We just recently featured a split-window Beetle that’s got a hefty asking price on it; now, this one here on eBay is about half the price but twice the project as that car. These early VWs are desirable for their rarity and simply for being the initial models available stateside of what would become one of the most memorable vehicles on American roads for generations to come. This one goes a step further as it’s a genuine Zwitter, which was only made for about six months. The question is, does provenance and rarity matter when considering one of the most mass-produced vehicle ever made?
This photo is indicative of the level of work required to bring this special Beetle back to life. It looks like a fire swept through the interior, but it could also be due to prolonged period of exposure to the elements. This car is located in California, so perhaps it sat exposed to a desert climate. At this point, thinking about the amount of work involved, you may be asking yourself why a Zwitter is so special. Well, it has the split rear windows but the dashboard from an oval window car – while it may not amaze you, to the dedicated air-cooled fan, this is likely one of the rarest Bugs ever produced.
Here’s the other reason someone will take this restoration on: that tiny piece of metal that turns one window into two. Of course, there are other features synonymous with an early model, like the trick turn signals mounted in the B-pillars (known as semaphores for the unaware), unique rear tail lights and engine lid. So, to the seller’s credit, it sounds like he has at least tracked down some of the hard-to-find bits that will make the restoration of this split window easier. But I’m guessing due to the limited production run and the car’s disassembled state that there’s still more than a few parts missing that will be difficult to find. I’d be happy to proven wrong, however, and learn the seller has them all stashed away, carefully labeled and bagged up.
Here’s one of the accident-damaged areas the seller references in the ad on the driver’s front side. I’m not sure how you go about correcting this other than stripping the car down and starting over. Even though the other split-window Beetle we featured is more expensive, it could be worth it to not have to dive into correcting poorly-repaired accident damage. Then again, the availability of replacement parts and panels tends to make Beetle restoration fairly seamless, but who knows what variables exist in these hard-to-find early models. Which one would you choose?
Source: barnfinds.com
