⇓Classic VW BuGs What is the Best Year Beetle to Buy and Own?⇓
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- Опубліковано 27 лют 2019
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Hey, everyone! Chris Vallone here, and today we're tackling a common question: What's the best year Beetle to own when you're venturing into the Vintage VW Hobby?💞
👉1950s Charm: If you're a fan of that nostalgic charm, the 1950s Beetles are iconic. They exude that classic look and feel, perfect for those who love the roots of Volkswagen.💞💜
👉 1960s Cool: The '60s brought some exciting changes, both in design and performance. Consider a Beetle from this era if you want a blend of style and a bit more power under the hood.💖
📌 1970s Reliability: Moving into the '70s, you'll find some well-engineered Beetles. These models often come with improvements in safety and reliability. Great for a smooth ride and peace of mind.💖
📌Chris Vallone: So, whether you're into the retro vibes of the '50s, the cool factor of the '60s, or the reliability of the '70s, there's a Vintage VW Beetle for every taste. Let me know in the comments which era you're leaning toward or if you already have a favorite! 🚗💨
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My favorite year for the beetle would be 1963. I like everything about that year. 1967’s are great too,but I like the old style headlights with the large glass covers and the older decklid and tail light designs.
I have most gorgeous show car 63 in world 🌎
I had a 63 bug, a 69 bug, a 70 bug, and a 73 bug. All were great little cars. Also, I had a 69 fastback and a 72 squareback. I could pull the engine out by myself and have in on the bench in a little over an hour. Great vehicles. My 73 had fuel injection and got great fuel economy. I'm 70, and I remember the great fall VW commercials every fall introducing the new bug, "Volkswagon does it again."
very cool
I know the definitive Best VW Beetle bug!
It’s the one you fell in love with when you were a teenager
I am born in ‘55 but fell for the 1966 1300. Last of the real classic beetle covered headlights, the flattened hubcaps that reflect front suspension changes, and the reliable 1300 engine that did not seem to be overworked. Throw in a sliding steel sunroof with a Golde hand crank and I’m in love. I won’t let my wife know!
Had 3 1966 bugs my fave! one upgraded to 1600 dual port with Weber carbs!
1966 was a great year. Like you say, the last year before the great headlight change! The 1300 was a great engine. Now I can't remember if it was the first year or the last year that they ran the camshaft directly on the induction hardened case. But it was reliable in any event. The busses always introduced the next sized engines a year earlier than the Beetles. So my 66 Bus had a 1500 engine like the '67 Beetle. But I liked that the 66 said 1300 on the rear deck lid. I think the only year to do that, I'm not sure.
The best beetle has the least rust
So many dealers then sold fake rust-proofing too! If a beetle was treated correctly underneath it kept the battery and engine compartment and the belly pan from rusting as quickly. Ive seen them with and without it and the difference is obvious.
Amen
SO very true
@Nova Jayceon you are right, no one gives a s***.
Bull and it's entire shit.
The best year of bug to own is either the one you want to have or maybe the one you already have or have had.
My first car was a used 67 I bought used in 1973. I paid $1200 for it, had a two inch view as my defroster was an ice scraper I used on the inside in the blizzards of 1977 and 1978. The gas cap was under the hood, which was fun to fill in the rain. It had a hole under the steering wheel floorboard, which would splash me with rain and slush in my face. No radio, but it held all my worldly possessions when I moved.
When my wife and I got married (many many years ago) we both had Beetles. She had a '67 and I had a '70 and we loved them both. I wish we had kept one of them.
The wife or one of the beetles? (Smiley here)
1967 In my opinion is the best year. First year of the 12 volt system, larger engine, and still looked old school.
Huey The No-Gooder You’re absolutely right.
My 1969 euro Bug is like the 67. They looked like that until 1970 here
I had a new '67. It was the best ever!!
Except for the boring headlights
I had an original paint 67, with the little 12v sticker on the door, it's the one you want.
I own an original 1967 beetle convertible with original interior. I daily use it and love it. But I have no problem with any beetle!
63 is the most memorable year for the bug, because of the love bug being part of childhood.
I've had four bugs. 1970, 1965, 1969, and the one I have now a 1967. I was lucky to find the 67. I was doing a job at a persons home when I noticed the neighbor open his garage door, and there set this completely refurbished 1967, new paint, new engine, etc etc etc everything had been done. Body off chassis the works. I approached the owner who was an elderly gentleman, and started a conversation on how I was looking for a new Bug. He wasn't looking to sell at the time, but I gave him my card, and told him I'd pay cash. A month later he called me, we got together, he wanted $10,000 I offered $6,500. he asked me if I had a garage to put it in, and I said yes, he said yes, and I had the 67 VW! Since buying it five years ago I have replaced many after market parts with genuine German factory parts which I found with quite a bit of online, and driving to old VW repair shops. I have all original German glass except for the windshield, and I'm still looking for that, and the front hood I believe was an after market hood, and it doesn't fit as tight as it should so I am still looking for a 67 hood. Other then that I am almost complete with returning it to all German specs approx. 90%. Love driving in around the city, and people giving me the peace sign, what a hoot!
thats awesome, I would love to see this car.
I have had my 67 since 1985!
One big & potentially painful problem with pre 1968 VWs is the non collapsible steering column. I learned this the hard way.
The average person can't tell the difference between a '59 and a '72. They just see a bug and say "cool!" Worrying about the little differences is really an enthusiast game. What I'm not a fan of is the cliquey snobbery. Not everyone can fork out $$$$ for a split window. I love my early '63 ragtop, but my previous bug was a '71 superbeetle and it was a great car to drive. Love 'em all, they're all classics at this point. The youngest beetle in the U.S. is turning 40 this year.
Omg you hit the nail on the head....the 67 and earlier crowd love to prance around like and talk down to you as if they were all Thurston Howell the 3rd 😋
@@johnteill_ IKR. I have a '72 Super Beetle, and they ask me that is the chassis a roller with the body off. I said "Yes, because us Super owners figured a way to make them a roller", then I come back with "Is your chassis a roller with the transmission removed?".
When I take my '66 sedan out for a ride and someone tries to guess the year they are always off by 5 years or more. The guess I get the most is 1979.
I have a 92 beetle
I got a ‘71 Super Beetle in the process of restoring right now!
Hands down 67. It was my first VW bought used in1972. Loved it.
Before I started the vid I said 67, because I had one as well as many other years, 2 Ghias and 1 Bus. It was a great car.
"keep the dream alive" that's right! let's keep the vw's on the road with the help from the community!
My first car was a 1961 Volkswagen beetle bug. I really like the way it drives on the road. Steering was so responsive. It was so much fun to turn it on and be able to go anywhere I wanted. I miss it I want another one
I grew up around these beetles. I agree 1967 was the best.I love these engine sound. Its music to my ears
1967 Bug has been the one to own since the 70s. Nice to see that noting has changed. I had a '71 Super Beetle that got me through college. Never left me hanging, but it wasn't the most relaxing vehicle to drive, especially long distances. Always amazed me how far that car could go in snow before you had to install the chains...
67 all day long. Both Bug and Bus. 12 volt system changed the entire experience. Bigger engines. Last old style split window in the bus and pretty much old style body on the bug. The quintessential Pivotal model year. Values agree.
Individual favs may vary.
You are 100% spot on! I’ve had 3 bugs. A 1965 bought in 1968 in perfect shape I drove while in the army,
Did nothing to it except chug oil and adjustment of the valves every 3k Miles. It was great.
I bout another when out of Army in 1970.... it was a cherry 1965 bug. I overhauled it and it was perfect in every way.
Around 1975 purchased a super beetle, but didn’t like it as much as the 1965.
HOWEVER.... I always yearned for the 1967. The 12 volt was worth it for brighter lights, but NEVER had a problem
starting and driving the 1965. When windy, you’d better slow down! However I still,remember driving a stock 1965 80MPH
(Stupidly) on the highway. Would love to one day have the 1967. It was also last to have the fence bumpers!
Love my 67. Going on 3 years with it
Want to sell it.
67
Best looking year, enjoy it !!!!
i learned to drive in a 67. it was new and I was nearly new. good times.
Always a great question. My very first car was a '63 Beetle that I bought in 1974 for $250. I've owned several air cooled beetles since but the '63 was my favorite. The things I remember being significant were that it was the first year for "fresh air heating", and that it had the original style g lass covered headlights with the little marker light bulb in the housing. Sure the 12V system is desirablebvb but I wouldn't trade the classic look of the front feders with the glass covered headlights. There are other differences too, and I agree that the non-padded dash is important. The other thing that is desireable about a'67 was the ball joint front suspension. It was easier to turn than the King and Link Pin suspension. But I liked the vent wng windows with the older style lastches, but the later years had a center defroster outlet which was nice too. So like you say, different folks will choose different years according to their taste. Right now, I would love to be back in a bug. These were honest cars that had a soul. Great memories. Thanks for your video.
Thank you. Although I finally beat the Bug in my 20s, I have now been bitten by the Bug in my 60s.
I had a 70’ bug. Max was the best car ever! $1998 delivered to the house. That beautiful dark green color. He never failed to start…even at 30 below. It even had it’s original battery when I sold it to a friend at 138.000 miles, who drove another 20.000 miles before northeast rust took him away. Everything I learned about repairs came from this hippie guy book…”VW repairs for the complete idiot” or something like that. Very funny and informative. My mom had a 67’ Ghia in a Caribbean blue…beautiful! Nice video thanks.
My choice would be '71, which was the first year for the Super Beetle and 1600cc engine. Had mine for 7 years before selling it to a friend of a friend. That was nearly 40 years ago and I STILL miss that car.
What a fun and enjoyable vehicle to own - even if I needed an ice scraper for the INSIDE of the windshield in wintertime. 😆
I purchased a 1965 VW in early June on Long Island, NY after graduating from Lafayette College. I paid $1,675 for it. I then drove that car for ten years. The only time I could not drive it was when I lived in central Alaska when the temperature was below -20 F and the air over cooled the engine. By the end of those ten years the car had 123,000 miles on it. It was the best car that I have ever owned and I would vote for it as the best year of the VW bug!
No doubt the 1967. Not just because I owned several I flipped the odometer 6 times in my driving bug. John Muir said "be kind to your ass as it bears you". No doubt you love your bug it'll love you back.
I love 1950s VWs but the early 50s 25 HP engine power is inadequate on modern roads. Late 1954 and 55 is a great compromise as it offered classy 50s styling and features but with a badly needed power boost from 25 to 36 hp. It has solid 1950s build, lovely interior; I've even see optional fabric seats. In the 54 you get the classic oval window and overall what a wonderful year.
There's no contest in my mind. As a former "buy only American muscle cars addict", I bought me a brand new yellow 1972 VW Beetle when I turned 30 years old. Had it for 10 fantastic years and cried like a baby when i traded it in.
Ahh that's sad man. Get another!
I've always loved the beetles but the 68-72 with the tombstone taillights has a special place for whatever reason, that's always been a dream car of mine haha
Lay off the crack poor, dude.
Had a 63 that got stolen, then a 68. The 63 was definitely the better car. This was all back in the early 80’s before the prices went through the roof. I can remember buying a brand new bumper at the dealer for $13!!
I have a 66 Beetle. And I Love it..
1302 - 1971
Cool steering wheel...
sexy tail lights...
Australia here:
We never got a "67", it was "old-school" 1300 from 66 - 68.
The one thing OZ never got were the hinged backseat side windows.
I owned a Baby Blue 71 VW...the engine was top notch and powerful.
I’ve owned several Vw and two 67’s to many one year only parts for someone starting out. Some pre 67 can be to expensive for a beginner unless they get lucky. Further back you go the more expensive parts are and more rare parts to find. I always like the second gen or 68-72 standards. Parts are more available and cheaper and besides 68 not a whole lot of one year only parts and before they started putting emissions junk on them. This generation they made the most cars so they are more available. Yes everyone would like and early car but it might not be in their budget. On another note if you find a later model super beetle 73-79 and want to do a complete restore they do not make a complete wiring harness . 71,72 supers they do. But if you find a 73-77 standard you will be fine. An old Vw mechanic told me his best year to own was a 70 no one year only parts and single port heads so less chance of heads cracking and engine studs didn’t pull out it has a B block. I have to agree with him. I love my 59 but stuff is expensive for it. FYI
Had a '54 , '59 , 60 , 63 , 64 ,(2) '65s , 66 , and a 1970 Beetles I really did Like them all .
Yes, 1967.
Runner up, 1971-72 were great machines.
I owned a 1960 VW Bug, and I was born in 1960. I thought that was cool. My Dad and I tuned it up to get over 50 mpg. That was in the late 1970s when I was in high school.
I bought a 65 in the fall of 72 for $600 and loved it . Only cost me $4 to fill the tank and it took me back and forth to school all week and still had enough gas left to go joy riding on Saturday s.
But it also loved the repair shop. The clutch cable was constantly snapping at least every 2 months and I couldn’t keep the brakes adjusted.
Whoever had it before me must have lived in a real salty area because every time I drove it in the rain the battery compartment got washed and when you came to a stop the water came sloshing forward.
Then the heater door cables rusted open and I had heat year round.
Then trying to find 6 volt light bulbs was more fun. Other than that I love d driving it
I have only one Beetle…. Got him last August for my 40th birthday! I always wanted a classiv vw bug…. It’s a 1984 mexican…and I love him to bits…even if I could ever buy another one I will keep my “Dagobert” forever! He is the best bug because he is mine ^1
Just love old vw bugs can’t get enough of them
My favorite was the 1966 which i had. I actually bought it with a bad title and had settled on a 1964, even though i wanted a 66. When i started buying parts for it i learned happily that it was actually a 1966. And i was actually able to fill out my registration as 1966 and no one double checked so the title i got issued was accurate.
2nd favorite was 1967, but i like the headlights of the 1966 better, they still have that classic setback that has a 30's look. In this video they call it the Porsche headlight.
Completing the 6 volt to 12 volt conversion was a lot of fun, although blowing about 6 voltage regulators until i gave up and converted from a generator to an alternator was a bit frustrating. Thankfully my brother worked at an Air force base as a Mechanic and was able to tool a small metal riser to give the throttle clearance without modifying the carb, which also meant i had to deop the oil bath air filter and switch to a lower profile paper air filter.
Damn, that was a great car. I miss Lorelei and hope someone fixed her up later on and she's still on the roads.
I worked for V/W from June 1966 to August 1986 and I loved them all and yes there was problems through all of those years.
Case studs pulling, C/V joint's popping, Fuel injection problems, ball joints, and electrical problems and the list goes on they made some dumb mistakes but I loved them all I owned several Karmann ghia several bugs and a van and I never bought a New one. I could find somany used ones at a giveaway price.
Someone mentioned 6 volt systems and I could fix that problem permanent fix. But if you want 12 volt accessories you can change it over but you still need to change some problems.
Regards; Phillip C.
I had a '67 Beetle. Most fun driving car I ever had.
1967 is great if you want an older-look beetle. But I actually prefer the 1968. That was the year that they went to an external fuel filler, which is much more convenient, and I like the taller front seats, for comfort as well as safety. You do get the new style bumbers and dash, but it still has a lot of character and looks vintage today (as it should, being over 50 years old!).
But I'm probably prejudiced because my first car was a 1968 convertible :)
1967. Without doubt. 1500cc engine, larger flywheel, relocated voltage regulator, higher differential ratio, 12 volt electrics. Ours would do 85mph; our 1200cc models would max at 72-73mph.
well said
..I love them, but I have no desire to go any faster than 70mph in a vintage Beetle anyways..more about the fun of driving and cruising in them..if I want to go fast, I'll buy a modern Mustang or Challenger...
I only play 1971 songs in my 1971 beetle and the hits in 71' are hard to beat,...."its to late"- Carol King, " help me make it through the night"- Sammi Smith, "wild world"- Cat Stevens and "me and Bobby Mcgee" by Janis Joplin just to name a few. 😉
that is awesome! what a great idea. I gotta make a video on that.
I love the 67 mexican versión it has the big front lights, tail lights small, metal dash, 1500 motor 👍😎
Loved my 68’. Had a 73 Super Beetle when I lived in Germany, couldn’t believe how fast this thing would go on the Autobahn!
Thx. I'm glad you pretty much went straght into it. At least now I have a reference to work on for my search. At 1:21 OMG! It's so beautiful.
Ha very cool
I want a 67 beetle or convertible superbeetle. My dad had a 67 and we loved that car. My dad would go out in the garage and wax the thing until it looked like a mirror. Then we would take a ride on Saturdayand I would look out the side window and watch the world go by in the reflexion of the fender. Awesome!
One thing I have to keep in mind is that the superbeetles have provisions for AC, and I live in AZ. I also like the modified beetles with Porsche rims and wide fenders from and rear.
ken cohagen if you can find a 67 super beetle better grab it, very rare.
I too, like them all but my favorite is the super bug 1302LS from 1970-72 Also the previous and later 2 years.
The 1967 Beetle that I had 20 years and put 600-700 thousand on my driving log. Unique parts as I recall: Door locks, window wind up mechanism, front fenders, brown electrical central circuit box, Sapphire V or was it IV radio, rear engine lid. Quartz Halogen lights that attach to rear bumper. Transmission had a switch for these backup lights. When I replaced the transmission no switch on that transmission. I made a mechanical switch under the dashboard. Hubcaps 66/67 for the two year only steel rims.1500 motor that everyone traded up to a 1600. I had many many engines. Inside of 1500 engine cases I heard the crank support webbing may have been different? Maybe the windshield wiper motor setup was special? Grab handle over the glove box door may have been different? A special plate that went around the lower large pulley was special I believe. Most people tossed them out as they thought they were unnecessary. I had mine which surprised some people. I think it was there to control the fan belt if it broke. Without it a broken fan belt would whip around awhile knocking off the fuel line drenching the distributor and often result in an engine fire. Ever seen a beetle with a black spot on the engine lid? Now you know. That's all I can remember at the moment. Valve adj. every 3,000 miles. I was adjusting them every month! When I went to Florida from California I did them along side the road once going and once coming back cross country. What a pain!
I’ve always loved the “olive green” oval windows & stock but then I did come home from the hospital in a 1966 back in ‘71
My dream is to get a '67. At the moment my '71 is very precious to me. Love it dearly.
I’ve owned 14 VW & 3 Audis…my favorite bug was my ‘69
My son is correct. He was 15 years old when he said that if he will get a beetle, it will be a 1967 and he is right. We used to have one parked in our garage. It has a 12v generator system (my uncle replaced it with a 35amp alternator), disc brakes in front, 1500cc eng and adjustable seat folding seat locks! My uncle replaced the shocks with all bilstein with coil wrap around in the rear, replaced the main jets to 148 and upped the air emulsion jets 2 notches higher. During the early80s you can still buy German wiring harness so that one was replaced during the 90s. If one comes up, I will tell my son to get it.
I learned to drive in a 1958 beetle in 1965. My father had bought the car new, and was used by my mother until she decided she wanted a car with automatic transmission, power steering and air conditioning. It was just sitting in my house when I was learning how to drive...I used it for about three years, until my sister, who had bought a 1966 (1300), left for graduate school in 1968. I preferred the new, much more powerful car, leaving the 1958 unused until a friend of a neighbor made my father an offer. Very pleasant memories.
My beloved put a ragtop sunroof on a 65 beetle. The body is great. No rust. My son and I took over the restoration and painted it black. We installed all the windows ourselves. We got a new ragtop for it. The motor is fine but I don't know the specifics. New tires, nice wheels. Nice original chrome.The interior is complete but the seats have some rips. That is my task now. What a fun family project.
I almost bought a '61 but ended up with a nice '67 bug with a 1600 dual port engine. I'm glad I did!
I have a 1997 VW Beetle and is amazing. So in love with it!!
Owned my 67 for 35 years
I'm partial to the '67 Beetle as that was the car my parents allowed me to drive during the college years [ownership was in their names], and I was familiar with the '63 Beetle my Mom had prior to the '67, so I was aware of the changes between the '63 and '67 model years.
By the mid-1970s, word was circulating around [pre-internet era] that the '68 Beetle onward took a slight dip in quality when compared to the '67.
The '67 model I drove required some maintenance with replacing a steering part and shocks; along with the floor-pan metal fatigue that made the gas/brake/clutch pedals to come unhinged [repaired with a metal plate and long bolt to the floor-pan]; but the engine and transmission ran reliably for over 100k miles.
The '69 Beetle my sister owned . . . well, the clutch was fried and the exhaust valves burnt by 45K miles. But, I suspect she drove the '69 harder than I ever drove the '67.
I grew up working on beetles but never really owned one until 2010 when I bought my 58 convertible. I didn't really want a convertible but it was so cheap I snapped it up. I never regretted it one minute. I daily drive it in the Summer months here on the East Coast and it never disappoints.
56-57 is a sweet year. Good looking, great craftmanship. Good engines. Honestly the best year is the one you can afford. I got 52-56-58-68-70 and I love the 68 the most. 68 euro is like 67 US. First year 12 volt.
I love em all. The best year for me is the 1978. It was my first car and I still own it.
@J.R. 48
You lucky guy!
Since yours is a 78 do you have the fuel injected motor? I’ve heard nothing but bad things about the fuel injection in the 75-79 beetles
@@wingadinga4003 I had trouble with my '76 fuel injection to the point that I had to sell the car (I was in college and needed reliable transportation ...not a classic car). My '78 is fuel injected but he is cared for by a vintage VW specialist who knows them inside and out.
67 was my favorite, for all the reasons you stated. including those chrome backup lights
The backup lights were great feature.
I’ve owned my 74 Love Bug...since 74!
I would love a 67 beetle when I can only choose a stock one. If I may mix and match I want a hard dash, updated electrical system, 12V system and a CD player (for ease of use) at least 40 horsepower. the floors may be welded as long as its solid. Body shouldn't be rusted trough, but spots are acceptable for me.
I really like how a beetle isn't just a car, its a piece of culture, almost a lifestyle
Give me a shout, I'll find one for ya.
Best daily drivers were Superbeetles, not the car show favorite but drive ability and space makes it a great cruiser.
I've owned several Beetles, including a '66, '67 and a '71. I preferred the '71, especially once I upgraded it to dual carbs, a 009 distributor, J-tubes, and a header, to give it a bit more power. They had the dog house oil cooler, which ran much cooler where I live, in South Florida. Also the double jointed rear axles ride much better than the earlier single jointed swing axles. A buddy had a '73 Super Beetle that we tricked out similarly to mine, and I must admit that the ride quality with the front MacPherson struts was even better than my '71. No more being blown into another lane when there was a wind gust, or when passed by a large truck. Also the added frunk and interior cabin space was a godsend.
You had a 1971 beetle or super beetle? Because I'm pretty sure the 1971 super beetle had Macpherson struts.
@@timsgta I had a standard '71 Beetle, my buddy had the '73 Super. There were definitely significant upgrades to the '73 Super over my '71. Mine had a flat windscreen like all other beetles, and different seats that were identical (or nearly) to the 68-70 Beetles, while my friend's bug had a curved windscreen and seats that were much different than mine. Like I said, his rode much better than mine did, especially at highways speeds where his was much more stable and less prone to being blown into another lane by the wind.
1963 thru 1967. All the moving machinery is interchangeable, they still have the old look, but the 66 thru 67 have better front brakes and ball joints can be a plus . I've got a two liter 63 with tons of classic but custom hotrod parts . Also a 66 also with a big 2 liter dual Webers etc Baja bug absent 5 wide ansen sprint wide wheels that everyone loves. They all have their good points.
rode in the passenger seat and behind the back seat of a few 1968-74 kinda like the 68-74
I have owned 5 Beetles ('65, '66, '67, '69, '72) and the 1967 was my favorite.
Nice job with the video friend 👍
As much as I love the oval window I have been driving my 1974 Superbug since 1982. I like this model for how it drives. It’s got IRS rear suspension and macpherson strut front end, front disc brakes, safety cell body, curved windshield with great visibility and a 55amp hour alternator pumping out 12volts. It drives like a Porsche. I have also added twin Webber’s, 009 distributor with electronic ignition, bigger camshaft, high pressure oil pump and a GT exhaust system. On the suspension I have fitter koni struts and bilstien shocks on the rear as well as additional heavy duty sway bars front and back. My bug puts a smile on my face every time I drive it and makes me feel 18 again - just like when I had my first Superbug back in high school. I know purist’s whom poopoo the Superbug but I wouldn’t drive anything else.
I bought my ‘67 project from you about 5 years ago Chris. No, it still isn’t running....BUT.....I’m almost done. Why do I like my ‘67? Low back seats, 12vt, metal dashboard, NICE BUMPERS. Very happy I decided on this year! When you get into the 50’s the prices skyrocket😳
Great analogy of which is the best year Beetle. I just got my 65 yesterday. It is the ultimate bug to me because it has been in our family since late 1964. My mother was the original owner, sold it to her sister (my aunt) in 66 because my aunt rolled hers hydroplaning on the freeway and needed a car to get to work. She drove it as her daily all over LA until 2013 up to the age 90.
She passed on and my cousin, her son has been using it until now.
Many things have happened including being stolen once and on another occasion T-boned in the drivers door which was replaced.
It needs a full cosmetic restoration but drives great. I just love it so much, very fun and I'm Ford GT owner among others and even though the bug is not fast, it still gives me the same feel of driving satisfaction and smiles per miles.
We had a 68 blue bug. That’s the year mom said they were Cute. I loved the 67 also.
So glad you gave a shout out to the 66 bug. I had one and loved it.
Between my wife and I, we’ve owned five Volkswagen cars…1962 blue ragtop /1965 blue/1967 white/1970 red bugs and a tan 1982 Jetta diesel. My undisputed favorite was my white 1967 bug.
Remember driving this car as a teenager in the late '60s. Parents and girlfriend parents both owned them.
Being a car guy at the time, found several aspects curious:
- As an air-cooled engine it was at the back of the car.
- The doors closed with an air-tight sealing effect that would almost pop your ears.
- The heater was a little lame in cold Chicago winters and slow to come up to speed compared to water-cooled cars.
Other than that, appreciated how light it was and maneuverable in snowy conditions, and miserly with fuel consumption. Tinny but sipped the gas.
You are right, it is the 67! I had a 62, then a 65 while in college, a 68 on my 1st job. In 78 when I joined the AF I bought a 1970 baby blue Square-back and my last one was a 1969 white Camper, but 67 was the best year for all the reasons you mentioned.
My first car was a European ‘59 with semis. Had a 2180 with 48s and a built tranny. Early 90’s here in Santa Ana was Bug Central.
Love my '64. Last year small windows. 1st year metal sunroof. 1 year only also!
My favorites are 61-63 ❤️
I loved mine and any year after the demise of the split screen variants would please me. They were brilliant. Simple, ultra reliable and fun to drive. OK so they'd never win any prizes for being fast but that makes no difference to the fun factor. When I was stationed in Germany I saw a Porsche try to drag start away from the lights only to be overtaken and pulled in by a Police beetle , gave me a smile for the rest of the day.
Hi great video and great presentation! My favourite are the 63 (as you can imagine from me having one and my channel) and the 54-55s (most beautiful in my eyes), but you have hit the nail in the head with 66-67 being the best all-rounders and that in the end is what each person likes and enjoys driving that matters!
Keep creating these great videos and keeping the Beetles on the road!
Have a great one and if ever Portugal send me a message, would love to meet you and show you around!
Pedro.
I have a 77 std beetle, everybody trashes my car, I say to each his own, at least mine isn’t a super, and I’m having fun learning...plus side, I have a nice freeway flyer AND I’m not afraid to drive it every day. Have fun with your stuff man!!!
Mines a '74 Super, I love my fatgirl!
The models between 1960 and 1965 are usually the most wanted, in germany named "Dickholmer" because of thick roof rails and a bit smaller windows and from technical aspect more close to the later "modern" years, so more easy to repair and more easy to find spare parts
I bought a 1972 new. It would be my favorite year. Wish I still had it.
My first car was a 65 bug. Love the metal dash and low height front seats.
For freeway/interstate driving in the US, the godsend for the air-cooled flat-four VW Beetles was when the US enacted the 55 mph [89 km/h] national speed limit in 1974. I had a '67 Beetle at the time, where that speed limit was truly the _sweet-spot_ for the engine speed. Fuel mileage was great, too, having achieved up to 35 mpg on occasion.
In europe the 12volt system didn't appear until 1968. And most beetles (at least where I live) were still sold with the 1300 engine. The 1200 engine was also available until the German factory stopped producing the standard beetles in 1978. With the european beetles I would rather choose a 66 than a 67. It would most likely have the same technical specs and at the same time you wouldn't have to deal with all of those one year only parts. Because there is a LOT of them. And they can be hard to find. Especially the electrical parts. Things like the starter, wiper motor and generator looks like the 12volt parts on the outside, but have 6volt internals. The same goes for body parts like the engine lid and the doors. If you need a new door it must be a 67. The doors throm the 66 wont fit on the 67, but they will fit on the 68 and newer. Even the towel rails on the bumpers are different. And here they were an option that most people didn't want.
In my opinion he 1968-70 models with either a 1300 or 1500 engine are a very good choice. Then you get the 12 volt system and all the upgrades that appeared in 68. And the 1300 is a very good engine. It is just as easy to dial in as the 1200 and it has more power. The same goes for the 1500. With the 1500 and larger engines you also get disc brakes in the front. But you could still get a budget beetle that had the 1200, no chrome, sparse interior, 6volt, blade bumpers and small taillights.
The 1600 engine didn't appear until the 1302 model (also known as the flat screen super beetle) showed up in 1971. This is my personal favorite. Here you also have the McPherson suspension and double jointed rear axles. In the US these (and a 1600 singleport engine) were standard from 1968, but in Europe they only appeared on the automatic and the super beetle. Here you could also get the super beetles with 1300 dualport (very common) and 1200 singleport engines. Another very good model is the 1300s that came in 1973. It had the lighter standard body and the torsion bar front suspension. But it also had the 1600 dualport and the taller gearing. And disc brakes in the front.
In South africa you could also get a weird model with a curved windshield like a 1303, torsion bar front suspension and a weird version of the big elephant feet taillights. Both here and in South America there were also a few special models with dual carburetors and fancy wheels.
These cars with all the regional differences and special models can make you go completely insane.
from a safety engineering standpoint, and just working off memory
67 got rid of the dangerous swinging axle to double joint suspension, it had front disks and better rollover protection in a stronger body shell
12 volt system meant it had more useful lights that worked especially in highway and adverse weather, and the reangled headlights just worked better
Hey Chris, love your review of the beetle like you I love all of them.
I’m a new member
Thanks