1956 Volkswagen Deluxe Sedan

Vehicle Overview

2023 Monterey Car Week Collection Sale with Bring a Trailer Auctions

Ended Thursday August 17th at 10:10am PST


Contact us for any information regarding this process. 

Presented by Mohr Imports Monterey, member of Bring a Trailer's Local Partners Program.

This 1956 Volkswagen Beetle is a Deluxe sunroof sedan example that was delivered new to Riviera Motors in San Francisco, California, and later acquired by the current owner in 1993. The car is finished in metallic green over dark green leatherette upholstery and powered by a 1,192cc flat-four mated to a four-speed manual transaxle. Equipment includes 15? steel wheels, a Solex downdraft carburetor, chrome bumpers with overriders, headlight guards, Marchal fog lights, a windshield visor, rear fender skirts, and a Motorola radio. A cosmetic refresh was carried out in 1994, and the engine was rebuilt in 2004. This Beetle is now offered on dealer consignment as part of the Mohr Imports Monterey Collection Sale with a Volkswagen Classic Certificate, a Stiftung AutoMuseum Volkswagen Zertifikat, historical records, tool kits, and a clean California title.

The car was finished from the factory in Polar Silver (L324) and underwent a color change to the current shade of metallic green by Jerry Graham Auto Body of Monterey, California in 1994. The chrome bumpers and trim were refinished at that time by Sherm’s Custom Plating of Sacramento, California. Additional equipment includes a tan fabric sunroof canvas, headlight guards, Marchal fog lights, a windshield and door visors, vented quarter windows, rear fender skirts, dual side mirrors, and rear VW-branded mud flaps.

Body-color 15? steel wheels wear chrome VW-branded hubcaps and are wrapped with Firestone whitewall tires, while a matching spare is mounted in the front trunk. Braking is handled by four-wheel drums.

The interior was reupholstered by Dave Lumetta of Sun Valley, California, in dark green leatherette with cream piping, color-coordinated side panels, and tan square weave carpets. Additional equipment includes rubber mats, a heater, a parcel shelf, tinted sun visors, ashtrays, a flower vase, and a Motorola radio.

An ivory-colored two-spoke “bat wing” steering wheel fronts an 80-mph speedometer. The five-digit odometer shows 15k miles, 11k of which were added by the current owner. True mileage is unknown.

The 1,192cc air-cooled flat-four is said to have been rebuilt in 2004 and is topped with a Solex downdraft carburetor. The battery was replaced in preparation for the sale.

Power is delivered to the rear wheels via a four-speed manual transaxle. Additional underside photos are available in the gallery below.

A tool roll is included in the sale, and an additional tool kit is housed in the front trunk.

A Volkswagen Classic Certificate lists the factory colors, equipment, and delivery to Riviera Motors on August 17, 1955. A Stiftung AutoMuseum Volkswagen Zertifikat is also included in the sale.

The car is titled in California using the engine number—11130400—which is shown above.