Some classic cars feel practically new when you’re behind the wheel. After driving six hours across France, I can say that the Volkswagen Beetle is not one of them.
I’ve owned air-cooled Volkswagens before but I’ve exclusively used them to run errands around town. I dearly regret selling each and every one of them, so it didn’t take long for me to pull the proverbial trigger when a reasonably-priced 1972 Super Beetle—known as the 1302 on the European market—popped up for sale. The issue, of course, is that it was halfway across the country. I ruled out shipping it and renting a trailer for cost reasons, so my only option was to take a train to Lyon and drive it my place on the outskirts of Marseilles.
The “tropical beach” sticker on the back window is an enigma. My best guess is that it’s a night club or a restaurant, though I haven’t been able to find any traces of it.
I prepared for the long trip by packing a suitcase full of tools and spare parts that might need to be replaced along the way. I’m not about to take the flat-four apart to change the piston rings on the side of a busy road, but it’d be dumb to get stuck in the rural France, dozens of miles away from the nearest town, just because the fan belt snapped. Luckily, I didn’t have to get my tools out once.
The rear tires are wider than the ones on my 1979 Mercedes 300D. The suspension is all original, so going back to a period-correct look should be a matter of plug and play.
The Beetle’s age undeniably shows when you’re behind the wheel, and there are dozens of minor issues that I need to fix on my car, but it’s an impressive long-distance driver considering how the age of its basic design. It’s a marvelous display of simple, function-over-form engineering, and the cacophony of the flat-four buzzing away behind the passenger compartment is something that every classic car enthusiast needs to experience at least once in a lifetime. The Beetle isn’t merely a car or a nameplate. It’s a true icon that put millions of people on wheels all over the world.
The flat-four engine ran great during the six-hour trip, I brought a suitcase full of tools and parts for nothing. The original green paint is visible under the deck lid.
That said, I’m surprised at how much respect it commands on the road from folks who usually couldn’t care less about cars. If you drive, say, a 1976 Citroën LN, you’re going to be the slow guy that no one wants to get stuck behind. People smile when they see the Beetle, and its friendly face makes other motorists tolerate its lackadaisical acceleration. That’s a generalization, of course. I ran into more than a few drivers who have watched the movie Herbie too many times and assume the Beetle is actually a full-blown race car.
All told, the Volkswagen Beetle has a lot going for it on the classic car market. It’s still affordable if you’re not after an early model, it’s easy to fix, parts are readily available (notably on eBay Motors - opens in new window or tab.) and it’s a blank canvas. You can customize it like my car’s previous owner did. You can keep it all original or even transform it into a Baja Bug if you want to hit the trail.
Since the Beetle was new to me, I drove it home on back roads and avoided the freeway whenever possible for added peace of mind.
For me? I like ‘em stock, so the first order of business is sourcing period-correct components like a steering wheel, a pair of front seats, and four steel wheels. The second order of business will be to go on another road trip.
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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.