1.5L-Powered 1955 Volkswagen Beetle Three-Fold Sunroof
Ended Sep 05, 2025 at 7:15 PM UTC
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Description
Volkswagen proudly referred to its Type 1 as the “small wonder.” Originally conceived as the “people’s car”—the English translation of Volkswagen—the Type 1 became a global icon, earning a variety of nicknames around the world: Käfer, Vocho, Coccinelle, Fusca, Maggiolino, and, of course, the Beetle.
The 1955 model year marked a period of refinement and growing popularity, particularly in export markets like the United States. Under the rear decklid was a 1,192 cc air-cooled flat-four engine producing 36 horsepower, paired with a four-speed manual transmission driving the rear wheels. The original split rear window had evolved into a new single oval window, improving rear visibility. An optional fabric three-fold sunroof added an open-air experience, and this unique version was discontinued after 1955, replaced by a much smaller two-fold unit.
Volkswagen’s 1955 brochure described the Beetle as “a masterpiece of European engineering — designed for economy, durability, and ease of maintenance.” That year more than 280,000 Beetles were produced, and on August 1, 1955, the one-millionth Beetle rolled off the assembly line. History was in the making, and this 1955 model with its rare three-fold sunroof helped lay the foundation for what would become the best-selling automobile built on a single platform, with over 21.5 million units produced.
Highlights
Early oval-window Volkswagen (Type 1) Beetle
Rare optional three-fold fabric sunroof (discontinued after 1955)
Powered by an upgraded 1.5-liter air-cooled flat-four engine
Four-speed manual transmission
Features
Engine upgraded to a 1500cc
Upgraded 12-volt electrical system
Semaphore turn signals
Bias-ply whitewalls with caps and matching spare
Under dashboard parcel tray
Known Imperfections
This 1955 Volkswagen Beetle is presented as a finely restored example and is said to be free from any substantial imperfections.
Included
Keys
Ownership History
This 1955 Volkswagen Beetle Three-Fold Sunroof was built in Wolfsburg, Germany, in June 1955.
This Beetle is offered with a clean Florida title in the seller's name.
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1.5L-Powered 1955 Volkswagen Beetle Three-Fold Sunroof
