This 1968 Volkswagen Beetle is a Brazilian-market example that was refurbished and modified in Brazil over a multi-year period between 2005 and 2011 and was imported to the United States in 2016. It is powered by a replacement air-cooled 1,679cc flat-four equipped with 88mm pistons and cylinders, an Engle camshaft, a dual Kadron-style carburetor kit, a Bosch 010 distributor, and a sidewinder-style exhaust system with J-tubes. The car is finished in blue and features fluted headlight lenses, swan-neck side-view mirrors, and pop-out rear quarter windows, while the interior is trimmed in black vinyl and incorporates a banjo-style steering wheel, a steering lock, front shoulder belts, a radio block-off plate, and a Porsche 917-style shift knob. Addition details include a four-speed manual transaxle, 15″ EMPI Fuchs-style wheels, drum brakes, reindexed rear torsion arms, and a Kustom Coach Werks adjustable front axle beam. Acquired by the current owner on BaT in December 2022, this Beetle is now offered on dealer consignment in California with a clean Ohio title.
Under previous ownership, the body was removed from the pan, the front turn signals were shaved, and the car was refinished in blue. Additional details include fluted headlight lenses, swan-neck side-view mirrors, pop-out rear quarter windows, and chrome bumpers with overriders. Images detailing the condition of the exterior are presented in the gallery below.
Chrome Fuchs-style 15″ EMPI wheels feature black accents and are secured with wheel adapters. The wheels are mounted with 205/65 Firestone FR710 rubber out back, while 135-series Firestone F-560 tires have been fitted up front and on the matching spare wheel. The rear torsion arms have been reindexed and a Kustom Coach Werks adjustable axle beam has been fitted up front. Stopping power is provided by four-wheel drum brakes.
The front bucket seats and rear bench are upholstered in black vinyl upholstery and are joined by color-coordinated door panels and a rubber floor liner. Interior elements include a steering lock, front shoulder belts, passenger grab handles, a radio block-off plate, and a Porsche 917-style shift knob.
The banjo-style steering wheel frames a 140-km/h speedometer and a fuel level readout, while an oil temperature gauge has been mounted below the dashboard. The five-digit mechanical odometer shows 4,100 kilometers (~2,600 miles), though true mileage is unknown.
The replacement air-cooled 1,679cc flat-four utilizes an AS41 dual-relief (AE) magnesium engine case equipped with 88mm pistons and cylinders, an Engle W-110 camshaft, a dual Kadron-style carburetor kit, a Bosch 010 distributor, a degree pulley, an upright oil filler/breather, and a sidewinder-style exhaust system with J-tubes. Power is delivered to the rear wheels through a four-speed manual transaxle. A valve adjustment was performed in July 2023, and compression readings from that time are listed on a service document viewable in the gallery below.