The genesis of the VW Beetle can be traced (primarily) to the work of three brilliant automotive engineers: Joseph Ganz, Hans Ledwinka and Ferdinand Porsche.

Joseph Ganz was a Jewish engineer with a penchant for controversy which survives him to this day.  In 1923, while studying mechanical engineering, Ganz had developed an automobile design that featured a mid-engine, tunnel frame automobile with independent suspension.  Shortly after graduating from university, Ganz became the editor in chief of a car magazine which was  eventually named Motor Critic.  As editor, Mr. Ganz began to openly criticize the 1920’s era automobiles then being produced by the German auto industry.  His chief complaints against these “devil’s carts” revolved around their inefficient drive trains, high centers of gravity, great weight, lack of independent suspension and solid axles.  Using his voice at Motor Critic, Ganz began to advocate for the development of lightweight, aerodynamic, rear mounted, independently suspended, tube chassis automobiles.  Importantly, Mr. Ganz not only advocated for these alternative cars but he also began to design them.

In the late 1920’s Ganz began having discussion with German motorcycle manufacturer Zundapp to build a prototype of his design.  During these discussions Ganz disclosed many of his ideas to Zundapp and they retained them for future use.  These discussions broke down and Zundapp hired Ferdinand Porsche to build an “Auto fur Jedermann” (“Auto for Everyman”).  In 1931, the first Porsche designed prototype was produced – the Zundapp 12 – and by 1932 three were in operation.  This prototype is widely considered to be the first manifestation of what was to become the VW Beetle.   

However, one year prior to the appearance of the Zundapp 12, Mr. Ganz and the Ardie motorcycle company produced an operational prototype – the Ardie-Ganz prototype - which captured, in part, Ganz’s vision of a proper automobile.  This prototype featured a central tunnel or tube chassis which supported the car’s suspension, engine and drivetrain, it had a mid-mounted engine and swing axle suspension at all four corners.  In examining archival photographs of the Ardie-Ganz prototype, one cannot escape the similarity it bears to a 1970’s American classic – the Volksrod.   

After demonstrating the Ardie prototype, Mr. Ganz received an offer to build a second prototype from the German car manufacturer, Adler.  Ganz completed this prototype in 1931 and nicknamed it the “Maikafer” or “May Bug.”  After completing this car, Ganz took it on a promotional tour to display its technological advancement.  According to one source, Ferdinand Porsche not only saw the May Bug but actually rode in the car.

In the summer of 1931, Ganz was retained to consult with Mercedes Benz on the development of a prototype vehicle similar to the May Bug.  Working with other engineers at Mercedes, Ganz produced the 120H prototype which featured modern “Beetle-esque” body panels, a tube chassis and a rear mounted, air cooled boxer engine.  Mercedes never brought this car into production and Ganz was left without a manufacturer for his May Bug.

After Ganz left Mercedes, he began working with another German car manufacturer Standard Fahrzeugfabrik.  Using patents he had obtained over the years, Ganz and Standard were able to produce a production version of the May Bug called the Standard Superior.  This car had a tubular chassis, a horizontally opposed, a 2 stroke, 2 cylinder engine mounted in the rear of the car.  However, the engine was in front of the rear, swing axle transaxle and the car had  independent front suspension.  This production car first appeared in February 1933, at the Berlin Auto Show (and may have been seen there by the then Chancellor Hitler).  By September 1933, Standard was producing promotional literature describing the Standard Superior as “the fastest and cheapest German Volkswagen.”    

Within a year of the appearance of the Standard Superior, Ganz was placed under arrest by the Gestapo under allegations that he was attempting to blackmail a Czech company, Tatra.  This allegation appeared to be completely baseless but, in June 1934 – shortly after Hitler ordered Porsche to develop his people’s car - Ganz fled from Germany to Switzerland where he attempted, without great success, to resurrect his May Bug. 

The company that Ganz was accused of attempting to blackmail - Tatra - employed one of Europe’s greatest automobile engineers, Hans Ledwinka.  In 1921, Ledwinka was appointed to the position of chief design engineer at Tatra and by 1923 he had designed the first known tube or “backbone” chassis.  Ledwinka also invented versions of swing axle transaxles, independent front suspension and rear mounted, horizontally opposed, air cooled engines.  Perhaps his greatest automotive contribution was in the field of aerodynamics.  Using his designs, Tatra brought the first streamlined automobile bodies to market and forever changed the bodies of automobiles. 

In the early 1930’s Ledwinka and his design partner, Erich Überlacker, began design on a rear engine, tubular chassis car named the V570 prototype.  The first prototype was completed in 1931 and then went through a second design iteration.  In 1933, the V570 achieved its final incarnation.  This car had the following characteristics: a four seat sedan with a tubular chassis and a rear mounted two-cylinder air-cooled boxer engine which was attached to an integrated swing axle gear-box (sounds like a Beetle, huh?).  Perhaps the most innovative aspects of the car revolved around the manner in which air was circulated to the rear mounted engine.  Ledwinka’s ideas in this area were patented and, seemingly, protected.   Owing to the success of another Tatra model, the Tatra 57, the V570 prototype was shelved and the car was never placed into production.  

Ledwinka was personally acquainted with Hitler and had several dinners with him where the subject of automobiles was discussed.  After one of these dinners Hitler is reported to have said to Porsche “This [a Tatra] is the car for my roads.”    

In 1933, after the appearance of the Standard Superior and the design of the V570 prototype, Hitler ordered Ferdinand Porsche to develop a “Volkswagen” or “people’s car.”  In May 1934, in Berlin’s Kaiserhof Hotel, Hitler gave the following design parameters to Porsche: the car must seat 2 adults and 3 children, it must be rear engine and air cooled, it must be able to travel at 62 mph and obtain fuel economy of 22 mpg.  Further, worn out or broken parts must be able to be replaced easily and cheaply.  After receiving these directives, Porsche began meeting regularly with Ledwinka to discuss the design of the Volkswagen Beetle.  In later life Porsche stated that at these meetings “… sometimes I looked over [Ledwinka’s] shoulder and sometime he looked over mine.”     

Building upon the work that preceded him, including the Zundapp 12, the May Bug, the Standard Superior and the V570, Porsche first produced the Type 60 prototype.  This prototype saw several iterations and, with help from Mercedes, was placed into limited production for testing purposes only.  On May 26, 1938, after the Beetle had been approved for production, Hitler spoke at the Volkswagen factory and officially named the car the “Kraft durch Freude-Wagon” or “Strength through Joy Car.”  Following this speech, the Beetle was intended to be placed into production (and a handful of pre-War cars were actually produced).  Subsequently, Tatra filed suit against VW claiming that the KdF Wagon infringed on no less than 10 of its patents.  This lawsuit was stopped when Germany invaded Czechoslovakia and occupied the Sudentenland in 1938.  In 1961, Volkswagen settled the suit by paying Tatra $3,000,000 German marks.

Following the end of World War II, the Americans passed control of the Volkswagen factory over to the British who had plans to disassemble it and ship it CKD-style to Britain.  However, no British car manufacturer wanted the factory or the car.  In fact, one detractor stated “... the vehicle does not meet the fundamental technical requirement or a motor car … it is quite unattractive to the average buyer.” 

Fortunately, a British Army officer named Major Ivan Hirst, was assigned responsibility for the VW factory.  Hirst convinced his superiors to order 20,000 Beetles and by 1946, the factory was producing approximately 1,000 cars per month.  Under Hirst’s direction, the KdF-Wagon was renamed the Beetle and the rest, as they say, is history.

The Beetle presented here was completely restored with one goal in mind - to make a "like new" VW that was good enough to use as a daily driver.  As shown by the pictures, the prior owner wildly suceeded and turned the clock on this car back to 1972.  We have over $15,000 in receipts in the file which show the following restorative work:

• Body seperated from pan;
• New pan halves welded into place;
• New undercoating on pans;
• Body stripped to metal;
• New paint in period correct orange;
• New side molding and clips;
• New body to floor pan seal;
• New fender beading;
• New trunk seal;
• New deck lid seal;
• New windshield seal;
• New side window seals (both windows, both sides);
• New rear window seal;
• New headliner;
• New dashboard;
• New brake, clutch and accelerator pads;
• New e-brake boot;
• New shifter boot;
• NOS VW shifter knob and matching Nardi steering wheel;
• New door cards;
• New Flat 4 roof rack;
• New carpet kit;
• New windshield washer tank and pump;
• New fuel tank filler hose and clamps;
• New fuel door release handle;
• New dome light, dome light switch and bulb;
• New dash vents;
• New sunvisors and clips;
• New wiper blades;
• New glove box and retainer clips;
• New trunk liner hardboard;
• New trunk carpets;
• New instrument cover;
• New front and rear seat upholstery;
• New front seat pads;
• New wiring harness;
• New engine compartment seals;
• New firewall insulation;
• New speedometer cable;
• New defroster and heater hoses and ducts in trunk;
• New trunk release cable and tube;
• New taillight lenses, seals and chrome rings;
• New turn signals and rubber gaskets;
• New headlights, trim rings and chrome eyebrows;
• New front bumper;
• New Bugpack ceramic coated muffler;
• Refurbished heat exchangers;
• New steering box and ball joints;
• Rebuilt front and rear suspension;
• New Porsche 914 replica chrome rims;
• New Formoza low profile tires (165/50R15's);
• Aluminum running boards;
• All engine tin reconditioned and painted black; and
• Rebuilt 1615 VW engine (with electronic fuel pump, electronic ignation and less than 1,000 miles).

This work was professionally performed by Houston based repair facilities which specialize in air cooled restorations and the receipts are available for your inspection.

Given the immaculate condition of this car (and the constant desire for well sorted VW Beetles), you can rest assured that your investment in this vehicle is well protected.

If you are interested in discussing your purchase of this car then please call Mark counts at 713-320-3059.

Features

We are a licensed lender in the State of Texas and can assist you in obtaining financing for your automobile purchase.

If you need assistance with financing then please contract Mark counts at 713-320-3059.

Please ensure that you have obtained financing prior to bidding on one of our cars.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, our cars are sold "As Is" and without warranty.

However, some of our cars come with the full manufacturers warranty and some are eligible for extended warranties.

Please discuss the potential purchase of an extended warranty with your sales representative.

Unless stated otherwise in the vehicle's listing, shipping is the sole responsibility of the buyer.

There are many reputable transporters across the country and the Buyer is required to contract directly with one of them.

If required, we can locate a shipper for the Buyer but will not assume responsibility for the vehicle once it is consigned to a shipper.

Terms and Conditions

All vehicles we sell have clean and clear titles. 

We do NOT sell salvage vehicles or vehicles with reconditioned titles.

All vehicles are sold "AS IS" and there are no representations or warranties except those contained in the written sales contract or bill of sale.

The winning bidder must contact us within 24 hours by phone to start the transaction.

The winning bidder must respond within 2 days after the auction with a $500 deposit required via wire transfer, Visa/MC, or certified funds(cashier's check) to start the transaction.

It is understood that the vehicle is sold on an "As Is" basis. 

Buyer are free to purchase with or without an inspection.  

We strongly encourage pre-purchase inspections.  These inspections are relatively cheap and help ensure  that the Buyer is completely satisfied with their purchase.

All sales are subject to a state inspection fee of $40.75 and a Vehicle Inventory Tax based at .2271% of the purchase price. Ex. $10,000.00 X .2271% = 22.71.

Texas residents must pay applicable sales tax and a registration fee.

Out-of-state customers may pay tax and register the vehicle in their own applicable state. Upon request, we may be able to complete the buyer's home state registration.

The buyer is responsible for all shipping costs. We will arrange for shipping, if requested. Also, transportation to and from the airport and our location is buyer's responsibility.

We make every attempt to deliver our vehicles to our clients with two keys, key fobs, manuals, booklets, NAV CDs, wheel locks, tool kits, etc..., however, from time-to-time, a vehicle may be missing one or more of these items and we cannot guarantee that they will be included in the vehicle at the time of sale. Please call for the exact accessories included for the vehicle.

Our vehicles are pre-owned vehicles and they are sold in "As Is" condition. At time, some of our vehicles may still be in factory warranty or an extended warranty may be purchased. Ask for details.

For Canadian car buyers: If the title is to be released at the time of delivery (which is much mandatory to move the vehicle through customs), a wire transfer is the fastest  way to complete the sale.  If the payment is not by bank wire transfer, i.e., certified bank check or approved loan check, the title will only be released when all funds have cleared. Please keep in mind that the funds verification process can take up to 15 days. We will assist you with the documentation needed to clear Canadian customs, but knowing exactly which documents are required by your home province are the buyers responsibility. Requirements for Canada can be found at www.riv.ca under "Registration of import vehicles, Canada".

Notice to All Bidders

Please remember your eBay obligations. When you bid, you are entering into a legal and binding contract. Do not bid if you do not intend to buy this vehicle!

All bidders must have pre-approved loans or other financing.

The winning bidder must contact us within 24 hours by phone to complete the sale and to receive a purchase order via fax.

Major Credit Cards are accepted.

Please call for limits and details (credit card charges may incur a service fee).

Payments are accepted through paypal.com (Deposit only-$1,000 max.). Please call for limits.

We do not accept Escrow or E-Loan. Please call for exceptions prior to bidding.

Please remember that you have the option to call for the reserve price direct at 713-320-3059.

We appreciate your interest in this auction and look forward to seeing your bid. Good Luck and Happy Bidding!