(Shannons)
Remember when Volkswagens were The People’s Cars?
A 1960 VW Type 2 Kombi 23 Window Samba Bus was sold at an Australian auction on Monday for $157,000.
The exquisitely resorted white over paprika red minivan features right hand drive, a four-speed manual transmission and 1.6-liter flat-4, a retractable fabric roof and the Samba’s signature split, opening front windows.
The price is believed to be a record for Australia and the model year, but Samba values have been rising dramatically in recent years.
While six-figure sales are not uncommon, the highest price paid to date was for a 1963 23 Window model at a Barrett-Jackson auction in 2011 when a whopping $217,800 changed hands, including the buyer’s fee.
The Type 2 was the world’s second longest running production vehicle behind only the VW Beetle, with its manufacture finally wrapping up in Brazil in December 2013 after 63 years with 3.5 million sold worldwide.
----------