This beautifully presented split-window Beetle is a German-market example in standard trim that has received a comprehensive restoration by the respected Cooker’s restoration in Williamsport, Maryland. The Beetle is finished in dark blue, which was matched to a sample of original paint that was discovered upon its disassembly, and it features fastidiously researched details, including interior materials and countless mechanical fittings. A period-correct 25 bhp engine presents beautifully in an expertly prepared engine bay. The tidy front trunk underscores the car’s simplicity, bereft of carpet or coverings; it houses only the two-toned spare wheel and the fuel tank. VW-logo directional semaphores grace the B pillars, and the simple white pinstripes on the beltline and bumpers were a European-market option.

This Beetle’s early type dash incorporates twin, open glove boxes, which flank the instrument binnacle and a blanking plate that could be removed to accommodate a Telefunken radio unit. Having had only test mileage since its restoration was completed in 2015, this Split has a fresh look inside and out. Split-window Beetles have always been an exceedingly rare sight in the US; in 1951, fewer than 400 found stateside buyers.

Among the first of millions that would be produced throughout the life of the Beetle, this early VW will occupy an important place in any automotive collection or public gathering.