Tom Pultz

Many years ago, circa 1967, I used to own a modified 1962 Beetle into which I installed a 1500 GS Carrera engine (boy do I wish I had both of them back today!). Although I never did any internal engine work on the 4-cam engine, at the time I acquired two used sets of 1600 GS Carrera GUIDE engine manuals: one in English and one in German.

I'm curious if either of these have any market value. Rather than sitting in a box for another 50 years (not that I'll live that long, ha, ha) I'd like to see them go to someone that could actually use them. They are certainly not pristine, but as far as I know they are complete.

Thanks for your thoughts.

doublecabmel

Hi Tom, definitely worth some $. I have the reprints for my GS, although I personally have never done any work on my car. Check out 356 registry.

centerpunch

I think they could be worth thousands if they are original. I'd list them together on BaT, they do pretty good with rare stuff like that.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/fe...-manual-pouch/
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/po...rera-tool-kit/

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BTW, regarding Porsche-powered bugs: in high school in 1973 I bought a $750 356c that had a newly rebuilt 1300cc VW engine with a whopping 50 hp. (Needless to say, I had a very small budget on my part-time grocery store worker salary.)

Two weeks later, I see a 1962 VW with Porsche 356B engine in the local classifieds for $400. I immediately call, assuming it will be already sold. The guy tells me the Porsche engine needs a rebuild and burns a quart of oil every 50 miles, and he has found it impossible to sell the car, since buyers of $400 VW's don't want a worn out and expensive Porsche engine.

I offer to pick up his car, remove his Porsche engine, and install a rebuilt VW engine at no charge. He says come on over!

I did drive the bug a bit before swapping motors- pretty fun. (Obviously not as fun as a 4-cam!)
.

centerpunch

A couple more sales on BaT.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/ex...chure-package/

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/po...1954-1955-nos/

Tom Pultz

Thanks for the information and links... and also for the story Paul. I've had these engine manuals for about 50 years... they are dated 1959. I originally got them when I owned the '62 VW w/4-cam 1500 GS motor [boy, wasn't that fun to install!]. The manuals came from a family friend who owned a NAPA auto parts store and raced various Porsches, including an Elva-Porsche. I really loved that car! George had a spare 1800 cc flat fan engine in storage at my father's shop for quite awhile and I drooled over it many times.

Back in the early '70s I moved up to a 1965 356 C that I restored. It was updated with a 912 crankcase, crankshaft and rods, and fitted with a 1750 cc big bore kit, Norris cam and pushrods, and S90 intake vales. Carburation was duel Weber 48 IDA. That engine really screamed and pulled 7000 rpm with ease. My wife and I drove it from Illinois to my new out-of-college job in SoCal. Sadly, it got crunched in the nose by a big truck. Since it was our only car I sold it and bought a "family car" since my wife was 9 months pregnant. Sure wish I'd been able to keep it!

So, maybe I should hang onto these engine manuals for a few more years :-) They are fun to read.

Cheers.

Tom Pultz

So... I found a few of these manuals on eBay for less than $300. So, it looks like selling them to build a time machine to go back and buy the 1957 Carrera Speedster I could have purchased for $3,000 in the early 70s is out :-)

centerpunch

Here's one in the binder that sold for $630.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/283698983015