1973 Volkswagen Beetle
In 1973, "Greetings from Asbury Park" was released, Elvis filed for divorce from Pricilla, Barnaby Jones premiered on TV, and "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree" was Billboard's song of the year. But in terms of everyday life, OPEC mandates a cut in exports as a result of the Arab-Israeli war. This would set in motion the move to create smaller, more fuel efficient cars in the years to come. Volkswagens had been produced since the 50's, so if you bought a '73 just before the embargo, you were sittin' pretty.
For consignment, a 1973 Beetle with some fresh paint, fresh upholstery and about 300 extra cc's to help this thing scoot. It's got a unique paint job and a wheel and tire set up that gives a bit of a hot rod vibe. Even the dual exhaust the size of the Alaskan pipeline hints that this little bug is up for some fun.
Exterior
Medium Blue Metallic is highlighted by maroon accents. The fiberglass hood has Z28 style scoops filled with maroon. The plexi covered headlights in fiberglass fenders include an amber light bulb as the turn signals replacing the fender mounted units that would have been original. This streamlines things a good deal especially when you realize there are no bumpers on the car. The vertical windshield leads to a pop-up sunroof with tinted glass. The side of the car has a bold, maroon Z-shaped stripe, a salute to the ZZ Top hot rod maybe? Or Zoro? The metalwork including the door handles, side windows and intake vents on the rear pillar are in great condition. More vents appear on the deck lid and trunk, also in contrasting bright metal. Later model tail lights have been replaced with '62-'67 era lights which may keep tailgaters guessing. But they're likely to be more focused on the wide fenders and giant exhaust pipes protruding from the back. 15-inch Weld DragLite wheels are the car with deeper dishes in the back where we find Mickey Thompson ET Street tires, and it doesn't get much more hot rod than that! The paint is very nice and the only imperfections we found were some minor scratches you would need a pet eagle to find.
Interior
The wild outside leads to a rather tame interior with very nicely formed door panels in blue and ivory alternating sections. The door pull and actuator are pure white. The front bucket seats are in great shape repeating the pattern of blue and ivory vinyl. The back bench and surrounding panels and shelf are in fresh shape. The steering wheel looks original, and the dash has been upgraded to include many more gauges than would have originally been on a '73. The VDO gauges relay info on voltage, fuel, oil pressure, and temperature. A Pioneer AM/FM/Cassette radio in the center above an ashtray with the shift pattern printed on it. The metal glove box is dressier than stock. A Hurst Trigger shifter is on the floor. The loop carpet is in good condition and the white headliner looks great. The frunk has the gas tank and a spaghetti nest of wires and otherwise barren.
Drivetrain
A 1900cc engine is fueled by a pair of 1-barrel carburetors and puts out a consignor-stated 150 horsepower, that's up about 100 from what a stock '73 would put out! There's some chrome dress-up in the engine bay and everything looks clean. A 4-speed manual rows the gears and it all stays in the back where 3.875 gears are found. Dual exhaust are wildly configured on the engine, looking like two trombones that terminate in big, chrome tips. Disc brakes are up front and drums are in the rear.
Undercarriage
We see even more of the exhaust configuration and note there is no muffler. The bottom of the engine looks clean and dry. The rest of the bottom, in true Beetle fashion, is flat and featureless until you get to the front where we see the transverse torsion bar. Rear suspension is handled by semi trailing arms that are independent.
Drive-Ability
Well after settling into an interior that's a very pleasant place to be, we crank the rear engine to life. She's a bit grumpy and not happy at idle but takes on acceleration with more confidence as the carbs take on fuel. Coming to a stop and there's some bickering going on back there. But overall, the car moves well and surprises us with a few backfires out the exhaust. We note the horn is inoperable and the reverse lights do not illuminate.
This is a snappy little car that could probably use a good tune up, but is otherwise a nice and tidy package of Wolfsburg's best. It's got a great stance, some hot rod cues, and a lightweight body that everyone loves to look at and comment on. I think it was ZZ Top who sang, "Everyone is crazy 'bout a sharp dressed bug..."
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