Classic Beetle Could Fetch New VW Golf R Money At Auction

For some, nothing beats the coolness of an original classic in top-notch condition, especially a barely driven example.

Listed by RMSothebys for their Fort Lauderdale auction on April 6-7, in Florida, this VW Beetle could fetch between $40,000 and $50,000. That’s more than a brand-new Golf R, which can starts from $39,375 in the United States.

So, what makes it so unique that could help it raise the aforementioned sum, and not the usual $15,000+ of other Volkswagen Beetle Supper Cabriolets? Why, that would be the fact that it has less been driven for less than 800 miles (1,287 km) from new, according to the auction house.

Its history is properly documented since it left VW’s assembly line in 1979, and it’s accompanied by the maintenance books and build sheet.

What the auction house doesn’t say if it’s been restored or just properly taken care of. However, given its steep estimated selling price, we could be looking at the second option, probably with some work carried out when necessary. What matters is that everything appears to be very clean, regardless if it’s on the outside, in the cabin, or in the engine bay.

And while the original Beetle has earned its name as a heritage example and a collectible item, its latest successor is currently facing the axe. Volkswagen plans to retire it completely, as having “a new new new Beetle” doesn’t make any sense, according to the company’s R&D boss, Frank Welsch. VW will still have a retro-inspired classic in its range, though, in the form of the all-electric iteration of the iconic Minibus.