Volkswagen 1200 Beetle — 1967

It was delivered to its first owner in the Kiruna area in May 1967, presumably due to proximity to the Torne Valley. A simpler model version that was officially imported by the Finnish general agent, but not by the Swedish one. The model existed as an entry-level model on some markets, unofficially called and featured the small 1200 engine, a special tailgate, simpler interior trim, no bonnet trim at the front and painted indicator housings. Same owning family until 2016, when it ended up in the Gothenburg area after a longer period of storage. The car was later sold at auction by BWA in 2017 and was then in good original condition. What the owner's ambitions have been with the car between 2017 and 2025 is unclear, but the exterior condition today is in any case deliberately executed. The latest and last approved inspection was carried out in 2017.

• Mechanical condition

  The engine has been restored and starts directly and easily. The carburettor may possibly need adjustment, as the car was not driven completely warm during the test drive. The brakes, gearbox and clutch feel as they should.

• Interior condition

  Wear on the driver's seat bolster and slightly worn door panels, otherwise a good interior with carpets and headliner. The car is named Ludde, according to a plaque on the dashboard.

• Exterior condition

  Matt finish to the paint and deliberately heavily polished. Good bodywork. Surface rust on parts of the bumpers, wheel caps and wiper arms. Older Hankook tyres from 2009 with good tread, but also with some dry cracks. Fresh and clean undercarriage.

• General condition

  An unusual and for many an attractive and straightforward model. The auction car has a Swedish history, low mileage, a good undercarriage and is in fine technical condition. The bodywork is good in the metalwork, but has apparently been given deliberate cosmetic treatment.

The Volkswagen Type 1 of model year 1967 holds a special status among VW enthusiasts as it served as a transition model between the classic post-war design and the more modern technology of the seventies. However, on some markets, the older technology lived on alongside the new innovations through the entry-level model VW 1200, better known as the "Sparkling Beetle" or Savings Beetle. This budget variant was aimed at price-conscious buyers and retained the older 1200cc engine producing 34 horsepower, the old 6-volt electrical system, and drum brakes all around. It also lacked the more expensive model's chrome trim and more comfortable interior. What makes the 1967 model year so attractive is the combination of details that were manufactured during this single production year only. The greatest technical revolution for the export model VW 1500 was the introduction of a modern 12-volt electrical system, which replaced the old and weak 6-volt system and provided significantly better starting power and lighting. Mounted beneath the newly designed, shorter bonnet was an entirely new 1500cc engine producing 44 horsepower. To handle the increased power, the car was equipped with disc brakes on the front wheels as standard, while the rear track was widened and the suspension softened to provide safer and more stable road characteristics. On the exterior, 1967 marked the end of the classic rearward-sloping headlights that had followed the model since the thirties and were replaced by new, more vertical headlights integrated into the front fenders. The body received slimmer chrome trim and the fuel cap was moved for the first time to the outside of the car on the right front fender, where it sat completely exposed without the cover flap that appeared on later model years. At the rear, the model received registration plate lighting and a straight bonnet handle that existed only this year. The interior was also updated with a major focus on safety, which meant that door handles and buttons were made of soft, yielding plastic instead of metal. The car also received two-speed windscreen wipers with self-parking function and classic door lock buttons on the door sides so that the doors could be locked from inside. Overall, the combination of updates and a short-lived appearance makes the '67s regarded by many model enthusiasts as one of the more sought-after model years of the Volkswagen Type 1.