1978 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE
Sold at Barrett-Jackson on Jan. 28, 2016, offered with no reserve.
$44,000Confirmed
The price as reported by the house. Hammer price $40,000, before the buyer's premium. Read from the house's results Nov. 2, 2026.
The car
- Year
- 1978
- Make and model
- Volkswagen Beetle (Type 1)
- Generation
- Beetle 1968 to 1979
- Version
- Beetle 1968 to 1979 (base)
- Gearbox
- Manual
- Chassis
- 1582038615
Against comparable sales
Above the middle half of 84 comparable sales, 184% over its top.
Middle half of sales$7,775 to $14,088
Median$10,000
Sales behind it84Likely
From 84 sales of the Volkswagen Beetle (Type 1) Beetle 1968 to 1979 (base) in our data over the last 24 months. Hammer prices, before buyer's fees. Half sold between $7,775 and $14,088.
Closest sales
| Car | Auction | Date | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 Volkswagen Beetle ConvertibleMecum, Jan. 17, 2025 | Mecum | Jan. 17, 2025 | $40,000 |
| 1979 Volkswagen Beetle ConvertibleMecum, May 9, 2026 | Mecum | May 9, 2026 | $13,000 |
| 1979 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLEBarrett-Jackson, Oct. 16, 2025 | Barrett-Jackson | Oct. 16, 2025 | $6,800 |
| 1977 Volkswagen Beetle ConvertibleMecum, Oct. 4, 2025 | Mecum | Oct. 4, 2025 | $12,000 |
| 1979 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLEBarrett-Jackson, Jan. 22, 2025 | Barrett-Jackson | Jan. 22, 2025 | $12,500 |
| 1979 Volkswagen Beetle ConvertibleMecum, Jan. 17, 2025 | Mecum | Jan. 17, 2025 | $65,000 |
| 1976 Volkswagen BeetleBring a Trailer, March 1, 2026 | Bring a Trailer | March 1, 2026 | $3,400 |
| 1979 Volkswagen Beetle ConvertibleMecum, May 9, 2025 | Mecum | May 9, 2025 | $7,800 |
This car's historyLikely
Matched across sales by chassis number.
| Date | What happened | Where | Miles | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 28, 2016 | Sold (this sale)Barrett-Jackson | Barrett-Jackson | $44,000 | |
| Jan. 17, 2025 | SoldMecum | Mecum | $44,000 | |
| Jan. 9, 2026 | Did not sellMecum | Mecum | $25,500 high bid | |
| May 15, 2026 | SoldMecum | Mecum | $33,000 |