Plan B Forum

It's one of the most iconic and fun cars to drive of all time.

So you'd expect this 42-year-old VW Beetle to have hundreds of thousands of miles on the clock.



But this 1974 model has had just one extremely careful owner who only drove it a total of 56 miles.

Over the next four years, his visits became more infrequent and by the time he made his last trip, he had only driven a total of 56 miles.



Silverstone Auctions, which is putting the car up for sale, said: 'Unique is a word nearly always incorrectly used, but in the case of this 1974 Beetle, we think not.

'There are original photographs of the car taken when it was first discovered in the barn and its presented today after light recommissioning, having benefited from a good coating of Waxoyl.

'It still holds the original oil in the engine and is shod with its first set of tyres.'

Jarlaxle wrote:The original VW Beetle was the worst car ever sold in the United States.  It is a fossil that should have been euthanized twenty years before it actually was and probably should not be allowed on public roads without a parade permit and escort.

Bicycle Bill wrote:

Jarlaxle wrote:The original VW Beetle was the worst car ever sold in the United States.  It is a fossil that should have been euthanized twenty years before it actually was and probably should not be allowed on public roads without a parade permit and escort.

Even worse than a Yugo?

Consider this, Jarlaxle — rarity drives the collectible market.  So you may be right on the button with your judgement of the original Beetle, but that doesn't make this particular specimen any less desirable as a collectible.  Edsels and the Chevy Corvairs got a bad rap in their day too, but they are still sought after by collectors and automotive historians.

So you might as well brace yourself for it...no matter how crappy it might have been when new it is inevitable that some day, in the probably not-too-distant future, someone will drive that Yugo I mentioned (in well-maintained or restored condition) across the Barrett-Jackson stage and people are going to literally wet themselves to have the opportunity to bid on it.

-"BB"-

The National Lampoon's infamous Teddy Kennedy ad was a visually spot-on replica of VW’s series of advertisements produced by Doyle Dane Bernbach, one of which specifically claimed the Beetle was so well sealed it could float.  The Lampoon had to recall the magazine and issue an apology.  They issued this retraction: “Even if Ted Kennedy had driven a Volkswagen he wouldn’t be president today.”  As offensive as this appeared to many, it was seen as hilarious by others.

Worse than a Yugo? Absolutely and unequivocally yes! At least a Yugo won't abruptly spin out of control simply from getting off the gas in a turn...where a VW most emphatically WILL! The VW had all the handling quirks the Corvair was pilloried for, and plenty of other issues on top of that!

Gob wrote:Note the image on the video, a young man teaching his daughter how to salute properly.

jarlaxle wrote: Worse than a Yugo? Absolutely and unequivocally yes! At least a Yugo won't abruptly spin out of control simply from getting off the gas in a turn...where a VW most emphatically WILL! The VW had all the handling quirks the Corvair was pilloried for, and plenty of other issues on top of that!