Car and Driver: The Beetle That Sat: 56-Mile ’74 VW Up for Auction

A 1974 Beetle might not be the most desirable of Volkswagen’s aircooled offerings, but ’70s-era Bugs are enjoyable to putter about in, make enough power that they’re not pants-smearingly terrifying to drive in modern traffic, and feature those tricolor taillights that Beetle aficionados tend to scoff at, but we find actually pretty neat. There’s just one catch. With only 90 kilometers (56 miles) on the clock, there’s a good chance any buyer won’t want to add many more numbers to the odo.

We were hipped to the car’s existence via Carcoops, as it goes up for bid at Silverstone’s Classic Race Aarhus Auction in Denmark at the end of this month. This time capsule was purchased by a Genovese gentleman who didn’t care much for driving. The avid walker preferred to get to church courtesy of his own two feet. But age takes a toll, and inclement weather can be a harsh mistress, so the man bought the Beetle for his trips to the house of worship. He then passed away, leaving the Beetle with 56 miles on the clock and what’s apparently its original oil in the crankcase.

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Last driven in 1978, the old Käfer looks to be in stupendous shape, and Silverstone estimates the car will sell for between $40,000 and $45,000. The downside is that if it gets driven much more, it’s just a 1974 Beetle in fantastic shape, with a long line of more-desirable bugs ahead of it. The upside? It’d look kinda great parked in your living room, wouldn’t it? That blue would really tie the room together.

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