1956 Volkswagen Beetle

For consignment, a 1956 Volkswagen Beetle coming to our Hallowed Halls with the true mileage unknown, and professionally built with a mix of vintage and upgraded components. With a base price of $1,995, more than 38,000 Beetles were sold in the U.S. in 1956. Today, early cars are rare and collectible and represent one of the most iconic automotive endeavors of all time.  

Exterior
The Beetle was offered in 12 colors in 1956 but the most common selection was the base color of black, and our example is bathed in it like a vat of ink, enhanced with the use of black wheels, but not just any black wheels. These are 15-inch Fuchs wheels wrapped in 165/80R15's with an early 2024 date code. Black paint makes the trim pop on this car including the colorful Wolfsburg crest on the nose, the headlight rings, shoulder trim and hood center line. Out back, however, the black is uninterrupted until you get to the curved chrome bumper. If you grew up around Beetles, the inclusion of substantial running boards rendered the car more approachable and allowed for small kids to greet a returning parent with a step up. The vertical windshield and curved rear window help define the legendary shape of the Beetle where the paint and metal are in fantastic shape. Only a scratch on the decklid and a chip by the running board are the imperfections we note. 

Interior
Tidy oxblood red door cards fill the space with a smooth material, a silver trim line, and a pleated map pocket in excellent condition. Black piping augments the red bucket seats and provides a nice match with the exterior, while the simple rear bench copies the materials and trim, all in great shape. Thin spokes tie the black steering wheel to the hub, leading to a shiny black dash with the speedometer straight ahead, while ivory knobs present tasteful switchgear. In the center and surrounded by silver trim, is a tachometer also on board is a Rockford Fosgate sound system with red clad speakers in the footwells. A stout shifter rises from the center hump and the light colored ceiling opens up via the canvas top. 

Drivetrain
Under the hood, well, under the hood, there's a gas tank and not much else. For the engine, we turn to the rear hatch and find a super clean powerplant that according to our consignor, is 2196cc's of flat four goodness, fueled by dual Weber 44 2-barrel carburetors. It is mated to a Freeway Flyer 4-speed manual transmission that keeps the power out back with 3.88 gears. Disc brakes are now found on all four wheels. 

Undercarriage
Minimal surface rust, clear knuckles, and a coating of oil on the engine underside renders the belly driver quality but fully intact. The belly pans are clean. Headers lead right to a stainless steel muffler which emits a wide exhaust tip to complete the relatively short exhaust system. Independent suspension in front is matched with rear independent suspension with a swing axle, trailing arms, and torsion bars in the back. 

Drive-Ability
One of the reasons Beetles sold in the millions has to be the fun, almost toy-like operation and configuration. And this one is no exception, firing up all CC's and eagerly moving onto the test loop with a bit of giddy up you might not expect. We first notice that the horn honks when the wheel turns but the car tracks and handles very well and most functions operate as intended. The driver's side windshield wiper is missing, and the remaining wiper only moves ¼ of the sweep, the driver door only opens from the inside and the passenger door is hard to open. Beyond that, it's all good! While Classic Auto Mall represents that these functions were working at the time of our test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at the time of your purchase. 

"The secret behind Volkswagen's success," wrote Nelson in Small Wonder, "which other car manufacturers know but do not care to adopt, is a painstaking integrity of design and manufacture. This is the 'Wolfsburg philosophy.". It's evident on some level in every VW we've had the pleasure to represent at the mall, and this early iteration is a stunning example. 

Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8 acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person. There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee is not included in the advertised price.

With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy listening. You can also watch on YouTube!