1957 VW Beetle 1200 on the road

Me driving a 1957 Volkswagen Beetle 1200 DeLuxe

[@miltcarlton2593]

I bought a 1957 VW beetle with 82,000 miles on it when I was a college sophomore and the car was five years old. Fabulous setting up the camera to truly show how you drove, and would still drive, that car. The only thing I can criticize is don’t shift too soon. The VW mechanics all said it should be run right up to the markings for first, second, and third gears has the cooling was totally dependent upon the speed of the engine and the fan. Mine never missed a beat until I sold it to another college boy with 144,000 miles on it. The secret is to keep the valves adjusted every 3000 miles, done with the engine totally cold second change the oil about every 1500 miles as there is no oil filter only a screen to show you up a disaster is coming when you find big pieces caught by the screen. Thanks for bringing back the memories. Would love to have another but they’re way too expensive today in the condition yours is for me to want to buy one.

[@TheOzthewiz]

Looks exactly like the '56 I owned in 1959. I took my drivers test in it and passed by ONE point. Totally blew the parallel parking test(couldn't see out that tiny rear window). Thank you for uploading this video. It brought back some wonderful memories!

[@notenufcars8474]

I stumbled upon your video when I got distracted from looking for one on torsion bar adjustment. Nice! It reminded me of riding with my sister in her '61. Different dash, but the shifter, the sounds, the view and the countryside are the same. That was 1968. Love it!

[@rosssidney125]

Hi I had a partly restored 57 in my youth it never let me down appreciate the vid thnx Aust

[@gregguenthner3059]

Reminds me of my ‘51 from Belgium. My ‘55 and my ‘’56 sun room. I miss them very much. I still own my 23 sunroof deluxe. For over 30 years. This one will be truly hard to part with! Thanks for the great vid. g

[@Shoknifeman]

Brings back so many memories of riding in Dad's '60 Bug

[@srajustin]

This makes me want one so bad, and an oval window too. Thanks for sharing!

[@PR1NCELOZANO]

You are so lucky to drive that car. I always want to have beetle .

[@357buick]

Great video. Makes me want one more than ever.

[@jbmbanter]

Memories! I learned to drive in a field in a 59 Beetle and it was great. Still love the idea of having no gas gauge and especially having to remember to flip the reserve lever so you would not run out later. I was probably 8 when I learned and it's disheartening that most teens and everyone else doesn't know how to drive a manual transmission. Most call it a stick but that is a misnomer because many cars today have a stick which is an automatic transmission. I also learned to drive a 57 Chevy with 'three on the tree.'

[@baritonebynight]

I only drive manual transmissions and they are becoming harder and harder to find in a new car. I HATE it when the salesman tries to tell me that the paddles are just as good or the automatics get better gas mileage now. I don't buy it, I want my clutch or I won't spend my cash!

[@jbmbanter897]

baritonebynight Speaking of manual transmissions my current Honda Civic Hybrid and the Honda Civic before it are/were 5 speed manuals. I need to take the Hybrid to the shop and get someone to figure out why the auto stop doesn't always work at red lights.

[@jbmbanter897]

jbm banter I currently own a 5 speed Civic Hybrid and the auto stop only works when then engine hasn't gotten hot. After it gets to normal operating temp the auto stop never works. As far as the automatics go I guess better than 90% of American drivers haven't driven a manual transmission. Manuals are also hard to find in the US but they are available.

[@chrisbeamish6556]

jbm banter not hard just buy an old car lol im 17 drove a manual at 16 from someone I knew really like it and now own a 1960 VW beetle that I'm completely restoring.

[@7fixsfj3]

There's beauty in true simplicity. Excellent little car!

[@TheThedex]

My great uncle bought one new in 1961, kept it running till his death in 2009. He sure did love it. :)

[@markwarwick2920]

Love the video. The drive looks so much like my area. I've got a 71 beetle and watching this makes me think of the weekend drives I like so much. Best thing about the dub is they are so simple and basic.

[@bombadeer8231]

Thank you for that ride 🙏

[@dgskywalker691]

Absolutely beautiful car, man. Love it.

[@shwt121]

What a beautiful bug.....and your driving is top-notch young man......keep up the good work.

[@guarionex1961]

My dad had a '64 model. It was equiped with a handcranked sunroof. Thanks for your video.

[@Kingstonsmac]

Nothing like a bug. I have a gulf blue 63 and its my baby ! Love your car!

[@dhoosee]

Thanks for posting! Felt as though I was in the back seat. Great photo angle too. I love the simplicity: No tach, fuel gauge, or bluetooth! ;O) NOTHING to distract..just pure driving. Keep her on the road and going....you are the steward for that beautiful car. When the time comes to pass it along, sell it to someone who will continue on. Great work! PS: You are a brave man for driving in flip-flops!! Barefoot is my personal preference.

[@robertaxel]

I was going to comment on that; nice minimalist look compared to today's 'space command' dashboards..

[@okwhatever2995]

Beautiful big!!

[@ctmale1956]

we had a 1957 VW bug when i was a kid growing up --- the brakes had to be fixed all the time...LOL --- it was freezing in the winter and an oven in the summer, but we loved that car so.

[@willcarter3206]

I seen one of these Beetle's as I was walking home yesterday. It wasn't a 1957 model, it looked so cute and it made me smile lol. :P

[@henkams]

My father drove Beetle's since 1953, I was practically raised in Beetle's like this . The first ones did not have extendable rearwindows, imagine; my parents both smoking, en we, the tree kids in the rear! those were the days. We made trips from the Netherlands to Italy, over the Alps, no trouble at all. Nice to see a new generation preserves these Oldies.

[@exzentrische]

Very nice car!

[@daalhoffarm]

You really got the best onboard driving video from a old vw beetle! A big thanks to you, i love to see this bug driving!

[@EricAtMazda]

Thank you and you're welcome! I plan on doing more this summer!

[@daalhoffarm]

I hope so! Keep it up! :D I got a 1957 one to!

[@popsracer18]

Here in Brazil, the Beetle was produced from 1958 to 1984 and after they return, from 1991 to 1996. Up above than 5 million Volks was produced here, more than 15.000 was mounted here with imported parts. Is the best small car ever made.

[@thesentinel8974]

nice car and a beautiful filming

[@anisiogames5309]

ai sim, vide bom é assim calado só ouvindo o barulho do carro, barabéns pelo exelente video

[@michaelbressette2599]

What a great ride you took us on & the sound is perfect. A beauty this car is. I nly drove a few of these many years ago & they scared me every time LOL They seemed like they where going faster than they actually did & the lack of insulation made it a scary event for me personally lol but i still love these cars.

[@MrMaldoso78]

ke hermoso auto,y el paisaje ni se diga....for always V.W.

[@checdm]

lindo paseo.Gracias

[@ascath203]

cool video man y love the beetle

[@metalmoto]

Nice vid. I had a 69 bug. I miss driving a stick...thanks for the memories.

[@danielpardo2403]

Nice video, it´s amazing how the 1200 engine could be so fast, the beetle runs well. Show more details of your Beetle. I like of this video. Congratulations from Brazil.

[@Thinker669]

That's nice, I don't see that many young guys our age group driving classic cars. I'm 24 and I drive a 25 year old from the 80's that has a engine and drivetrain from the 60's and a 70's body style with early 80's small upgrades.

[@staggeredmk4]

Love your 57. I recently picked up my first Air Cooled VW. A 63, here is a timelapse of my drive home in her :)

[@Mikeambas]

Nice driving man! I love your car!

[@Shoknifeman]

I love the 55-57 Beetles, especially the "ragtop" (Sunroof) version, I love the look of the oval windows, the bulging hubcaps and especially the "Bullet" front turn signals!!!

[@EricAtMazda]

I'm 19 in the video, 21 now...love driving this car, it's awesome :D

[@jaburadvocacia261]

now you’re 28? still have the car?

[@lefranor5773]

Do you still have the car?

[@EricAtMazda]

lefranor Yes I still have it :)

[@EricAtMazda]

JABUR ADVOCACIA sorry I missed your comment three months ago, yes I do still have it :)

[@lefranor5773]

@@EricAtMazda cool! more than eight years, cheers for that mate :o

[@benjaminvela535]

sssss que bien te la pasas ,, bonito tu carro

[@gaiv73]

Que buen paseo felicidades por tu auto.

[@markwarminster]

I had a '57 sunroof sedan (horizon blue) from 1980-1998. Just a fabulous car (serial number 1422385). Mark Warminster, PA

[@Ignitiongt]

Best comment in the whole thread! Thanks for upload the video for all beetle lovers in the world!

[@slyguyaction]

As great as modern cars have become, it is always a pleasure to drive something so pure and basic as these VWs from the past. Very first car I drove was a 60-something baja bug. I was around 14 or so and it was around 1986.

[@TheDreamer0510]

nice touch on the steering wheel.

[@ollie1464]

What a cool car! I love that dashboard I had not seen that before period period still have a few Volkswagen's 1 Volkswagen's 1 old 1 that I drive all the time the time.

[@drackula1985]

I use to own a 1200cc even with a 26VFIS carb from a split with a manual choke with less then 40bhp, and it was a nice town car with an occasional cruise on the open road. Comfortably cruising with 62mph.

[@herbienbrian2]

that was an awesome hill climb vid

[@EricAtMazda]

Haha this is my grandpa's car, love it. That sounds awesome!

[@studid55]

Cool! I am restoring a 1970 Karmann Ghia as my first car! I love Ghias.

[@siljr8]

Nice!!

[@okwhatever2995]

Nice! Although I curious how the outside looks, would like a grand tour of the beetle?

[@MrSake555]

not bad driving and nice car

[@EricAtMazda]

@Pardaco thank you very much! I'll have more videos of it this summer, it's all packed away for the winter now :)

[@ceckoslav]

Cool! :)

[@EricAtMazda]

No seat belts. It is road legal where I live if the vehicle was not manufactured with them. I believe the year seat belts were federally required was 1964,so that's why it didn't have them then and doesn't have them now.

[@maseraticrg]

@mercmilan06 great! take care of that beetle then! drive safe.=)

[@EricAtMazda]

@04smallmj I'm not nervous driving it, I was nervous about the tripod in the back seat falling over LOL...this car is remarkably easy to drive once you get used to it

[@will_andrade]

Fusca maravilhoso, tenho um 1969, infelizmente no Brasil fuscas dos anos 50 são extremamente caros e raros. Parabéns. Bug wonderful, I have a 1969, unfortunately in Brazil bugs 50s are extremely expensive and rare. Congratulations.

[@ianfoley612]

great share

[@EricAtMazda]

@58orgbug Thanks! Your bug is pretty sweet too haha...and yes, the radio works

[@mellotrongirl]

I got a '62 bus the same way...downshifting 4 to 4 and 3rd to 2nd OK, but to get it into first--you have to come to a complete stop. Traffic behind you doesn't think you know how t drive when a red light goes green just before you get t it--and you have to stop first.

[@Philip.Magnusson]

i like the 50's ones but the 60's (about 65-67) are the ones i like most! ;) wishing to restore my aunts sitting 60's bug sometime, an all original one owner bug been sitting 6 years big shame..

[@EricAtMazda]

@AZPONG no anti-lock brakes either, but it does have TWO ash trays!

[@iTzFreakoutz]

my beetle is almost done now i cant wait for the license! :)

[@jimfitz3562]

Thanks for the ride! Great vid, how about showing the whole car?

[@obliviousfafnir01]

We've got a place in town that sells non-ethanol gas. That's what I'll be putting in my beetle once it's running :D BTW, sweet beetle. You're grandpa is lucky, and you're lucky for having an awesome grandpa!

[@davidc9488]

Cool

[@Mohamed6069]

Your Beetle is Beautiful :) Engine is Screaming , I think you are Driving in high RPM than usual. Thanks for the video.

[@TheOzthewiz]

That engine will not rev much above 4500 RPM, will not hurt it to be driven WOT ALL DAY LONG!

[@diranmajarian7028]

What a beautiful VW!!! Still available? I would love to have such a car.

[@badshopboys]

VW BUG is the best car all over the world. Thank you!

[@Op_Sigma_YT]

hooooo especial AND THE BOY DRIV PERFECT

[@EricAtMazda]

@ReeceLiamAllsop That's not an oil light, that's the turn signal light. It is centrally located and looks the same whether you are turning left or right.

[@CanaldoToth]

same color as mine, same year. nice bug

[@rubensoto396]

thanks for the ride dude. let me out i'm bored no music no talk yea let me off next stop.

[@theschoolbusman]

Thats SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!

[@socksumi]

Back when interiors were made of materials like metal, glass, fabrics and even wood instead of plastic and vinyl.

[@Mr360back]

Just got my license and just got my first car witch is a 1974 super beetle and I love it

[@TheOzthewiz]

Too bad that these were made in MEXICO. The parts quality was nowhere near the German Wolfsberg standards.

[@EricAtMazda]

@iwuvoreos This is my grandfather's car...my first car was a 1999 Ford Contour, then I bought a 2006 Mercury Milan, and I now have a 2012 Ford Focus...still love this old Beetle, last year for the oval rear window :)

[@EricAtMazda]

That it does! Although it was converted to an auto choke at some point during its life.

[@EricAtMazda]

@teacherjohn7 thank you very much! It's winter now so I won't be doing quite as many as usual, but I will by summer!

[@DanielLoveReel]

Keep driving it, bud. Dub.so.hard.

[@EricAtMazda]

@youiable it's Hurst, and I like this shifter a lot, it fits the character of the car LOL

[@popsracer18]

Contrary to what might be thought, our Beetle was one of the simplest in the world, unfortunately. We never had items that Mexicans were already used to having the model made there. Electronic fuel injection, air conditioning, windshield greater, McPherson type front suspension, 5 speed, among others, we Brazilians have never met ... But we really love the Beetle and its derivatives anyway.

[@TheOzthewiz]

The MEXICAN built VW's don't even come close to the quality of the German built cars!!!!!!!!!

[@AZPONG]

No shoulder belt or air bags and a metal dash...Disaster waiting to happen....but worth the risk!

[@EricAtMazda]

They run fine on regular unleaded gas. Don't put premium in them though, it makes them stall easier.

[@EricAtMazda]

@panzerstrom The only difference is that you must come to a full and complete stop before you can put the car in 1st gear. Otherwise, it operates just like any other manual transmission...no double clutching needed.

[@LoveTheCity123]

I would be so scared to drive a manual LOL ... I couldn't handle all of that rocking back and fourth and crap LOL ..

[@EricAtMazda]

@4BORE I believe it's quoted at 29mpg but I'm really not too sure about that

[@EricAtMazda]

@TheDreamer0510 thanks, that's a custom leather cover my grandpa sewed on :)

[@EricAtMazda]

@AddictedtoVinyl Will be someday :) love it to pieces

[@user-rl1ow6so8c]

Like the interior of 57..

[@woody95124]

would of loved to see wat she looked like!

[@jjjman938]

I have a 1944 original ragtop bug it is so much similar to your grandfathers car

[@58orgbug]

@mercmilan06 Thats ok, but if you get the time to do it some day, it would be cool. And tell your Grandpa that the old bug needs to be driven a lot and ask him if you can use it in the summer, its a great car to cruise around in in the summer. Greetings from Norway.

[@EricAtMazda]

@xxnissansilviaxx this is my grandfather's car and he paid $5,000 for it about 7 years ago with just over 100k miles on it...I don't know the actual mileage this thing gets because you can't really top off the tank the way the gas tank is designed, but these usually hover around high 20s or right around 30mpg

[@58orgbug]

@mercmilan06 Hi. Could you film more of your nice bug, on the outside and the engine and post it here?, it would be nice to see more of your bug, i love the old vw bugs.

[@curtismichael14]

@mercmilan06 I really like the dash, what is it made of?

[@EricAtMazda]

@Stet17 It moves because of the super short gearing, low weight, and the fact that you're always in the lowest gear possible to keep the air-cooled engine running at it's optimal rpm range...it takes 9.5hp to keep a Ford Flex going 50mph on a flat road so you can use that to give you an idea of how powerful it is (idk if that helps at all haha)

[@TheOzthewiz]

My '56 was probably the FASTEST accelerating car across the intersection (0-10MPH) because of the short gearing AND the fact that all the torque came in at the bottom end. It was all done at 4500RPM.

[@WernerRobin]

I have the same, but 1 year older, built 12/1955, Modell 1956