Where to sell my old non running Beetle

My 1968 1500 Beetle which I’ve owned since 1989 has been sitting in my parents garage for the last 20 years or so. They’ve plans so it’s finally time to move it on. I’ve no real interest in doing anything with it, while it would be great to have it fully restored and working again I’ve no room in my garage and I’ve not got the time to really enjoy driving it again. So with that in mind what’s the best place to look to sell it?

vzi – Volkszone Forum used to be a good place.

does the motor turn over? – what condition is the rest of it? asking for a friend… 😉 not that i need it – i`ve got a bay window i need to shift at some point!

I used to be frequent user of Vzi but doesnt have a lot of activity these days, a shame as it was brilliant (and a warning for this place!) but still worth trying.

Alternative would be local VW clubs via facebook. Also lots of VW sale pages on there as well.

I’ve owned beetles and vans so if you are Midlands based send me some details and I may know some people who would be interested.

I’ve a friend setting up a restoration business, so if you want to ping me some details he might be interested to buy it as a project.

Edit, Also midlands based.

Get in touch with Jonny Smith at the Late Brake Show https://thelatebrakeshow.com/

Get him to film it as a barn find, then loads of people will want to buy it!

Id love to see some pics op? I can’t buy it I’m afraid but I’m a fan of the old beetles. Its always nice to see a “barn find” one too. 👍

Market for air cooled VW’s at the moment is on the floor as supply is way more than demand,  £30k buses selling for £15k

Get some of this stuff on it…

I’ve always wanted to build a Baja style desert Bug.

The only thing stopping me is lack of space, time, money, knowledge and talent.

Market for air cooled VW’s at the moment is on the floor as supply is way more than demand, £30k buses selling for £15k

its interesting, in the last 15 years every other classic car has quadrupled in value or more (old porsche 944 s2s used to be £2k, they’re now £10k, old e30 bmws used to be nearly free, now £5k for a rustbucket) – but old aircooled vw vans were £20k for a nice one in the mid-2000s and are now £15k for a nice one. Perhaps they were just in a bubble back then?

The market for cheap classics has bloomed, but mid-level, there’s less and less people who actually want them.  Many young people just aren’t interested in cars at all.

old aircooled vw vans were £20k for a nice one in the mid-2000s and are now £15k for a nice one. Perhaps they were just in a bubble back then

It’s even worse for old Heinkels and Isettas

Yup sadly the vw crowd is far from it’s glory days.  ( Oval and spilt window bugs still do well the same for coach builds)

It will sell thou if it’s a genuine 1500 best engine and gearbox for a bug if you ask me. People especially young uns are not interested you need space and time for them classics cars needs love.

The price of Ford’s seams to buck the trend for daily running classics.

eBay and Facebook vw groups are your friend

My 67 bug is going this year at some point as it is just sitting in my garage. I’m trying to fall in love with my bus again.

Good luck

Is Volksworld magazine still going?

OP – Try custom and modifier forums?

The only thing stopping me is lack of space, time, money, knowledge and talent. – That is NOT A VALID EXCUSE

Many years ago I sold my rotten beetle to Chesil who used it as a donor for one of their Porsche speedster replicas, they’ve relocated to Bicester but are still very much going. Worth a call?

Stick it on ebay for a quid. I sold a 12 year old Fiat 500 with a busted clutch for £1800 doing that. People get caught up in the bidding thinking they will get a bargain.

Thanks all, I’ll try and get some photos this weekend. I know prices aren’t anything like the ridiculous levels they reached at one point and I’ve no real idea what it’s worth. I think I paid £1000 for it 35 years ago so it’ll be interesting to see how it’s value now compares. It hasn’t turned over in 20 years so I’d not try starting it now.

Main thing for me is that it gets used again, kids arriving was the main reason I stopped using it, never seemed enough time, bikes got pretty neglected as well for a while. A not unfamiliar story.

Classic cars & bikes are all down in value/price since COVID & interest rates went up.

Classic cars & bikes are all down in value/price

I’m still waiting for the sellers and dealers to realise this. Everything is still “future classic” and “price is only going one way”.

I’m not sure the trend on ‘classic cars’ is universal – it all depends what’s in vogue/who’s got the spare cash to spend.

I’ve seen it in steam railway memorabilia (through my dad and friends) and the vintage tractor world; both have had spells of stuff from certain eras making huge money, then plummeting, and I don’t think classic cars are much different. It’s cyclical I think – we’re all getting older at the same rate as the cars, and for the older stuff the knowledge to maintain them, and potentially the spare parts supply is drying up. Land Rover, Mini and Classic VW may be somewhat immune to this given the scale of the modifying/aftermarket scene.

Ultimately, I think we all want to buy the cars/tractors/stuff that we remember from our youth – that’s certainly the case in my peer group, we’re all in our late thirties/early forties and wanting 80’s & 90’s vehicles, which coincides with us progressing in our careers and having more disposable income, and in some cases time as kids are that bit older, so that’s where the money is going. You also have to factor in that A LOT of 80’s and 90’s cars went on the scrappage schemes, so are relatively rare, driving prices up. Try an eBay search for a Nova, Corsa, 106, 306, Clio etc from the 90’s – they either don’t exist or they’re silly money. I bought a 205 XS last year for handy money, and I think I would get 50% more for it now. If I have a large windfall/win the lottery I will buy the best Williams Clio I can find though, and keep driving prices up, haha!

Timely thread. I’m about to sell a 1975 VW camper. Was going to just put it on eBay but interested in alternatives. Can’t find logbook yet (it’s FiL’s vehicle).

TBH I’m not bothered about the price, would prefer to sell to enthusiast than scrap it. Near Lancaster. It used to run fine, SORNed for a few years though.

Get yourself on the telly with Bangers and Cash dragging it out of the garage. Matthewsons at Pickering will at least give you their opinion.

You also have to factor in that A LOT of 80’s and 90’s cars went on the scrappage schemes, so are relatively rare, driving prices up. Try an eBay search for a Nova, Corsa, 106, 306, Clio etc from the 90’s – they either don’t exist or they’re silly money.

The young boys here in work are really into their 90s cars and we always have 2 or 3 306s or Micras or similar in the car park. A couple of weeks ago they were all checking out a 1994 Citroen AX that one had bought. (He’s 20.) The car is in great condition but, really, a Citroen AX? 30 years of sitting around won’t have made it any better than it was then, and, I’m trying to be polite here, it wasn’t great then. 😀

old aircooled vw vans were £20k

The used to be a Pritsche (flat bed) one parked up for sale near Munich for 65,000€…… TBF it was restored and looked really nice, but….. 65k?

The used to be a Pritsche (flat bed) one parked up for sale near Munich for 65,000€…… TBF it was restored and looked really nice, but….. 65k?

well you could buy 10 of them for the price of a nice.. Sierra.

https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/features/car-culture/ford-sierra-cosworth-rs500-sells-for-596-250/

Iirc Jamie Oliver did an ‘aspirational experience’ series driving round Italy (Jamie’s Great Italian Escape, according to Google) towing a portable kitchen and living what would now be termed the van life. After it had aired he put his splitty up for sale for something like £70k, and suddenly everyone wanted one. It was at one stage for sale for £165k. That bubble had to burst.

My 1963 (229GLF) is apparently still out there, I sold it in about 1996 for £150 as very much a non runner.

I had beetles and sold them on the owners club websites, a few low ball offers but they sold at asking price.  One of them I may buy back as am in touch with the new owner.  Prices are still firm for good ones, I looked at loads of tat before buying the best I could afford.

well you could buy 10 of them for the price of a nice.. Sierra.

As a kid my mate’s dad had one. Pretty sure he was a drug dealer or similar as I don’t think he had a job.

A guy up the road had A Carlton Lotus.

Wonder if the flooding of the market of newer “lifestyle” VW Transporters has had a knock on effect to the air cooled stuff?

Beetles have gained popularity in the past few years. People with campers have bought modern vans, yet want something aircooled

Aircooled camper prices have reduce in the UK as you can’t sell LHD ones to Europe as easily

The car is in great condition but, really, a Citroen AX? 30 years of sitting around won’t have made it any better than it was then, and, I’m trying to be polite here, it wasn’t great then.

Yer not wrong! 🤣

Beetles have gained popularity in the past few years. People with campers have bought modern vans, yet want something aircooled.

And with an alarming habit of self-immolation on the hard shoulder of a motorway. Or any road, for that matter. 😕

A guy up the road had A Carlton Lotus.

That’s a proper classic supercar. 4 door luxury saloon capable of nearly 180mph whereas most modern ones are limited to 155mph

According to a review I read you need the thighs of a weightlifter to work the clutch as it’s rather industrial.