The 1970s brought a load of 1930s nostalgia several times during the decade. In Hollywood, we had The Sting, a movie set in the mid-1930s that told the tale of a plot concocted by a pair of grifters. Another piece of 1930s nostalgia existed in the automotive aftermarket, as demonstrated by our Pick of the Day. This 1965 Volkswagen Beetle “Wunderbug” is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Morgantown, Pennsylvania.
Sitting in the back seat of Mom’s station wagon, you get to see a lot of cars. This is how a fledgling auto enthusiast cut his teeth. Of course, Volkswagens were a common sight, but then you notice the differences (horn grilles, taillight lenses, reflectors, license plate light assemblies, and backlites, among others) and learn how to organize the running changes. Once I spotted a strange Beetle with bullet-style parking lights by the headlights so, the next time I was at the mall, I visited B. Dalton Bookseller and looked up a VW book and learned the car in question was from 1957. Oldest Beetle in town?
On occasion, I’d spot a Beetle with a conversion to a Rolls-Royce or 1930s Ford grille (and, sometimes, trunklid). These were amusing curiosities for a kid like me, not quite understanding what they were other than I knew that Rolls-Royce was the most prestigious car in the world, a car I could see on occasion while visiting New York City and more often while visiting relatives in Los Angeles.
One of the companies that created these conversions was called Lieffring Industries from Kansas City, Missouri. The “Wunderbug” conversion was offered for standard Beetles (meaning no Super Beetles) and consisted of a new hood and side panels to give the funky German car the look of a 1937 Ford. Lieffring Industries was one of several companies who developed this conversion, with some featuring the similar-yet-different 1940 Ford style. “Quality fiberglass parts by an experienced auto parts maker. Hood is double (laminated) and the inside finishes as nicely as the outside,” read the brochure. “Makes expensive Mercedes-type sound when you close it. Grill assembly is mirror-bright, anodized, extruded aluminum. Double safety latch, cable controlled. Detailed installation instructions included.”
While my recollection of these cars is only as good as my memory (read: hit/miss), I don’t recall seeing this conversion on a pre-1968 Beetle until I stumbled upon this 1965 Volkswagen Beetle featuring the ’37 Wunderbug conversion. Is there irony in pointing out this “People’s Car” is using the styling of a Ford, the very same brand that originally developed a car for the people? “The chrome is nicely preserved in the bumpers, trim, and any badging which shines wonderfully in the strong Pennsylvania summer sun,” says the seller. “The gaps are very nice, and the cute little running board is all solid.” Inside, you’ll note the red and white door panels contrasting with the black seats. The engine is a 1.2-liter boxer-four with a Solex one-barrel carburetor. Of course, shifting chores are handled by a four-speed manual.
If you’re torn between a Volkswagen and a vintage Ford, we have found the solution for you. And, at $7,500, it truly is a nostalgic take on the People’s Car.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
