For model year 1966, Volkswagen chose to leave the body mostly the same as in 1965. Still with 6 volt
electrics, the interior was basically a carryover from 1965, with the addition of a new plastic defroster
vent in the top center of the dash. The other big improvement in the interior, was the front seats which
now had a locking latch on the sides to keep the seat back from flying forward during a sudden stop.
But the big news for 1966 was the new 1300cc engine! This was essentially the standard 1200cc engine but
with larger cylinders, which upped the output from 40 hp to 50hp - a 25% increase!
New "1300" polished script on the engine lid (a one-year only feature) reminded everyone of this
significant change. The other very visible change for the exterior was the introduction of a new "flatter"
chrome hubcap, replacing the old "domed" hubcap which had adorned VW beetles for over a decade.
This Classic 1966 Volkswagen Sunroof Bug started out life as a Java Green beauty. But time and neglect
had taken their toll and by the time the current owner acquired this beetle, it needed everything. The body
was pretty straight and almost completely rust-free, but numerous "parking lot" dings and bumps needed
to be pounded out. The seats were intact, but came out of a '65 bug and the upholstery was shot. The
headliner and door panels were long gone and the steel sunroof was frozen shut.
Amazingly, the original 6 volt radio had survived and the
motor was strong and started up reliably. The new owner had the body work done and then had this classic bug
repainted in "Panama Beige" (L572), supplied by PPG. After color-sanding, the exterior looked factory fresh.
The sunroof mechanism was rebuilt with NOS gears and new cables. Original '66 front seats were sourced from
a donor bug and a new "stock" black interior was installed, along with a new headliner, carpeting and rubber
floor mats.
