The 150,000 dollar Beetle (VW 1500)

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The 150,000 dollar Beetle (VW 1500)

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Created on December 21, 2018

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Patrick Ernzen - Courtesy RM/Sotheby's

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Bruno von Rotz

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Volkswagen Presse

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VW 1500 (1968) - for the 1968 model year, the Beetle changed visibly with steep round headlights and new bumpers

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VW 1500 (1968) - this is what the Beetle looked like from summer 1967 in the export version

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VW 1500 (1968) - the rear lights also got bigger

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VW 1500 (1968) - the round shape was responsible for the "Beetle" takeover

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VW 1500 (1968) - cockpit mount with three pedals, so no "automatic"

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VW 1500 (1968) - classic Beetle interior, the upholstered dashboard cost extra in this country

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VW 1500 (1968) - 12 volt on-board voltage was also available from 1968 onwards

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VW 1500 (1968) - only 100 miles on the clock since restoration

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VW 1500 (1968) - the air-cooled four-cylinder boxer engine

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VW 1500 (1968) - Turn signals had already replaced indicators a few years earlier

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VW 1500 (1968) - VW sign and the new air intake opening

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VW 1500 (1968) - finally you could fill up the Beetle from the outside

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VW 1500 (1968) - the new rear lights from model year 1968

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VW 1500 (1968) - the completely restored Beetle

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VW 1300 (1968) - higher bumpers, vertical headlights, exterior mirrors with folding joint - the Beetle becomes safer - Geneva Motor Show 1968

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VW Beetle (1968) - reinforced bumpers were available from August 1967

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VW 1300 (1968) - with larger bumpers and redesigned lights

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VW 1302 (1970) - with upholstered dashboard as it was already part of the comfort equipment before

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VW 1302 (1970) - View into the engine compartment

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VW Beetle (1969) - you know what you've got (advertising)

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VW 1500 Automatic (1968) - Advertising - is it only for Sunday drivers?

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VW 1300 (1969) - in the snow and yet ready to go

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VW 1300 (1969) - in the snow and yet ready to go

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VW 1300 (1969) - in the snow and yet ready to go

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VW 1300 (1969) - in the snow and yet ready to go

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Summary

When the VW Beetle was revised once again in 1967, Volkswagen announced: "There have never been so many innovations". That sounds strange today, because what was meant were just 29 improvements to a vehicle that was definitely getting on in years. However, the fact that a 1968 Beetle was then practically gold-plated had nothing to do with these 29 innovations ... This vehicle report summarizes the improvements made to the Beetle from model year 1968 onwards and tells the story of a particularly beloved example from the States.

This article contains the following chapters

Extensive model upgrade
The small improvements
Automatic as a glimpse into the future
The most modern Beetle to date
Emotional attachment
Elaborate restoration
Further information

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

When the VW Beetle was revised once again in 1967, Volkswagen announced: "There have never been so many innovations". That sounds strange today, because what was meant were just 29 improvements to a vehicle that was definitely getting on in years. And these changes were not the reason why an American practically gold-plated his Beetle, but more of that later. The most visible and most important modifications that Volkswagen made to the Beetle for the 1968 model year were actually due to the Americans and their safety regulations. These included the new, higher-mounted bumpers, the now steeper headlights, the larger rear lights, but above all the safety steering column and the dual-circuit brake system.

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