This Could Be the Only Remaining Australian 1945 Type 51 Volkswagen Beetle

Despite some missteps in terms of design and overall build quality during the aughts, it’s impossible to deny the impact and importance of the Volkswagen Beetle. If vintage VWs are your thing—and they should be—you have a once in a lifetime chance to pick up this incredibly rare example. This 1945 Type 51 Volkswagen Beetle is based on the Kublewagen (75mm higher than standard) and was built just two months after the end of WWII. Once the matte black Beetle rolled out of the British Army controlled VW factory it was sent to Australia with a matching twin for evaluation as part of the war reparation scheme. Not only is this one of the first two Beetles ever in Australia, the fate of the other is unknown. Since the other one has been missing for more than seventy years, it’s a pretty fair bet that this is the only one left. Even better, it was recently fully restored by a highly regarded South Australian body specialist working with original panels.