What car is more beloved than the Volkswagen Beetle? Always affordable, ever willing, and perennially cheerful, these modest little economy cars captured the hearts of the entire world. For a while, they were as ubiquitous on the streets as road signs and their rugged simplicity made even the worst mechanic a knowledgeable expert on basic repairs. If Henry Ford’s Model T put the world on wheels, the Beetle made us love being there.

By the time this 1978 Super Beetle convertible was built, the writing was on the wall for the Bug, but if you wanted a handsome, fun, easy-to-maintain convertible, well, there weren’t many choices in 1978. The Americans were out of the game and while the Italians were still building some fun little roadsters, there’s always that reliability thing when dealing with Italian cars. As a result, it shouldn’t be a surprise to find that this Beetle has always been a fair weather toy, not a daily driver, and it shows. It was taken down to bare metal about 20 years ago and any rust it had was excised before the fresh Barrier Blue paint went on. We have restoration photos that show new floors, new rockers, and a few sheetmetal patches in the usual locations, and for VW fans, none of that is a surprise. They matched the original paint exactly (that’s original Barrier Blue on the interior door panels) but by using modern technology, the finish is bright and shiny in a way that factory enamel could never match. We recently gave it a proper buff so it shines up better than any car in this price range has a right to and in typical VW fashion, everything fits rather well. All of the chrome and stainless trim was polished up at the same time, so it glitters against the medium blue finish, making this modest little ragtop look very appealing indeed.

The white interior was also replaced when the car was painted, and given the light use it has received in the intervening years, it still looks great. The seat covers, door panels, and carpets are new, and the contrast between the white upholstery and dark gray carpets is quite attractive. It also allows you to enjoy the car in the sun without getting too hot and without being blinded by white overload. The factory dash pad, which is one of the few parts not reproduced for these cars, is in excellent condition and all the switchgear functions properly. The big single gauge pod houses the speedometer and fuel gauge, although the fuel gauge is not operational. On the other hand, the clock reliably ticks away and the factory AM/FM radio pulls in stations loud and clear, making this a car that’s remarkably faithful to the original vision. Overhead there’s a new white top with glass rear window and full headliner, making this one of the most nicely finished convertibles you could buy, regardless of price, and it really does make a difference in driving comfort. Most of the weather-stripping was replaced when the car was repainted, so it’s in good shape, too. A matching white vinyl boot gives it a trim look when the top is down and the front-mounted trunk shows a correct spare tire and no rust issues.

VW’s air-cooled flat four really needs no introduction. As reliable as an anvil, as simple to work on as a lawnmower, and with plenty of peppy performance, it’s a great engine for an entry-level hobby car. This is a freshly rebuilt 1600cc unit that matches the stock specs—they even kept the original Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection, where most folks would have switched back to a carburetor. And while the carb might be modification-friendly, you can’t argue with the quick starts and smooth idle you get from fuel injection, regardless of temperature. The engine bay isn’t detailed for show, but it’s functional and complete, including the heat manifolds and duct work, which are usually the first things to go on a summer cruiser like this. They installed a new clutch at the time of the engine installation, so take-up is smooth with no chatter. The 4-speed is typically VW vague, and if you’ve driven a Beetle, you already know that shift “feel” is only a general guideline, but a set of new bushings would probably tighten that up quickly and inexpensively. As I mentioned, the underside has new floors and portions of the rockers were rebuilt, although the central “spine” is original and has some rust at the leading edge—again, a common issue with Beetles and by no means fatal. The brakes are firm and confident and the handling is agile, which isn’t a surprise given the Bug’s trim proportions. The wheels were recently stripped and refinished, then fitted with fresh 165R15 blackwall radials that look just right in the rounded fenders.

Documented with years of maintenance receipts that suggest this Beetle always got the care it deserved, this is a fun, inexpensive convertible in great colors that’s ready to enjoy right away. Even after all these decades, it’s still hard to beat a VW Beetle in terms of fun for the money. Call today!