1972 Volkswagen Beetle - Classic Super Beetle Convertible

Lower price. no reserve. no buy-it-now.   If you bid you are going to buy it.   I need to sell this one.

This 1972 Super Beetle convertible was purchased by my father in 1973 off the VW dealership showroom floor in Athens. Ohio.   He and the superbug relocated to Houston in 1975. when work moved him down here.   Garaged for its entire life and driven daily until his sudden passing in 2009. this was a very loved car.   Until recently the superbug has been garaged with the gas drained from the tank.   The owner is now reducing his fleet of vehicles and will be selling all but 2 of the current suite of 6 cars. This superbug has been repainted and restored twice during my father's ownership. but would currently benefit from a full restoration.   The vehicle is sound and completely roadworthy. if not exactly weather tight after 45 years of service.   The windshield has a crack but has passed a Texas vehicle safety inspection with it.

The superbug has 175. 00 original miles on the odometer and the odometer has turned over only the once.   There is a maintenance log in the glove box that documents most everything ever done to her since 1984 (the first log book is now lost) and even every tank of gas put in her since then.   The original motor was borrowed for a rear-engine-mount transporter. as it was a universal block. and the engine replaced with a rebuilt motor out of a 1974 Karman Ghia coupe in 1979 at 101. 00 miles.   That second motor now has 74. 00 miles on it since that rebuild.   The 1600 cc engine is basically factory original. has the twin port heads and intake manifold. and has not been modified with any kind of oversized pistons and cylinders.   Factory stock gives awesome longevity. especially with the newer one piece stainless exhaust valves.   The engine should NOT self-destruct at 100. 00 miles like the old two-piece carbon steel exhaust valves would do.   The last thing done to the engine was to pull and replace both heads with rebuilt heads from BAP-GEON at 164. 00 miles (10. 00 miles ago). as one of the first rebuilt heads extruded its glued-in aluminum decompression ring. a common problem with poorly rebuilt heads of that era.   Cold dry compression on the current engine with 10. 00 miles on the new heads and literally no mileage since being returned to service after 7 years of dry storage was 105-95-125-125 psi on cylinders 1-4. and it just got a full tune-up and had the oil changed.

Currently the superbug has a brand new battery. brand new Kumho 185/65-15 radials on freshly painted OEM steel rims. new McPherson strut cartridges and new ball joints.   This is a Super Beetle with the McPherson strut front end. not the older Beetle with front end torsion bars. and because of that it actually has a hood you can put things in.   The superbug just got a complete brake replacement. including new wheel cylinders. new flexible brake lines. a new master cylinder. and new brake shoes.   The front wheel bearings were repacked at the same time.   The motor has a new centrifugal advance distributor (no vacuum advance) using points and has been retrofitted with an early model carburetor without the ‘hesitation' issues that late model emissions controlled carbs had.   She runs very well on the freeway. but like all older VW's. is a bit drippy and at 74. 00 miles on her last rebuild could probably use a new front main seal.   She has not been steam cleaned or in any way prettied or gussied up for this sale.

The frame under her appears to be in great condition - yes. being a convertible. she has a frame under the belly pan so that nothing folds in half when both doors are open at the same time.   The belly pan appears intact with the exception of the rear portion of the belly pan under the battery (under the passenger side rear seat). which needs to be replaced. but after 45 years of battery acid leaks. all original Beetles share this issue.   She has a number of nicks and dents. and at one point was damaged in the right front. but was completely rebuilt from that accident.   She is completely roadworthy as she sits. and she should give good service for a number of years in her current condition.   Like all old convertibles. she will leak rain on you. and I personally don't think any restoration can ever completely eliminate that.   Bottom line. there is no need to ship this car. simply drive it home and have a bunch of fun doing so.

If fully restored she could be an awesome fair weather vehicle.   There is no warranty or guarantee of any kind. and the buyer assumes all responsibility for picking up the vehicle from its current location in Houston. Texas.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask.

Also published at eBay.com

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