Please note. the seller's asking price was merely the point where the bidding war began.

What the ad doesn't tell you….

The only true difference between my car and one that was actually used and operated as an official Driver's Ed car is just that! My VW was purchased brand new in the summer of 1955 at Competition Motors in Hollywood. California by a Mr. William O'Neil.  Mr. O'Neil would go on to be the only owner/driver of this incredible piece of automotive history for the next 51 years! Meanwhile. in the 80's. an avid car collector - who happened to live in the neighborhood - became good friends with the owner and was promised first shot at purchasing the car should he ever decide to part with it.  Many years later. in 2006. old age and poor health unfortunately led to the original owner's death where upon it was sold as promised to the neighbor.  Now the new owner could realize his dream. You see. after years of exhaustive searches. he had managed to locate all the factory VW parts to do just as Volkswagon did back in the 50's – convert a vintage 50's Beetle to a Driver's Education car. Back in the 50's. the VW factory significantly discounted or donated beetles to high schools. Driver's Ed schools. etc. to promote the VW brand and product to grow sales throughout the world.  In order to convert these cars. they contracted with a German manufacturer named Werner-Degner to design and implement a VW SPECIFIC pedal cluster to enable the driving instructor to take full control should an emergency occur during a lesson. The VW factory provided the ultra-rare dual rear view mirror/visor. as well as an additional steering box/steering wheel/steering column. etc.   The entire conversion was then performed by a factory trained mechanic at an authorized VW dealership.   So. at the end of the day. NO – this 1955 VW Beetle Driver's Ed car was never actually used (or should I say abused) by 15-year old student drivers. it was just pampered for 51 years by one caring senior citizen owner. then converted. ABSOLUTELY THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS!

Even if this wasn't a dual control Driver's Ed car. it would still be one of the most well-documented. 58-year old beetles you could ever hope to find.   So….   

LIST OF COOL ORIGINAL OWNER “STUFF"

Besides the fact that only one. caring. California owner drove this beetle for over 51 years….

Besides the fact that this beetle has an incredibly original patina to it….

AND BESIDES IT IS WHAT IT IS!

I also have:  Registration slips dating back to 1956; the original owner's manual; the original distributors/dealers location pamphlet; original service/warranty booklet with the chassis and engine #'s handwritten by the salesman back in the summer of 1955; records dating back to at least 1960; an unused. “still sealed” 1986 license plate sticker (car was in storage from 1981-2006); and maybe the coolest thing (if you remember these) are 1963 Black/Yellow miniature license plate key fobs (3) with “QAY 916. ” These were sold on behalf of the Disabled American Veterans Association in 1963 when the new black/yellow plates first came out in California.   Also. I have a notepad showing the date. mileage. and number of gallons of gas Mr. O'Neil put in his beetle covering decades of driving documenting the original low mileage of only 142. XX (Remember it was stored for 25 years (1981-2006)

In addition. I also have all the records from the second owner/collector for the complete matching #/original engine rebuild. all new brakes. new interior including new door panels. seat covers. German square weave carpeting. pillows. mohair headliner. etc.

I also have a copy of the pastor's eulogy from the original owner's funeral so you get an idea of what a neat guy Mr. O'Neil was! This ultra-rare car has only been entered in one car show over the past 58 years – September 11. 2011. where it took 1st Place in Class (the Southern California Vintage Treffen).   I purchased it shortly thereafter.   This is truly the ultimate OMG car. Every person that sees it absolutely freaks out and thinks it's the coolest VW they've ever seen – this includes everyday people and hardcore VW nuts as well.   Even my 92-year old mother loves it! And she doesn't even like cars!

If you would like to add this once in a lifetime offering to your collection. please feel free to bid – you will NOT be disappointed – just blown away every time you walk out to the garage to look at it!

Reason for selling:  We are in the beginning stages of remodeling our beach house and it's costing us significantly more than we had anticipated so I am selling some of my vintage cars. I am retired. so please feel free to set up an appointment to view this incredible. one-of-a-kind car.

PLEASE NOTE: Payment in full will be due within 72 hours and buyer will take full responsibility for transporting.   Please call me directly for more information and details. My phone number is 916-220-2460. I WILL NOT respond to emails! Thanks and good luck.

Also published at eBay.com

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