One of the most popular cars ever made, the Volkswagen Beetle made efficiency cool. Suddenly, people weren’t buying a “cheap car,” they were “investing in a smart alternative.” Even the sales brochure stated, “It’s more than just a car, it’s an investment.” And why not? Beetles were known for delivering an exceptional experience for considerably less than countless other cars, and people were smitten by the cuteness, the basic style of which had been with the car since it was introduced in the 1930s. Interestingly, those two pages of the brochure depict an image of a Gold Beetle like this 1976 Volkswagen Beetle, which also wears an oval German-style license plate reading, “Invest in precious metal.” Beetles, particularly when they were well maintained, also held their value relatively well, furthering their investment potential. As the 1970s stretched toward the 1980s, it was obvious that time was catching up to the infamous Beetle and something would have to give, but that didn’t stop people from continuing to buy it, supporting one of the most successful cars ever. This Topaz Metallic Gold example is relatively rare if only for the color, which is contrasted by a black interior with houndstooth seating upholstery. Unrestored, it was purchased on October 29, 1976, has covered only 19,251 miles from new and still touts the factory carpets. Powered by a fuel-injected, air-cooled 1585cc flat 4-cylinder engine and a 4-speed manual transmission, the Beetle is cloaked in paint that has been metered, ensuring that it is original, and the car is further equipped with an AM/FM radio, rear defroster, roof drip moldings, chrome bumpers and a 100 MPH speedometer. Rolling on the gray sport wheels wrapped with BF Goodrich Silvertown tires, the car comes complete with the owner’s manual, sales brochure, warranty voucher booklet with VW stamps and a Florida title from 2014 showing the mileage at 19,219.
