1972 Volkswagen Beetle 2-Door

- White Over Tan
- Upgraded and Rebuilt 1600cc Dual Port 4-Cylinder
- 4 Speed Gearbox
- New Parts: Front and Rear Bumpers, Brakes, Interior Upholstery, Headliner, Shocks, Gas Tank, Running Boards, and Battery

(Please note: If you happen to be viewing this 1972 Volkswagen Beetle on a website other than our Garage Kept Motors site, it's possible that you've only seen some of our many photographs of the car due to third-party website limitations. To be sure you access all of the more than 140 photographs, as well as a short start-up and walk-around video, please go to our main website: Garage Kept Motors.)

“... the world's best-selling car ever, and now it is probably the most usable real-world classic you can own.” Classic Motoring magazine, May 2011

Classic Motoring went on to opine about the Beetle's remarkable success: “Nobody can deny that the Volkswagen Beetle was a phenomenal success but putting your finger on the exact reasons why is not simple. The original pre-war design brief for a car that was affordable to buy and run on modest means, could carry two adults and three children at 60mph (all day on the new autobahns) and return over 30mpg was laudable enough, but hardly revolutionary - a similar desire to provide transport for the masses had previously brought success to many manufacturers throughout the world, most spectacularly to Henry Ford with his Model T. Yet by 1972 Volkswagen's Beetle had outsold the Tin Lizzie and was well on its way to an astonishing total of 21,529,464 million units worldwide....”

Offered here is a 1972 example of the car that outsold every other in history. This red Beetle has the added distinction of showing just 40,296 miles on its odometer, or roughly 825 miles per-year on average since new. Well-maintained, the car has had recent replacement of the front and rear bumpers, brakes, interior upholstery, headliner, shocks, gas tank, running boards, and battery.

To the untrained eye, many VW Beetles look alike. In truth, the cars were constantly updated, even in the middle of a production run. Wikipedia describes the contemporaneous improvements made in this car: “1972 models had an 11% larger rear window (40 mm [1.6 in] taller), and the convertible engine lid with four rows of louvers was now used on all Beetles. Inside the vehicle, a four-spoke energy-absorbing steering wheel was introduced, the windshield wiper/washer knob was replaced in favor of a steering column stalk, and intermittent wipers were a new option available in selected markets. An engine compartment socket for the proprietary VW Diagnosis system was also introduced. The rear luggage area was fitted with a folding parcel shelf.”

The exterior of this white '72 Bug is pristine and factory-original; there are no dings, dents, or damage to any sheet metal. The non-metallic white paint is uniformly glossy and smooth without signs of fading across the entire car. (To best assess the quality of the paint and trim finishes, be sure to view the close-up photographs of the car in the accompanying gallery.) Body-panel fit and alignment is virtually perfect, a result of VW's highly respected manufacturing processes at the time. Chrome—including the hood trim, body trim, headlight, and windshield trim—is bright and unpitted. The same is true for the dual exhaust outlets and the steel-wheel trim rings and VW-logo hubcaps. Cabin glass and all lighting lenses are clear and un-cracked. All factory-applied badging, including the angled “Volkswagen” rear-hood badge and the front-trunk-top VW-logo emblem, is properly located as it came from the factory.

Inside, light tan and black is the original Teutonic color theme. The padded dash, new textured-vinyl seating surfaces, door trim (with pleated pockets, headliner and visors, GT®-branded steering wheel and the floor-mounted 4-speed manual-transmission shifter, all carry the black color. The newly replaced tan vinyl upholstery adds a lighter touch to the cabin. Carpeting is charcoal-colored. A Sapphire® XV push-button radio is installed, augmented with a JVC® audio unit mounted in the glove box. Across every surface, condition is unmarred. This is a true, properly maintained, survivor Beetle.

Under the rear hood, the 1300-cc flat-four engine has been upgraded with a rebuilt Volkswagen 1600-cc dual-port 4-cylinder. The engine bay is clean and tidy. The car's front trunk is similarly clean with the factory-installed rubber matting and a spare tire in place. Underneath, the chassis shows expected surface rust on unprotected metal arising from age and road miles. The underside of the clean engine is a visual focal point.

While the more than 140 high-definition photographs and the short walk-around-and-startup video available on the GarageKeptMotors website showcase this '72 Beetle in detail from every angle, including from below, we expect and encourage in-person inspections at our Grand Rapids, Michigan showroom. Please call to arrange an appointment in advance as our showroom is not open to the public. And feel free to get in touch anytime by phone or email if you have questions.

At the end of his VW review, the Classic Motoring writer got a little nostalgic: “Having a Beetle was similar to walking a dog. People would see you and ask about it, only to soon reminisce about the time they or a friend drove a 'Bug.' It always brings a smile or two to recall a crazy road trip with a Beetle....”

Owning and enjoying a vintage Beetle remains an automotive experience every enthusiast should cherish. But only one enthusiast will get their hands on this particular German beauty.