It’s no surprise that people toss away perfectly good cars on a daily basis. I know this for a fact, as I’ve now rescued three vehicles from junkyards, and while all of the vehicles had some needs, two of the three came back to life and one is showing signs of being savable. This 1971 Volkswagen Beetle is another example of a classic that wasn’t done providing reliable service, but the longtime original owner felt their only option was to dump it at the local salvage yard. Thankfully, the owner of the yard bought it to save it from being scrapped, and the current owner is a VW restoration shop that got wind of the car and brought it back to life. You’ll find the resurrected Beetle here on eBay with a $6,000 Buy-It-Now and the option to submit a best offer.
Now, that’s not to say there aren’t situations that develop beyond the control of owners, who are then forced to make tough decisions about keeping an aging vehicle when the cost of a repair matches the down payment on a trouble-free ride. This Beetle ended up at the junkyard once its owner of 47 years decided to move and deducted that their trusted steed could not make the trip with them. The car was obviously tired, with dead paint, loads of surface rust, dented fenders, and other faults that come with being a very well used car. Take a look at the after photo up above and it’s incredible to see how much of the original paint bounced back to a lovely dark-green luster, which was then clear-coated once suitably sanded down.
The interior was also beyond salvation, revealing the impact of years of use but not much in the way of regular detailing. The seller perhaps did even more work inside the car, and the results (below) speak for themselves. Before we get to that, however, it’s worth noting the seller also replaced the windshield; removed all fixed glass and replaced window seals; installed four new tires; and removed and replaced both bumpers and corresponding sets of brackets. The work done to the exterior was not over the top, just addressing the immediate needs without distorting the awesome patina. While little is said about its mechanical condition, the seller notes it runs and drives well – oh, and the original floorboards were found to be rust-free.
I applaud the seller for going somewhat overboard inside the Beetle, as there’s nothing like sitting down inside a classic car that just feels clean. Honestly, it can be ratty as hell on the outside, but if the interior is a pleasant place to spend time, you can live with half the paint missing for years. The list of improvements is extensive, and I doubt the seller even wants to tally up how much was spent inside. The work includes all new upholstery, leather headliner with matching package tray, new seat foam, replacement door panel seals, and more – it should come as no surprise that the seller is a restoration shop that does everything from mild refreshes to full frame-off projects. For $6K, it seems like you’re getting a fantastic Beetle with a great story – what’s not to love?
Have something to sell? List it here on Barn Finds!
This content was originally published here.