At $2,400, Would You Make A Run For The Border In This 1968 VW Baja Bug?
The seller of today's Nice Price or Crack Pipe Baja Bug brackets its name in his ad with triple Xs like it's the title of some old school porno movie. We'll have to see if its price actually makes it that scandalous.
The extremely convivial seller of Friday's 1993 Honda Accord LX wagon reached out to me via email in explanation of the mystery surrounding the car's Tennessee plates and obvious Arizona locale.
It turns out that he and the Accord used to live in the Volunteer State. They both moved to the Rattlesnake State to be with his fiancée. That's damn sweet, but not as sweet as the 80 percent Nice Price win his $2,000 price tag earned. Let's wish them the best of luck, both on the sale and the wedding.
Cars are not like spouses. You can't just stick your wife or husband out in the garage for years with the intention that you'll 'get around to dealing with him/her sooner or later.' Neither can you just put your better half up for sale when you get bored with them, or simply need some fast cash. No, that whole love honor and cherish, and until death do us part bit that you so dutifully avowed at the altar really does have ramifications.
Fortunately, this isn't called Nice Wife or Crack Pipe, or Nice Price or No Longer My Type. We'll leave the marital machinations to the experts, as we have more important things to consider.
One of those is this 1968 Volkswagen Type 1 that has been converted to Baja Bug style and which has been painted in a camouflage color scheme that, in certain light, might just make it nearly impossible to locate.
The fact that this VW is a '68 is of interest, since that was the first year the Baja Bug hit the racing circuit. The iconic chopped fender-big tire look made its debut at the NORRA Mexican 1000 where one was driven by Car Craft magazine publisher Sal Fish.
It proved an auspicious beginning as Fish and his co-driver, Bob Weggeland ended up suffering a fatal breakdown in the middle of the night while also in the middle of nowhere. They were forced to concede defeat and the Bug finished the race on the back of a truck. The Baja Bug conversion would still continue its popularity however, both on dusty race courses, and in less taxing use on the street.
This one looks like it's spent most of its time on the pavement. The car comes with a clear California (birthplace of the Baja Bug!) title and seems to be ready to rock, albeit in crude and frippery-free form. If your penchant is for luxury accommodations, this isn't your ride. Maybe you'd want to check out an Uber lux instead.
For those of more parsimonious needs, this Bug seems solid, with no obvious holes in the frame that shouldn't be there. The nose is a fiberglass tilt-forward number, and another bit of plastic provides an awning for the exposed engine out back.
This being a '68, it sports a swing axle rear end, evidenced by the jaunty camber of the big meats bolted back there. The engine is described as a dual port 1600 and that's fed by a 2-barrel carb. A limp stinger style exhaust sends the bad gasses to the corn field.
The ad says the car 'Runs Great" and claims it to be 'A Lot of Fun!' It's pretty much only fun for two, though, since the rear seat squab has apparently gone missing and has been replaced with a less comfortable-appearing piece of plywood. Front seats are out of something more recent and less Volkswagen. I at first thought Neon, but then, no.
It takes a special someone to drive a Baja Bug on the regular. They are not the best at anything but are quirky enough, and carry enough history to be interesting. The question for all of you is: could this one be $2,400 interesting?
You decide!
San Diego, CA XXX Craigslist XXX, or go here if the ad disappears.
H/T to EdHelmsBakery for the hookup!
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