1965 Volkswagen Beetle Deluxe – Today’s Tempter

By: Alex Affat, Unique Cars magazine

Date: 19.07.2018

Might not be for everyone but we reckon it’s got a bucket load of character!

For more than 50 years, the humble Volkswagen Beetle has been praised and celebrated for its simple engineering and reliability in a ground-breaking for the time package that was spacious and usable.

It was essentially born an icon, and is still desired for its ease of maintenance as well as its charm. Dubbed "the people’s car", it was a worldwide pioneer in attainable personal motoring.

Beetles also found just as much favour with customisers and modifiers as it did with the mainstream enthusiast, and while it may not be to everyone’s taste, this bug looks like it came straight out of the height of 70s Californian cruising culture.

But while it looks like it just came back from the surf in sunny Venice Beach; this 1965 Deluxe is a genuine Australian-delivered rag-top from factory.

In true SoCal hot rod fashion, it’s been fitted with a later-model 1641cc TwinPort engine with Twin Kadron Solex carbies. Up front, the front axle and suspension has been narrowed and lowered while the body on top has been given the divisive patina treatment, along with scalloped pinstriping and a few period MoonEyes stickers as a further nod to its classic Americana influences.

While the outside looks distressed, the inside is near faultless, with original seats and doors retrimmed with red vinyl and white piping.

The car still features drum brakes at all four corners, but should be a heap of fun with the TwinPort motor and four-speed manual.

The car is on offer from The Healey Factory in Melbourne and is listed for $21,500.

You can check out the full listing here!

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