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The first two Type-60 prototypes, known as V1 (a sedan), and V2 (a convertible), were built in October of 1935. By 1937, a batch of 50 cars had accumulated 1.8 million miles or road tests. They had air-cooled engines to avoid the need to drain the radiators every night in the cold German winters. The horsepower output produced by the engine totaled 25. During its 55 years of production, a total of 21 million Beetles were built, with over 78,000 documented incremental changes made during its production.
In 1948, Wilhelm Karmann first bought a Volkswagen Beetle sedan and converted it into a four-seater Cabriolet. The conversion included reinforcing the sills with welded U-channel rails, fitting a transverse beam below the front edge of the rear seat cushion, and utilizing a double-wall for the side cowl-panels below the instrument panel. The convertible was shown to Volkswagen in Wolfsburg, and production began in 1949.
This particular example has all-new painted surfaces, a convertible top, and new chrome bumpers. The current caretaker acquired the Beetle from the original owner who bought it in the fall of 1978. The stock steel wheels and tires are new, along with new running boards. Power is from a 1585cc air-cooled, overhead valve, horizontally-opposed injected four-cylinder engine, offering 48 horsepower. There is a four-speed manual gearbox in the rear transaxle and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2018
In 1948, Wilhelm Karmann first bought a Volkswagen Beetle sedan and converted it into a four-seater Cabriolet. The conversion included reinforcing the sills with welded U-channel rails, fitting a transverse beam below the front edge of the rear seat cushion, and utilizing a double-wall for the side cowl-panels below the instrument panel. The convertible was shown to Volkswagen in Wolfsburg, and production began in 1949.
This particular example has all-new painted surfaces, a convertible top, and new chrome bumpers. The current caretaker acquired the Beetle from the original owner who bought it in the fall of 1978. The stock steel wheels and tires are new, along with new running boards. Power is from a 1585cc air-cooled, overhead valve, horizontally-opposed injected four-cylinder engine, offering 48 horsepower. There is a four-speed manual gearbox in the rear transaxle and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2018
2018 Barrett-Jackson : Las Vegas
Sale Price :
USD $17,600
2018 Worldwide Auctioneers : Pacific Grove Auction
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $35,000-USD $45,000
Lot was not sold
1978 Volkswagen Beetle Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Volkswagen Beetle
(Data based on Model Year 1978 sales)
1978 Volkswagen Super Beetle Champagne Edition Convertible Chassis#: 1582027593 Sold for USD$14,850 2024 Mecum : Harrisburg | |
1978 Volkswagen Super Beetle Convertible Chassis#: 1582050292 Sold for USD$16,500 2024 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1978 Volkswagen Super Beetle Convertible Chassis#: 1582038454 Sold for USD$3,300 2023 Mecum : Kansas City | |
1978 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible Chassis#: 1582002240 Sold for USD$14,300 2023 Mecum : Indy | |
1978 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE Chassis#: 1582021680 Sold for USD$8,800 2023 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1978 VOLKSWAGEN SUPER BEETLE CONVERTIBLE Chassis#: 1582028114 Sold for USD$8,800 2023 Barrett-Jackson : Palm Beach | |
1978 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE Chassis#: 1582021680 Sold for USD$12,650 2023 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Az. | |
1978 Volkswagen Beetle Chassis#: 1582050284 Sold for USD$11,250 2022 GAA : November 2022 | |
1978 Volkswagen Super Beetle Convertible Sold for USD$9,350 2022 Mecum Indy | |
1978 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible Sold for USD$14,300 2021 Mecum : Dallas | |
1978 Volkswagen Super Beetle Convertible Chassis#: 1582049321 Sold for USD$12,100 2021 Mecum : Monterey | |
1978 Volkswagen Super Beetle Convertible Chassis#: 1582049321 Sold for USD$11,550 2021 Mecum : Monterey | |
1978 Volkswagen Beetle Sold for USD$14,000 2021 GAA : July 2021 | |
1978 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible Sold for USD$29,700 2021 Mecum : Indy 2021 | |
1978 Volkswagen Super Beetle Convertible Sold for USD$20,350 2021 Mecum : Indy 2021 | |
1978 Volkswagen Beetle Karmann Sold for USD$20,000 2021 GAA : April 2021 | |
1978 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible Sold for USD$22,000 2021 Mecum : Glendale | |
1978 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible Sold for USD$15,400 2021 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
1978 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible Chassis#: 1582056(7)62 Sold for USD$57,251 2020 Webbs : Collectors' Cars, Motorcycles & Automobilia | |
1978 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE 'CHAMPAGNE EDITION' Chassis#: 1582039082 Sold for USD$18,700 2020 Gooding : Geared Online |
Volkswagen Beetles That Failed To Sell At Auction
1978 Volkswagen Beetle's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1978 Volkswagen Super Beetle Convertible | 1582027932 | 2024 Mecum : Indy Fall Special | $13,000 | ||
1978 Volkswagen Champagne Edition II Beetle Convertible | 1582039680 | 2024 Worldwide Auctioneers : Scottsdale | |||
1978 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible | 1582038415 | 2023 Mecum : Kissimmee Summer Special 2023 | $22,000 | ||
1978 Volkswagen Super Beetle Convertible | 1582049779 | 2021 RM Auctions : Auburn Fall | |||
1978 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CABRIOLET | 2021 Carlisle Auctions : Spring | ||||
1978 Volkswagen Super Beetle Convertible | 2020 Mecum : Indy Fall Special | $17,000 | |||
1978 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible | 2020 Mecum : Kissimmee Summer Special | $22,500 | |||
1978 Volkswagen Super Beetle Convertible | 2019 Mecum : Las Vegas | $13,000 | |||
1978 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible | 1582010455 | 2018 RM Auctions : Auburn Fall | |||
1978 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible | 1582057934 | 2018 Worldwide Auctioneers : Pacific Grove Auction | $35,000 | $45,000 | |
1978 Volkswagen Beetle | 2018 Carlisle : Lakeland Winter Auction | ||||
1978 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE | 1582002203 | 2018 GpK Auctions Atlantic City | $8,000 | ||
1978 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CVTBLE | 2017 McCormick's Auction # 63 | $6,740 | |||
1978 Volkswagen Beetle | 1582002203 | 2017 Carlisle Auctions : Fall Carlisle | |||
1978 Volkswagen Beetle | 2017 Russo & Steele : Newport Beach | ||||
1978 Volkswagen Beetle | 2017 Carlisle Auctions : Lakeland Winter | ||||
1978 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible | 1582021461 | 2017 Mecum : Los Angeles | $9,000 | ||
1978 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible | 1582027264 | 2017 Mecum : Los Angeles | $12,000 | ||
1978 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible | 1582021461 | 2017 Mecum : Los Angeles | $7,000 | ||
1978 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible | 2017 Mecum : Kissimmee | $22,000 | |||
1978 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible | 2016 Mecum : Kansas City | $6,000 | |||
1978 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible | 1582027264 | 2016 Mecum : Anaheim | $15,000 | ||
1978 Volkswagen Beetle | 2016 GAA : October | $13,000 | |||
1978 Volkswagen Super Beetle Convertible | 2016 Mecum : Harrisburg | $9,000 | |||
1978 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible | 2016 Mecum : Kissimmee | $6,000 | |||
1978 VOLKSWAGEN SUPER BEETLE CVTBLE | 2015 McCormick's Auction # 59 | $6,900 | |||
1978 Volkswagen Beetle | 2015 Carlisle Auctions: Lakeland Fall Auction | ||||
1978 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible *WITHDRAWN* | 2015 Historics at Brookland | $6,000 | $8,000 | ||
1978 Volkswagen Super Beetle Convertible | 2015 Leake Auctions Dallas, Tx | $8,000 | |||
1978 Volkswagen Super Beetle Convertible | 2015 Leake Auctions Dallas, Tx | $8,250 |
Vehicles With Comparable Market Values
Similar sales to the $12,847 range.
2002 CADILLAC ESCALADE Chassis#:1GYEK63N62R130741 Sold for $12,925 2024 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale Fall | |
2004 Volkswagen Beetle TD1 Convertible Chassis#:3VWCD31Y94M343901 Sold for $12,880 2024 Worldwide Auctioneers : Auburn Auction | |
1947 Studebaker Commander Deluxe Starlight Coupe Chassis#:4250973 Sold for $12,880 2024 Worldwide Auctioneers : Auburn Auction | |
1955 Fiat 500 C Belvedere Chassis#:516786 Sold for $12,833 2023 RM Sothebys : St. Moritz | |
1988 CHEVROLET CORVETTE 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION Chassis#:1G1YY2180J5114721 Sold for $12,870 2023 Barrett-Jackson : Las Vegas | |
1973 Pontiac Grandville Chassis#:2P67Y3P204550 Sold for $12,750 2022 GAA : November 2022 | |
1974 Chevrolet Corvette Chassis#:1Z67J4S407174 Sold for $12,750 2022 GAA : November 2022 | |
1959 ISO Isetta Chassis#:A-61225 Sold for $12,747 2022 Artcurial : Automobiles Sur Les Champs | |
1972 Volkswagen Beetle Sold for $12,750 2022 Fall Carlisle Auction | |
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1927 Austin Seven Chummy Tourer Chassis#:35778 Sold for $12,892 2022 Bonhams : The Beaulieu Sale | |
1984 Cadillac Seville Sold for $12,880 2022 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Auburn Auction | |
1994 Chevrolet Silverado Chassis#:2GCEK19K3R1237965 Sold for $12,750 2022 GAA : July 2022 | |
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1925 Studebaker ER Standard Duplex Phaeton Chassis#:1216383 Sold for $12,880 2022 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Enthusiast Auction | |
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1978 Volkswagen Beetle
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