- Entered from the Gilder Group Collection

- Former multiple concours award winner

- A truly exceptional example

The story of the Volkswagen Beetle is like no other. Sixty-six years of production, over 21 million examples manufactured, production on five continents etc. In 1933, Hitler ordered Ferdinand Porsche to design and develop a 'volkswagen' (people's car). It needed to be a basic, affordable vehicle capable of transporting two adults and up to three children at up to 100kph (62 mph). The plan was to offer it to citizens of the Third Reich via a savings scheme. It finally entered production in 1938 and, while it inevitably evolved over the years, the basic concept was never altered - as enduring a tribute to the genius of Dr Porsche as he could have wished for.

'WET 914K' was sold new in 1972 by the Listerdale Motor Company (part of the Gilder Group) to Raymond Clarke of Wickersley, Rotherham. Apparently his 32-year custodianship was spent improving and conserving the Beetle, whilst never deviating from the original factory specification - he reportedly took it upon himself to strip various parts of the car and reassemble them to finer tolerances and, according to his family, used to clean inside the wheel arches after every journey!

The Gilder Group purchased the Bug back from Mr Clarke's estate in 2004 in order to use it for promotional purposes in and around its 19 showrooms. Described by the vendor as 'perhaps better than new', he feels this two-owner 1300 could just be 'the best and most original example still in existence'. It is certainly a multiple concours winner (numerous rosettes come with the car) and totally belies the 66,900 miles it has travelled to date - a fact the vendor describes as 'a remarkable testament to Mr Clarke's love of his car'. The Beetle sports eye-catching Orange paintwork teamed with a Black vinyl interior and rides on smart, black-centred alloy wheels. An unrepeatable opportunity.