The VW Beetle is one of those cars that has been around forever. It first rolled off assembly lines in 1938, and Volkswagen managed to sell 21 million Beetles during its life span. This round-shaped, two-door, rear-engined economy car became one of the most significant vehicles in car history. And, you can now experience what it was like to get a brand new Beetle, thanks to this Hemmings find of a 23 mile 1964 Classic Volkswagen Beetle. But believe me when I say it ain't cheap!
The People's Car
In the United States, the Ford Model T was the first car to motorize the masses, attributing to a 33% household car ownership in 1920 and 46% by 1930. In the meantime, the German auto industry was still limited to luxury models, and most Germans could only afford a motorcycle. Only 1/50th of Germans owned a car.
For this reason, Volkswagen, or the ''people's car'' in German, decided to make a functional and affordable car to be mass-produced for Germany's new road network. In 1938, the Beetle rolled off the assembly line for the first time to later become the longest-running and most manufactured car of a single platform ever made, thanks to more than 21 million units produced.
1964 Volkswagen Beetle
Since it was first introduced in 1938, the Beetle received minor updates through the years. For example, in 1964, a widened light housing on the engine lid over the rear license plate, and a flat windshield were added. This 1964 Beetle, which is now for sale at Hemmings, was bought new by Rudy Zvarich (who drove a 1957 VW Beetle and got this 1964 as a backup). Rudy never used it, and then in 2014, it was inherited by his nephew, who is now selling it.
Low Miles, High Price
Beetles, since they were so inexpensive, were used a lot, which makes it extremely rare to find low mileage examples like this one. A Volkswagen Beetle more than 50 years and with only 23 miles is an incredible find, and we may never see one like it again. This vehicle clicked over from 22 miles to 23 when pulling it out of storage. Of course, this comes with a price of $290,000 to be exact.
Source: Hemmings