Oldest beetle in the USA Discovered in a basement!

Join me on a hunt where we find a 1946 VW Beetle in a basement of an abandoned house. This beetle could be one of the oldest Volkswagens in the US. I hope we can get it out safely and it can be restored back to its former glory. Lots of other goodies at this property to see as well. Hope you enjoy!

[@nursesteve2004]

If it's a 1946, then it must have been brought over to US by a returning soldier, because it wasn't till 1949 that the first VW's were officially imported to the US. A grand total of two were imported that year. The numbers slowly picked up in succeeding years.

[@timescales]

This is correct. One of the two original 1949's is at the Sacramento Automobile Museum.

[@unclemarksdiyauto]

Hope it all goes to a good home. Hate to hear stories where the city or town comes in and scraps it all. Hope they don't wait until that happens. It looks like lots of great parts etc! Thanks for posting!

[@davebrucher2283]

I was aware of a soldier who purchased a 1946 bug, from a German Fire Department, and arranged to have it exported to the USA. It was in great shape, maintained by the fire crew. I wonder where it is now as well as the value. That was in 1974.

[@Carchaeology]

That is one wild pile of stuff! Some treasures in the trash for sure. Always makes me a little sad to see a hoard like this, a lot of great stuff that could be back out in circulation! Its certainly not the oldest Beetle in the US though, I have a video posted where I discover a 1943 KDF Beetle sitting in a California yard in the rain. Thanks for sharing this though...quite a treasure hunt.

[@christophermichael.w.7577]

I live in Maryland and I used to deal with a guy who had a place similar to this. I have not been by there in a long time but he was there ever since I was a kid and he had a Vw junk yard, repair shop, and he sold used Vws.He always had Beetles and Ghias out front

[@tarstarkusz]

If I was going to buy a VW, I would want one from the Nazi era. It's kind of ironic that the peacenick hippies loved the nazi-mobile so much. Why would there be a KDF beetle? The KDF was the strength through joy program. I don't know if that is the dept the people's car went through, but none of those were ever delivered.

[@nobodynoone2500]

If youre too old, lazy, busy or uninterested, SELL IT ON! Letting it rot is a crime.

[@untermench3502]

I had an Uncle in Quebec that had a 1946 VW beetle. He was a POW and later stationed in West Germany, then brought it back to Canada when he left the Service.

[@ridingwitha6vbloke878]

We own 2 1943 VW beetle and was imported to Australia after WW2. One of them is unrestored and still has the original German ww2 paint dessert yellow colour with original writing on it.

[@falconx5744]

Hi mate was this the one at the vw nationals in Sydney?

[@zone47]

Wow, a person spends his whole life collecting stuff and then ends up probably too old to do anything with it ... that goes for me as well. Cool treasure hunt, I'll bet he could make a bazillion dollars if he found a way to organize and sell all that stuff to collectors.

[@tripyhippy]

same here i have so much stuff

[@eddiespagetti8395]

I know an old guy In my area. 10 Acre of old trucks and heavy equipment. Won't sell anything and it's been like up since 1975.

[@sparky6086]

Yes. It's a pretty common problem. People collect the stuff intending to make cool projects with it, then suddenly they're old and by the time, that they realize that, they're too demented or too overwhelmed to liquidate. Once you get older, the days clip along like minutes, so the best advice is to choose your projects like choosing your battles, so as to have as few projects as possible.

[@ss67camaronut]

Yea and everyone wants it for nothing and he gets pisster and runs them tf off. At least I do. F the thieves. If I'm gonna give it away it'll be on my terms or I'll crush it my damn self.

[@spudnikkx1112]

@@ss67camaronut Classic old hoarder curmedgeon mentality. Once you die, then reality takes over at the estate sale.

[@monkeywentbananas]

What a treasure trove of old VW's and NOS parts!

[@budsforyou5908]

If I had a nickle for every time I've heard "I'm gonna", while scoping out old bugs.

[@jaygill5582]

You'll be Bill Gates by now!!!

[@ksavage681]

For sure. Round tuits are hard to come by it seems. Everybody is waiting to get one.

[@brian56]

Good God! That thing needs to be saved! The back end of the split windows was absolutely beautiful.

[@smiley4288]

That place is my heaven… just loads of cool stuff!!! Thanks for sharing 🤘😎🤘

[@williamtanner1372]

Wow! What an exciting horde of stuff. Like to see it in the open.

[@harryrehm2106]

I was starting to cough just watching this video! Lots of neat stuff there. Great video.

[@baxterscientific]

If this guy is in Mass I am in RI and had 49 beetle . If he wants to trade that split bug I have a nice 67 deluxe walk-through split bus ALL ORIGINAL INTERIOR, PAINT AND HEADLINER. Really cool to see all that stuff . I have some 15 inch bus rims as well...😎

[@Rspri303]

Are you interested in selling the 67 Deluxe? Thanks

[@BRED510]

Wow, great find, would love to see a video of it when it's put of its Dungeon!

[@driveanalog747]

Ya I’m hoping to do that soon

[@poacher9118]

I love collectors like that. Greetings from England.

[@VwRosstorations]

Man...why is all that treasure just squirrelled away....👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@alvinmortimer7536]

Oval and split windows have that hump. It is the engine vent cowl pan that drains rainwater.

[@dubworldvwadventures]

Lost out on a 1947 Beetle in 1988. Those were the days!

[@driveanalog747]

Bummer. Thanks for watching

[@VWPrince53]

Wow that’s insane! Great Find! 👍

[@plufsen]

Fantastic find!

[@jvrkandc]

Very similar to my early 47....which is the oldest vw in South Africa...Thx for the cool vid

[@base7022]

Great video! the hub cap in the 1947 Bretzel Beetle was actually not built until 1945. it's a KDF ("Strength through Joy" / Kraft durch Freude) hubcap! Maybe it's from WW2 (a 4WD Beetle maybe?). Greetings Klaus from Düsseldorf

[@Schlipperschlopper]

The car might be value a fortune!

[@base7022]

It depends on the story! the Volkswagen factory still has good archives of where or to whom the car was delivered.

[@e-curb]

Those hubcaps were repro'd in the 80s. It's likely a later part.

[@Youngberg1000]

@@base7022 Socialist always keep good records. They are the government of surveillance, something American are now getting use to.

[@base7022]

@@Youngberg1000 Why socialism? We are not socialists and VW do not belong to a socialist state! The GDR no longer exists!

[@cortevens]

And they wonder why homeowners associations take over neighborhoods and become so powerful?

[@kavanghia6908]

Cool video! I'm working on my 69 ghia that I saved from the crusher! Thanks 👍

[@josephsteffen2378]

OMG! Royal score!

[@d1specdrifter]

I miss my split window bugs. I owned 2 of them.

[@P00katube]

The guys from VWLife and OldVolksTV need to make a beeline to this place wherever this is located!!!!!

[@cotjocky466]

I'd love a follow up comment on this. It would be nice to know that someone rescued it, even it it wasn't you. Would be a shame for it to be scrapped or any of the stuff found there for that matter.

[@LONEWOLF-dr6fg]

It was my hoby in Austria at the early 20s but sadly due to a financial problem I've had to sale it to a Japanese business friend Best of luck Mr Shimizu 🤜🤛

[@mikekuczynski1552]

Go get it Jim , classic Merlin Perkins . Don’t see many splits around . Thanks for the video

[@envitech02]

To most people, this is nothing but a pile of scrap metal. But this is a junk hunter's dream junkyard!!

[@jeffhunter2553]

I've seen clips of this property before. A true Mega hoard. This man was sitting on a fortune.

[@davewhite1652]

I've seen one '46 at Bad Camberg in '95... sitting on a Kubel chassis complete with gas tank. The British military used anything they could find to keep production going in hopes that someone would buy the company.

[@dyer2cycle]

I'm pretty sure some of the early Kubels were built on used VW38 and VW39 chassis..maybe W30 as well, not sure about that one...

[@donsmith8614]

must be western mass, no beantown accent, wouldn't mind having that 54. love seeing a garage stuffed to the max with parts.

[@Mikefngarage]

That 46 came home with a serviceman. They were not sold here until 49 and there were like 2 of those.

[@GT.Bugger]

Be great to see everything out in the open.

[@driveanalog747]

Ya we are going to pull everything out soon. I will do a video on that process. Thanks for watching

[@leeketner6488]

Radar from the iconic show MASH sent it over piece by piece. Lol

[@klausvonschmit4722]

It may not be the oldest split in the USA but, with its back story it’s definitely the Raddest split in the USA!! There’s no doubt your passion is genuine! I can here my oval saying what up lazy ass? It’s time to go out for a cruise to hopefully rope a dope aka a corvette, or mustang owners into getting whooped VW before it’s gets to hot! Great find

[@dyer2cycle]

a find for sure!...even that rough oval is worth restoring...split window bugs are worth a mint now...even ovals are worth quite a lot....

[@d1specdrifter]

I had 2 oval split window bugs.

[@gerhard6105]

I hope you buy the 40's Käfer. A same KdF wheel hub costs about €300, here in Europe. Today a 1950 Käfer was sold for €16500,- Buy all these old Käfers, if you can. Regards from Belgium

[@danielsjo6580]

Mr Woosley in Chas SC owned a VW repair shop he had the oldest vw in USA it was an early 46. Documented by VW trends...

[@alfredheintges6093]

great stuff!!

[@williamburdon6993]

Its great he saved all the stuff from the scrapper but its a shame its just mostly rotting into the ground.

[@dawitkassa3131]

My question is; what is the owner waiting for? Is he waiting until everything rusted and turns to mud? In my opinion, it is much better if body parts/ new parts are organized in a visible and easily accessible manner for any potential buyers. Time is ticking, take action quickly. I used to own a classic car that I enjoyed very much for many years. Finally, I decided to find her a nice forever home. After a few weeks' search, the potential buyer gives her a nice home. Now she is residing in one of the best collectors' museums. I visited her once in a while.

[@SladesVWBeetle]

Wow!!!! A 46!!!!!

[@oscar_dubs]

Amazing 🤩

[@driveanalog747]

Hope we can dig it out of there soon

[@angeldawnmorningstar]

Weinlese VW Käfer ! ! ! Ausgezeichnet ! 😇❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@tobyigbalic1614]

my great great grandfather owns a split window beetle

[@Biokemist-o3k]

I could smell the mold and mildew along with the humidity...

[@SocialMedia-hq3xl]

It is what we call a spectacles.

[@derpydog1008]

5150mxVW would have a field day in there.

[@muteclaude6969]

Looks like straight outta the garage from the granny horror game

[@christophermichael.w.7577]

I know a place that probably looks very similar to this. When I had my VWs I used to deal with a guy that had a shop at his house and he had a junk yard of old vw stuff. He used to sell cars too. I have not been by in a long time. I would like to go check it out and see what he is up to or if he is around anymore. He was at the place since the early 80s and I bet he has alot of hard to find parts for the older stuff. That is why I used to deal with him.

[@ninfelise]

Ooo, a piece of candy! Ooo, a piece of candy!

[@slothzombi307]

When are they going n a basement? I am sad when I see old vehicles rotting away outside.

[@galencurrington8704]

A friend of mine knows where a barndoor is in a garage but guy won’t sell at all been in there since mid 70’s. He offered a ton of money and still wouldn’t sell.

[@driveanalog747]

Wow that’s awesome!! I would love to do a video on that!! Is it close to NH?

[@galencurrington8704]

@@driveanalog747 no it’s in Georgia.

[@easydrivefrance]

there was a hubcap from a french vespa 400 !

[@howie4150]

It's a 54. It had the pop out turn signals on the body frame next to the door

[@melgoy2094]

he wont do a thing with this stuff. Just a hoarder. Sad

[@fullthrottlemetric]

I used ride my bike down allys lookimg for cool cars then i spotted a beauriful a 56 oval ragtop in a back yard . 12 years i would stop by every year makimg sure he still had my number and finally one day he called and said his health was getrinh bad amd to come grab the oval. A aplit seems like unobtanable dream

[@e-curb]

The guy in the video is correct about the inside of the rear window. That's a feature of a 46 or 47. Then later when the idiot was drooling over a POS Brazilian 70s Beetle hubcap, you can just make out the shocktower of the front beam. It is also consistent with the claim that it's a 46.

[@pawleymediaconsultantsllc5]

Wish I could have seen the Dash Board. Would have been more confirming :)

[@helmutelster816]

Die Sitze des BMW 5er passen auf die Schienen des VW, ebenso das Getriebe.

[@jeffstewart7976]

Those dude reminds me of ralphies little brother in a Christmas story.

[@robertwest3093]

The most impressive detail is HOW DID THEY GET IT DOWN THERE?

[@ruskiryan2398]

It is a basement garage, watch again and you will see them open the BIG DOOR and walk in!

[@Makatosh]

Shame it's rotting away in a horders garage

[@james66872]

I totally agree

[@spaceghost8995]

Hoarder not horder.

[@blacksquirrel4008]

But he’s “going to fix that up pretty soon.”

[@vintage76vipergreenBeetle]

Someone needs to clean out that place and make some money.

[@SladesVWBeetle]

Oh man I agree!!!

[@TFSIChristmas]

Yess and put a grill bbq and big IKEA store

[@checkheck8875]

That guy is sitting on a fortune.

[@stude1953]

I thought Ringo was the oldest beatle

[@driveanalog747]

Good one!!

[@unabonger777]

is that even the same car you put for the thumbnail on this video?

[@jimtomassetti8928]

All the Beatle car's an buses that are still out there... Would have a field trip there!

[@dyer2cycle]

..Beatle cars?...I'm not sure what Paul and Ringo own, but I'm sure all of John and George's cars have been sold by now..not sure any of them ever owned any buses...

[@marktatum2592]

Not for sale. Me and my son plan on fixin it up one of these days. 🤣

[@chrissytaylor5690]

Awesome video! 👏💯 It's crazy to think Germany was still cranking out Vdubs so shortly after the war....(even if they had to physically push them down the assembly line) Lol!! By the way is anybody ever told you you look a lot like Steve-O from Jackass?? 😂

[@ericatchley3482]

Dang! Is all I can say! Lucky bastard!

[@allenschmitz9644]

Basement and wet a sure fire 'wallet' soaker.

[@arlanemon3222]

Neil, I got a 65 vert. Coudos to you!!!

[@beauluna678]

Dude, if your able to purchase any of those collectibles, it going to take a month of Sundays to dig it all out.

[@JPER-cv2lq]

It'll take a lifetime to restore it all . SAD to find such a pit .

[@barackmycat9448]

That needs someone to really go through it all. It would have to be pulled out to see it all.

[@Miklethun]

None of this is for sale, I'm going to restore them someday.......

[@robertlambert5299]

Any updates on this? Was it ever pulled out and confirmed to be a 1946?

[@robertlambert5299]

Crazy find for sure. But the big question is what is happening with all of the cars and all the parts.

[@jamie-r2034]

Owner will probably let it all rot. lol

[@Mpompadour]

Yea, I know a hoarder just like this but collects different stuff from this. Their line is ALWAYS, I'm going to, I have so~n~so, look at this or that, I don't have enough room, but buys more. They NEVER do anything with it, so it sits and rusts and rots away. It's like they get off showing stuff, knowing you'd like to buy it and won't sell it to you. It's a game with them and a tease. Shameful these old VW's and other things just sitting and rusting away. Historical things going to waste when people would gladly buy them and restore them.

[@Mikefngarage]

All those original dashes with lower windshield sections. You dont use those at as wall art!!!! people need those parts.

[@wendellellisedwards2109]

That would take serious determination to tackle that project. Someone would spend far more than the finished project would be worth. There are some fantastic things in there, worth a mint to the right people.

[@stevencramsie9172]

The owner of this Beetle clearly is not capable of keeping it in any kind of condition other than rusting away in an old barn. It needs to be pulled out with all of its parts and put up for auction. Put it in the hands of someone who can actually restore and take care of it

[@P00katube]

There is a guy in Congers, New York who specializes in restoring VW Beetles.

[@RDAUGIRD]

I'm guessing it's still buried?

[@losebjughashvili8465]

Ugg….cable brakes, 25 horsepower, unobtainable parts. Yeah…..ok…conversation piece. Driving it anywhere…..? Then again….you could put a 300 hp chrome Chinese engine in it….or perhaps a turbo Subaru engine. And then lower it to the ground, with a 4 wheel disc kit. Or Maybe a sand rail. Now, you know I’m joking of course. Wonderful find.

[@zorastark66]

El paraíso de los bochos

[@envitech02]

Cool find!!! 1946 Beetle! Just a year after Hitler committed suicide. I'd send a few days inside just to rummage through and find the necessary parts. Wear a respirator and watch out for rattlers.

[@envitech02]

*spend

[@davidross5169]

Hoarder!?!!!? Maybe!!!!

[@noblehillministerprophet8689]

I bought a 67 beetle for $25 .Tried to put a clutch in it.My first clutch job i messed up.It would only go in reverse.ha ha ha!!

[@sashas8168]

Shame all the parts and cars are rusting and oxidising.

[@PONO-go3ee]

It's maybe a 49 without the Fenders lights Front apron inner stamping In view just below the Gas tank is Visable never looked at it

[@M-M-EXTRA]

this isn’t a 1940 beetle as the beetle was only mass produced after ww2 in the very late 1940’s and not sold in the us yet

[@markboulton4500]

Just wait 10+ more years and just maybe this 46 VW build may happen .

[@davezul4396]

Doesn’t it make you wonder what else is laying forgotten in garages waiting to be found.

[@perceive8159]

A good example of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) If there ever was one!

[@henktulp4400]

Geee.....I thought MY place was a big mess.....lots of stuff worth keeping though....

[@fullthrottlemetric]

Kinda bugs me me wheen non vw guys get these ,..dude sound's like he needs a late modle mustang