value of 56 beetle chassis

[cdennisg]

I don't often enter the beetle forums, as I am more of a split bus guy, but I have a question. I have the opportunity to pick up a complete May '56 beetle chassis with trans and original engine. Not sure if the engine is OK or if the car has a title. It has been in a barn for many, many years.

I don't need it, and I would be getting it just for trade fodder or to sell to someone who needs it. I am not interested in making huge piles of money, but just to be compensated for my time and effort. I would pass along the contact directly, but it's one of those situations where you need to have the right "in" to get the owner to sell anything.

I have known about this since last spring, and the first chance I would have to make the deal would be in April of 2011. I have been searching the classifieds for an idea of value, to see if it's even worthwhile, but did not come up with what I thought were reasonable comparables. Can anyone out there tell me if it is in demand, if it's worth digging out and hauling home, and a ballpark figure ($)?

Sorry for the crappy pics, but as you can see this thing is pretty buried. It's going t take some work to move a few big things out of the way to get it out of the barn. Just seems like it should get out of there and into the hands f someone that could put it to god use.
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[Crackah]

I would imagine it's worth a decent chucnk of change to the right person... LOL@ the wooden steering wheel!!

[Russ]

i would go the other way and say not alot.
few hundred bucks maybe
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[Schwing]

That engine isn't a 56.
Fan shroud tells me its probably 58-61 since there is no spark plug tube and the wire tab is in the wrong spot for a 56.
Though its a 56 or older air cleaner so its confusing.
$500 because it includes a complete 36hp.
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[seanboy69]

Was this on e-bay for sale for awhile?? I think it was an I bid on it a couple times but the reserve was like a grand!!!
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[drscope]

$500 would be target. Maybe a little bit more if it has a good clean title.
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[Volumex]

The bottom of the fuel pump is from an early 56 model, and the top (flat top - can't see a bump but might be hidden by the flash) is from a split.
The crank pulley is from a 54/55/early 56.

I'd guess it is a 56 motor, it has just been used and fixed using later bits over time.

[cdennisg]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I am a little out of place with early beetle stuff so it helps a lot. I have not talked price with the guy yet, and I don't want to lowball him, but I need it to be worth my while, too.

I highly doubt this one was ever on ebay, this guy does not do technology.

I dig the wooden wheel, too. makes me think that this was somebody's yard cruiser at some point. I did not get the engine number, so the eagle eyes that tell me that it's not a 56 help out a lot. That is something I definitely would not have noticed.

If I get it, or at least get to take some better pics, I will post up my findings here. It will probably be a few months from now, though.

Thanks, Corey

EDIT: Volumex, we posted at nearly the same time so I did not see your info until I posted. Thanks for that info on the engine dating. Now I am really curious to get the engine number.
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