The Monterey Car Week, which begins on August 8, will host a series of rare car auctions. Among them stands out the Fusca Limousine, a 1969 VW that was modified to resemble a limo.
The Beetle, also known as the Rollswagen, was commissioned by John von Neumann, Porsche and Volkswagen distributor on the West Coast, for over US$ 34,000. That may not seem like much today, but it’s worth remembering that a Beetle cost only about US$ 2,000 at the time.
To turn it into a limousine, Troutman-Barnes was responsible for the modifications using many genuine Volkswagen parts. So despite its alterations, it is practically original.
In addition to stretching the wheelbase by 1,016 mm, Troutman-Barnes added custom rear doors and a tailor-made passenger compartment, which includes a gray bench seat and two individual seats separated by a minibar with a retractable table.
The Beetle features mahogany trim, partition, intercom, soundproofing, and power windows, as well as a CD player and a main audio unit by Kenwood installed in recent years.
The driver’s compartment has black vinyl seats and a minimalist instrument panel, along with a four-speed manual transmission.
Under the hood, RM Sotheby’s did not reveal many details, but the auction house noted that the original 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine was replaced by a 1.6-liter engine with Weber carburetors. The extra power was intended to help offset the 181 kg weight gain after the conversion.
Over the years, the Fusca Limousine has become a celebrity in its own right and was even displayed at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Reportedly, the Rollswagen was also used to take actor John Wayne to the Oscars in 1970.
The car goes up for auction next month, and RM Sotheby’s estimates it will sell for between US$ 150,000 and US$ 200,000. If the final price is closer to the higher estimate, the Rollswagen could become one of the most expensive Beetles ever sold at auction.
Photo and video: RM Sotheby’s. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
