As a mechanic, Rolf Gardener once spent his days turning wrenches on Volkswagen Beetles in the town of Batley, West Yorkshire, England. As a Beetle enthusiast, Gardener frequently bought customer cars as they came up for sale, but age catches up with all of us. With retirement looming, Gardener is now offering his modest collection of 13 Type 1s for sale online, through U.K. auction specialist Eddisons.
Though Gardener’s collection includes a “Herbie” Beetle, it’s simply a tribute car built from a 1969 model. In fact, there are no split rear window Bugs or Hebmüller cabriolets in the bunch, either; instead, Gardener’s Beetles were simply the cars that got people to and from work, until keeping them proved problematic or financially challenging. None of his cars are likely to approach the $126,500 recently realized by a 1963 Beetle used in the filming of two “Herbie” movies, but all put a smile on his face, and Gardener is hoping they’ll do the same for new owners.
Though yellow cars dominate the collection, a few wear unique liveries, such as the 1972 that’s striped in yellow and black as if to increase its visibility; coincidentally, this car carries no obvious battle scars on its fenders. A 1971 Bug wears a candy purple paint job that appears to have come from a spray can, further evidence that Beetle owners were rarely afraid to test their mechanical and customization skills.
Perhaps the most distinctive is the yellow 1974 that carries four fenders and wheels sprayed in different colors, perhaps in tribute to the 1996 Volkswagen Golf Harlequin edition. Ironically, the Golf Harlequin was inspired by a mid-1960s ad for the Volkswagen Beetle that depicted a car with multicolored body panels to emphasize the interchangeability of parts between years. The Bug to be sold is a decade newer than the one used in the original Volkswagen ad, and by that time parts were slightly less swappable between years.
Mid-1960s VW ad, stressing the benefit of interchangeable parts. Image courtesy The Samba.
Gardener’s collection isn’t limited to Beetles, either. A pair of Transporters is up for grabs, including a 1981 T25 van and a 1986 Caravelle camper, and there’s even a 1974 Volkswagen Trekker (known here as a Volkswagen Thing) available. For those simply not interested in Volkswagens, other lots include a 1979 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow, a 1978 MGB/GT, and a 1971 Bond Bug tree-wheeler. Want one less wheel? Motorcycle offerings include a vintage Ariel 350 and a circa-1976 Jawa 350.
Bidding for all lots will be ongoing through June 3. For additional details, visit Eddisons.com.
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