A hot rod is a wonderful thing. It offers individuals the chance to express their personality across an automotive canvas—and personalize mass-market machines in ways never intended by the original creators. In recent years, there has been a shift away from traditional hot rod candidates from the 1930s to the early 1950s—in favor of more recent and varied metal. This 1965 Volkswagen Type 3 which sold on eBay Motors is a perfect example of this custom-car trend.
The Volkswagen Type 3 was never intended to be a performance vehicle, as it was offered from 1961 to 1973 to expand the German brand’s line-up beyond the Beetle (or Type 1) that had introduced it to American drivers. A rear-engine design was retained, and so was cooling. Although 2.5 million Type 3s were built, not very many survived the general neglect of owners—combined with the harsh realities of corrosion over the decades.
The interior is as detail-oriented as the exterior, which reveals the well-preserved state of this Volkswagen.
The Type 3 hot rod for sale here managed to avoid the latter by spending most of its life in Australia, where it benefitted from an arid climate. The fact that it’s a right-hand-drive vehicle adds an extra layer of eccentricity. In fact, Australian heritage also informs the car's notchback styling, as US VW buyers were only offered wagon and hatchback versions of the Type 3.
The car’s 2.0-liter engine replaces the smaller four-cylinder that originally came with the vehicle. It’s far from stock, boasting a Clyde Berg build (of Clyde Berge Head and Motors - opens in new window or tab.) and Weber 44 IDF carburetors. The car has been lowered, hooks to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission, and sits on 17-inch wheels. Body panels are clean and straight, with the exception of a fender ding noted by the seller, and the interior looks exceptionally clean.
The notchback body style was never offered in the US
There’s one more bonus to this customized Volkswagen Type 3: celebrity ownership. The car is currently registered to Jesse James of West Coast Choppers fame - opens in new window or tab.. It’s been the subject of several magazine features and also put in an appearance on Monster Garage.
If you're in the market for a notchback Type 3, take a look: they don’t get sweeter than this one. Besides, it's unlikely there’ll be another headed to the US from Australia any time soon.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.