Lot 309: 1956 Volkswagen Beetle

Everyone knows the story of the Beetle; it was initially designed to provide cheap transport for the hard working German masses. Built in very small numbers before and during World War II, the Beetle literally rose from the ashes of Volkswagen's bombed-out Wolfsburg factory to become an instant success in Europe, Britain, America and virtually every other country in the world. The model evolved through various facelifts and numerous mechanical changes - there were more than 70,000 identifiable modifications - and provided a platform for other models, including commercial vehicles and sporting derivatives such as those by Karmann-Ghia. It was this constant development and attention to detail which allowed the Beetle to maintain its position, and as production raced past the 15,000,000 mark, the Beetle went on to be crowned as the best selling car of all time. Finished in blue with matching blue interior, this splendid example underwent a body-off restoration by a Volkswagen specialist between 1995 and 2000, a detailed description of which accompanies the car. Thus described as being in excellent condition and said to drive quite superbly, this evocative 1950s Beetle, complete with the original and desirable sunroof, comes with a V5 registration document and a MoT test certificate valid until June.