possible one owner/family score

[Jim Bear]

I may have found something pretty cool. For a few weeks I have been driving and walking past this house a few 'hoods over ever since I spied a mid 60's (63?) green beetle in the drive. It has a Euro tag on the back in addition to its RI tag. It's green too!

So yesterday, finally, I see a fella in his old olds getting ready to leave his drive and I stop to speak with him. I should say that I do not go to front doors to bug people about their VW's anymore after having had a man send his dogs on me a few years ago in GA.

Well, I speak with my new friend Don for a few and he gets all excited and tells me it is a one owner car, that his mom bought it in Germany new, that it only has 110k on it, has had no body damage and has few small scratches, and has been maintained by the same mechanic for 40 years! My heart skips a beat and I ask if would be interested in selling anytime soon and he says everything has a price.

This fella has got to be 75 and looking it +, his house in a formally very nice 'hood is showing wear, and he is driving a rusting out 90's olds. So, I says I'll be back to show him my bus so he can compare it to the '59 he says he used own. He says when the weather breaks (it's been pretty nice here ) he'll fire the beetle up and take me for a spin!

My back story---I have a '74 bay weekender and I have always wanted a mid-60's beetle--in green! Now, I am facing down unemployment and an uncertain financial future. But, come on...this could turn out to be good. The last time I went deal hunting I had no $, got a small loan, and made out with an OG '74 white tin-top Westy with minimal issues, a 1/2 length roof rack, a good hitch, and an OG drive away tent for $3400.

So, I will be looking deeper into this, including what's selling for what in the classifieds. But, any inclination on what a '63 (?) beetle with the above listed details might go for? How would you handle the situation?
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STOP FRACKING

"You're either on the bus, or you're off the bus." ~kk
'74 Weekender
Ophelia

[drscope]

Enjoy the new friendship. Let him give a number. Then at least you know what ball park he is playing in.
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Mother Nature is a Mean Evil Bitch!

[Shaven]

[Jim Bear]

I have put off returning to speak with the fella about his bug because I have had no funds and didn't want to waste either his time or mine with further pursuit. However, I am going to likely be moving from the state before too long I would never stop thinking about this (like so many others) as one that got away. So, I am preparing to get some cash in hand and head on over for a first visit since initial contact.

Included is a pic. '63?


_________________
STOP FRACKING

"You're either on the bus, or you're off the bus." ~kk
'74 Weekender
Ophelia

[61SNRF]

The emblem on the deck lid indicates that it is a '66.

Hard to say the value by one pic, but around here they sell from $2500 and up in good running and registered condition.
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An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

[Cusser]

Tell him that the advantage of selling to you is that you'd keep it and take care of it, and wouldn't be trying to flip it to make $1K.

I've actually got a similar situation out of town, and we've talked twice, and I've left my contact information, and I told her exactly what I stated above. And nothing about $$$. Her husband fixed hers all up, so it has lots of sentimental value to her still, she needs to be ready.
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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2004 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[drscope]

FYI to help you figure years a little...(this applies mostly to US destination cars and does vary some, but for the most part it will get you really close)

The large wide tag light says 64 or newer.
The push button deck lid handle (in place of the "T" handle) says 65 or newer.
And the 1300 script as 61SNRF pointed out is 1 year only 66.
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Mother Nature is a Mean Evil Bitch!

[hitest]

You don't say what your current budget is- but bring at least $2k in hundreds; a rake, broom and trash bags and offer to do some yard work- it'll often go farther than cash.

PS- look up "java green" in the technical and gallery sections...
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[iowegian]

Of course it would be foolish to try estimating value based on one little picture. But if it truly is an all original one owner car (and has some records to go with it) the provenance increases the value dramatically. I would say that $5000 would be a steal. I am basing this on what I paid an 85 year old lady a few years ago for a '66 (her daily driver) with similar background and what I have recently been offered for the car (over $8,000). In my case I had to reassure the old gal that I would be a worthy care-giver to her "baby" before I was allowed to buy it. .

EDIT:
this might be a good comparable.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1441384

[NJ John]

If the old man used the words "rare" or "collectors item" you can't afford it. LoL
If not, tell him that you always wanted a car that's good on gas.
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John
http://bbug763.runboard.com/
http://www.cafepress.com/bugracing "MY OTHER CAR IS A DUNE BUGGY" stickers & more..