1961 Volkswagen Beetle review from South Africa
"It is still more reliable than most cheap plastic new cars"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
I had to replace the king and link pins just after I bought it.
Driver's seat is badly worn.
Replaced the exhaust after a year, hard to find.
Converted the electrical system from 6 volts to 12 volts, because of the traffic police (lights too dim).
Bought new tires.
The accelerator cable broke, the first and only time this car ever left me stranded.
General comments?
She is now 42 years old, of which I have had her for 5 years as the second owner. This is an amazing machine, very basic, but totally unbreakable. It was a very sad day when I sold her.
Top speed after about three hills on a highway is 65 mph, the fourth gear runs from 35 mph right through to 65 mph.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Year of manufacture | 1961 |
| First year of ownership | 1998 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.2 Manual |
| Performance marks | 4 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 4 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 10 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 85000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 91700 miles |
| Date of Entry | 6th August, 2003 |