1973 Volkswagen Type 1 'Vocho'/'Beetle'/'Bug'

1973 Volkswagen Vocho (Beetle) "HECHO EN MEXICO!"

A REAL MEXICAN VW BEETLE ON THE U.S. EAST COAST!
MODERNIZED WITH 1980-90s-era INTERIOR & MORE!
FRESHLY-REBUILT JAN/FEB 1968 1500cc M147 ENGINE!

Offered for your consideration is this very unusual (for the USA), solid and cancer-free 1973 Volkswagen Type I - Bug, Beetle, Vocho - whatever you want to call it! It was sold new in Guadalajara to a Doctor who kept the car for over 30 years; he drove it at least 50,000 km in the first three years per the service book, so total kilometers travelled is unknown without tearing into the VDO speedometer and looking at the colored dot if it has one (Mercedes do).

Following the Doctor's ownership, this Vocho was owned by a Frenchman, then a German as the 1990s became the 2000s. All lived in or around Chapala, Jalisco, MX per records that come with the car. Following them were two Spaniards or Mexicans, the latter of whom drove this plucky little car north - all the way to Virginia - last summer.

Unfortunately, 99.9% of the way to the last owner's friend's home just south of Richmond, the engine failed in spectacular fashion. The car went to one shop nearby where the owner was fleeced. His friends here helped him get the car out of that shop and to a very reputable establishment in Richmond, where a quality overhaul then took place. Unfortunately, he had to leave the car behind and later asked that it be sold by his friend's father - which is where I come in. I took a shine to the little car and brought it up to Richmond under its own power.

It is unknown how many engines have been in the car. There is evidence in the rear valance and right rear fender that a performance exhaust was fitted at one time; the standard exhaust cutouts were fiberglassed over and a notch cut into the right rear fender for a large tailpipe. As you see here, the car was later reverted to the stock configuration, albeit without reworking the bodywork. This rear valance is the only panel with any evidence of body filler or fiberglass and this is due solely to the modifications, not rust!

Another shot of the same thing. Note all around the car the great condition of bumpers and brightwork.

Originally finished in white (per the original purchase receipt) the car was apparently completely disassembled and repainted in the same silver-grey metallic as some mid-1980s VW Special Edition Beetles (1987 Europa II is one example, which the interior also seems to have come from). Unfortunately, Chapala and Guadalajara, while a great place to find a rust-free car are also very hot places and the silver metallic finish has lost much of its lustre on the top surfaces of the roof and fender arches from years in direct sunlight. A quality scuff-and-shoot would likely not cost much and the remainder of the finish is still of very high quality. If you are local to Richmond and buy this car, I'll introduce you to my painter who will do a top-notch job at a bargain price.

Underneath from the vantage point of the last photo - note primer color and generally grey or sandblasted look to underbody. There's some very light surface rust on the pinch welds to the tunnel and the tunnel itself but no rot.

Looking farther back towards the rear of the car from the last photo. I don't understand the red here unless it's primer since the car began life white and then was comprehensively done in silver. The bonding caulk is still present between pan and body so I would seriously doubt that major structural work was ever done and the numbers match (see below).

Back to the right front wheel well. Note no undercoating - just silver paint and clean metal! The rear well is similar.

Here's the left front wheel well. Looks like a 2-3 year old Beetle up in here!

Note no rust, just surface corrosion and a couple damp spots from my having driven the car on wet roads prior to this photo.

Looking in the driver door - bet you haven't seen one of these genuine VW interiors in a car stateside lately - if ever!

I had to scrub these seats vigorously and they're not perfect yet but I made quite a bit of headway here. The fabric is bulletproof - just like the car - and a little more cleaning in a while will get any residual filth out.

The camera is very critical vis the naked eye, but I'd rather it looked worse than better so you're pleasantly surprised when you see the car in person.

The rear seat is likewise nearly flawless. The rear shelf appears custom and has two speakers beneath it. The seat folds forward once the squab is removed for cargo carrying.

While this is a 1973, Mexican Beetles used the 1972 dash until the end of production - and this is the last year for the 1972 taillights too in Mexico. Note later steering wheel and switchgear as well as handbrake lever.

Since the '70s Beetle uses a headlight relay and the later car used the combination switch for high-low, the dipper does not work this way, there's a momentary contact switch under the dash for the high-low beam. There's some creative wiring in this car but I have remedied anything that appeared to be dangerous. It's up to the new owner whether to go all modern or go back to 1973 steering wheel/switchgear. The ignition switch appears to be new and correct. You'll note that the original owner (judging by the vintage) put a tach and oil pressure gauge in; the tach works fine but the oil pressure gauge sending unit must have disappeared with the original engine or one after it.

The ancient AM/FM/Cassette stereo works surprisingly well and sounds good - not only can you drive this car home but you'll have some entertainment too. The car runs and drives as it should, the brakes work well, the transmission shifts as well as any Beetle did with no synchronizer problems - really, there are no complaints. Tires are about 40% all the way around, they're older but still have a year or two in them.

Here are the original books - owners and service books as well as receipts for registration back to the early 1990s, plus a copy of the back of the original title with all owner transfers and a copy of the original sales receipt in the same name as the registrant in the early and mid-1990s. The chain of ownership is clear from 1973-2009! Note also the new VA title acquired by going to Customs at Richmond Int'l Airport and going through the hoops with DHS. Since this car is over 25 years old, it's completely legal to be here in the USA, unlike most Mexican Beetles we'd like to have!

Folks who reviewed my ad prior to eBay wanted to see this; this is a photocopy of the original sales receipt and the reverse side - the original had to be surrendered to U.S. Customs. Dr. Rodriguez Otal registered this car in 1992 and from then on we have documents from every year to the present documenting the chain of ownership. All of this comes with the car.

The last three years' registrations in the window - the current one is in the records folder, never affixed to the car for whatever reason - along with the two most-recent Mexican registration stickers. Since plate theft was common there, your sticker has to match your tags. These tags come with the car - if you live in VA, we can talk about the 1973 AM tags I put on the car to run around.

While the engine is not the correct one, the body and pan are. Most VWs that look this good ride on a different pan than the one they were born with. This is the chassis plate behind the spare tire in the trunk.

This is the Mexican Federal Revenue plate affixed to the car when it was new.

And this is the stamping in the rear pan just forward of the transmission inspection plate.

For what it's worth, here's the engine number - per TheSamba.com, it was in a US-spec 1968 Beetle and is a 44hp 1500cc engine - just like what this car should have. (No, not 1600cc - that's US spec.) So it's not numbers-matching throughout but it's the right unit vis a vis performance.

Here it is running along at a warm idle. Note that the heater ducts are gone and the box plugged up - no need for heat down in Chapala!

Note the new Solex carb with automatic choke, new fuel pump and a reasonably fresh tuneup.

From the other side.

PRICE - $3,995 OR NEAREST OFFER

Complimentary delivery to the D.A.S. shipping terminal or anywhere within a 50 mile radius of Richmond, VA offered at the asking price. Transport to the ports of Norfolk, VA or Baltimore, MD is available; other locations within a 300 mile radius of Richmond by request and at moderate additional cost.

While I give no guarantee (this is a 37 year-old car), I believe that you can drive this car home - it has a fresh engine and prior to this, as mentioned, it made the trip here from southern Mexico! I'll happily pick you up at the airport or train station if that is your intent.

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? CONCERNS?

E-MAIL ME OR CALL 804-357-4926