A unique VW Beetle limousine nicknamed Rollswagen will be auctioned off (29 photos)

An unusual Volkswagen Beetle is set to be auctioned in California in August. The discreet black limousine is estimated to fetch $150,000–$200,000, which is an unattainable figure for any Beetle.





The car was built in 1969 for advertising purposes by order of the American division of Volkswagen. The contractor was the Californian workshop Troutman-Barnes, known for its racing models Chaparral and Scarab and various modifications of customer Porsches.

The standard two-door Beetle was cut in half and lengthened by a meter-long insert with an additional pair of doors with electric windows. The rear passengers could now stretch out their legs, while strapontins and a minibar with a pull-out table appeared opposite, and for privacy, there was also a partition and an intercom.

The interior was trimmed with mahogany, the craftsmen improved the soundproofing, and the modest list of equipment was expanded by a Philips audio system with five speakers and a cassette player, which was later replaced by a Kenwood with a CD changer.

Surprisingly, the stretch Beetle retained the donor's manual transmission, although the original 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine was replaced by a more powerful Volkswagen 1.6-liter unit with Weber carburetors to compensate for the car's 181 kg increase in weight.

According to Porsche-Volkswagen dealer John von Neumann on the West Coast, the conversion cost the Germans $34,500. Or the same as 17 Beetles, which were then sold for $2,000 each.

Nicknamed the Rollswagen, the long Beetle later worked at many special events and reportedly delivered cinema legend John Wayne to the 1970 Academy Awards.





























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