Detail

This 1956 Beetle, up for auction by Gooding & Company, is a great example of how an old car can still be used, rather than rusting away in a junkyard. It features the distinctive “covers” over the rear wheels that were popular with earlier car manufacturers, such as the Citroën DS and McLaren Speedtail.

The early “Beetles” had the cleanest design with simpler elements and functions. Before the company replaced the round windows with rectangular ones in 1958, their cars featured an oval rear window that better suited the aesthetic of a car without sharp corners on the body.

Volkswagen Beetle / Photo: Gooding & Company

Complete with rims, blue-tinted Stratos Silver paint, iconic hubcaps, whitewall tires and a factory convertible top, this Beetle will give you a head start on many modern designs.

Auction house Gooding & Company says the car’s interior has been redesigned using a fabric called Pünktchen Blau (blue with small dots) and looks amazing. This Volkswagen Beetle has also received an “extensive mechanical restoration” that included machining and cutting the engine block. The “Beetle” is also equipped with more than 30 accessories from its original launch.

These include, for example, a Hella projector, a Motorola Big M radio with matching speakers, a Perohaus manual wind clock, a bag, a Taylor compass and even a rare six-volt Hertella Paluxette coffee machine. All of these are a real sight to see in one pile.

Volkswagen Beetle / Photo: Gooding & Company

Volkswagen Beetle / Photo: Gooding & Company

Volkswagen Beetle / Photo: Gooding & Company

Unfortunately, it’s unknown whether the coffee machine still works, but considering the condition of the rest of the car, there’s a good chance it does.

Gooding will be auctioning this Beetle as part of the Pebble Beach sale. The price will start Starting at $60,000.

Volkswagen Beetle / Photo: Gooding & Company

Volkswagen Beetle / Photo: Gooding & Company