39-Mile 1979 VW Super Beetle Convertible Listed on BaT

A 1979 VW Super Beetle Convertible with 39 miles is listed on Bring a Trailer, featuring a rare triple-black background and documented history. Explore details.

A 1979 Volkswagen Super Beetle Convertible showing just 39 miles has surfaced on Bring a Trailer, and for a late-Seventies Beetle, that figure alone places it firmly in time-capsule territory.

The car left the factory finished in black (L041) with a matching black soft top, originally conforming to the familiar triple-black formula. According to the listing, however, its first owner arranged through Rader Volkswagen in Augusta, Georgia, to have brown leatherette seats and door panels installed before taking delivery. The result is an unusual specification: a black-on-black exterior paired with a tobacco interior. For collectors who associate the so-called triple-black cars with an all-black cabin, that deviation from the expected configuration makes this example both distinctive and open to debate.

The broader 1979 context adds weight. For the North American market, the Super Beetle was offered only as a convertible in its final year. Auction listings and enthusiast discussions frequently reference an Epilogue series of approximately 900 triple-black cars from the closing period of German production, and the seller positions this car within that narrative.

Mechanically, it remains true to the 1303 specification: MacPherson strut front suspension in place of the standard Beetle’s torsion bars, a 1.6-liter air-cooled flat-four equipped with Bosch L-Jetronic fuel injection, and a four-speed manual transaxle. Fifteen-inch Lemmerz steel wheels and four-wheel drum brakes complete the period setup. Recent work focused on recommissioning rather than restoration, including replacement of the battery, fuel gauge and voltage stabilizer, brake service, and fresh engine and transmission fluids.

Supporting documentation includes the original window sticker, a Volkswagen Classic Parts certificate, historical records, and service documentation — essential components when assessing a car presented with ultra-low mileage and long-term storage.

Previous Bring a Trailer results show that low-mileage 1979 convertibles and Epilogue-designated cars attract close scrutiny, with value often hinging on originality and preservation. In this case, the remarkably low odometer reading is matched by a backstory that sets it apart from typical triple-black examples. More than a late Beetle convertible, it stands as a preserved artifact whose specification reflects a personal decision made over four decades ago — a detail that now shapes its place in the collector conversation.