The sun’s shining, cars are being polished and the auction houses have been packed with prospective bidders looking for their next VW. Here’s an update on what’s being sold, the money certain vehicles are fetching – and the cars that slipped through the net…

1966 Samba – £56,000
Starting off with a real gem, this 21 window Samba was sold recently at Silverstone Auctions for a healthy £51,000. Interestingly, it has a factory sliding side door – an expensive option at the time, making it just one of nine other known left-hand drive models of this kind, and one of just five with a bulkhead. Another desirable option is its Eberspacher heater. It was sold with a Certificate of Authenticity from Wolfsburg, confirming that it was originally delivered to a VW dealership in Hanover in June 1966. It is believed it was then sold to a hotel or tour operator in French speaking Switzerland before returning to Germany where it remained until 2006 before being exported to the UK. It was subsequently restored in its original factory colours of Beige Grey over Titan Red. The 1500cc engine now has Pertronix electronic ignition and twin Solex carbs, so it’s all ready to roll and would make a perfect retro family holdall for weekends away or the school run.

1966 Mk1 GP Beach Buggy – £10,688
If you were inspired by watching Jeremy and his friends hoon around in their Buggies in the Grand Tour, then you’ll understand why there’s currently quite a bit of in interest in the cool, go anywhere VW-based Buggy. This one has been identified as being one of the earliest complete Mk1 GPs in the UK and was found in an overgrown garden then subsequently restored in the 1990s. It even appeared in the world famous VolksWorld magazine in a 1999 edition. The fact clean, unfussy Buggies like this are now rapidly appreciating collectables was obviously recognised by the Silverstone Auction bidders as it eventually sold for £10,688.

1959 Samba – unsold
The beautifully restored 23-window Bus below was entered into the Classic Car Auctions sale on 10 June with an estimate of £45,000-£55,000 but failed to attract any bids. Seen as the ‘Holy Grail’ among enthusiasts, it’s undergone a meticulous three-year rebuild which has included fitting a ’68 front beam, 1600cc engine and 1303 Beetle gearbox to make it better suited to modern motoring. Of course there is a possibility that the purists would be interested in converting it back to its original factory spec, but that wouldn’t be a problem. There will be a chance for prospective bidders to have a second bite of the cherry when it is re-entered in the Silverstone Auctions sale on 30 July. Don’t miss it this time!

1989 Mk2 Scirocco Scala – unsold
Essex Classic Car Auctions often have some really interesting later VWs for sale, as well as a section on their website listing ‘unsold lots’. Which is where we spotted this rare as anything white Mk2 Scirocco Scala. It was entered into a sale previously with an estimate of £4,000-£5,000 but a last minute fuel pump issue meant that it had to be withdrawn. Normally, you can contact the auctioneers and ‘make an offer’ but in this case, the fuel pump’s been fixed and it’s entered into their next auction on 9 July. There’s another very clean looking Mk2 Scirocco in the same sale, so if you’re in the market for one of these quickly appreciating classics, get down there fast.

1972 1300 Beetle – £2300
Owned by the vendor since 1977, this ’72 Bug looked fabulous value when it sold at the Charterhouse Auction at Shepton Mallet in June. With just one previous recorded keeper, it’s done a low annual mileage, although the vendor told the auctioneers that the engine had been replaced at some point. The great bit is that it was sold with a whole load of old MoT certificates, proving its provenance, and judging by the fact that it’s still running on what look like its factory crosspy tyres, it’s obviously pretty original. Needing some ‘light commissioning’ before getting a current ticket, it looks sound enough and would make an excellent project.

1957 Split Screen Bus – £20,000
Finally, here’s one for the film buffs out there. Respondent in its psychedelic colour scheme, this Bus played a star role in the 1980 teen movie Getting Wasted. In case you missed it, the storyline featured a group of young military academy cadets and their foray into the late 1960s drug scene and the obvious antics that ensued. The Bus, well known in VW scene, has been kept as part of a private collection, and a new engine and different bumpers have been fitted in the nine years since they’ve owned it. Sold at the Charterhouse Auction in June, accompanied by photographs taken during filming, its buyer successfully snapped up a piece of VW history for £20,000.

 

If you’re tempted by what you’ve seen, why not try your hand at buying at auction. Before you go along, though, check out our guide here.

Ian

The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of the author and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of VW Heritage