Was This 1972 VW Type 3 Squareback Cheap?

This VW Type 3 Squareback auction result left us wondering whether somebody had just bagged themselves a rather interesting old Volkswagen.

The 1972 Squareback went under the hammer at Anglia Car Auctions with a £4,000-£6,000 estimate.

The bidding ticked along, but eventually everybody stopped.

And they stopped before reaching the bottom of the guide.

So what happened next – and was this old VW actually rather cheap?

Something a little different from an old Volkswagen

Mention an air-cooled Volkswagen and most people’s thoughts immediately turn to the Beetle or camper van.

The Type 3 is a rather different proposition.

This 1972 example is the estate version commonly known as the Squareback, combining familiar air-cooled VW engineering with considerably more luggage space.

It’s also a car we don’t see crossing the auction block particularly often.

This one is powered by a 1584cc engine coupled to a manual gearbox and, according to the vendor, was running well and reliably when it arrived at Anglia Car Auctions.

We thought it looked like a bit of fun.

Partially restored and subtly modified

This isn’t an untouched original example.

ACA says the Squareback had previously undergone a partial restoration and had been resprayed blue.

During its current ownership, which began in 2023, it received new gear linkages and steering bushes, while the door cards were recovered.

The cream lower half isn’t paint, either. It’s a vinyl wrap applied during the current tenure.

There have been changes beneath the skin too.

The engine is fitted with twin carburettors, an electric cooling fan and a sports exhaust system with J-tube delete.

Inside, you’ll find newer front seats sourced from a modern Mini and even a diesel heater.

It all adds up to a Type 3 that’s been made into something its owners could actually use and enjoy rather than simply preserve.

Plenty of history came with it

There’s an interesting history file with the Squareback too.

A receipt records an engine rebuild in 2020, while its service record is well stamped all the way to 100,000 miles in 1989.

The odometer itself was showing 9,120 miles at auction, although ACA sensibly suggests this is likely to represent 109,120 miles.

The Volkswagen was originally sold by a Lancashire dealer in January 1972.

Alongside the service history are old receipts, several tax discs, previous MoT certificates, original sales literature and a workshop manual.

Its most recent MoT expired in 2019, although as a historic vehicle it is now exempt from mandatory testing.

Was this VW Squareback cheap?

Anglia Car Auctions gave the Type 3 a £4,000-£6,000 estimate.

The bidding ticked along steadily when it reached the rostrum.

Then it stopped.

The highest bidder hadn’t reached the reserve, which meant the car couldn’t immediately be declared sold.

Instead, the bid became provisional.

We filmed the auction, so watch what happened before reading on:

The provisional bid was accepted

The highest bid was £3,600.

Although that was £400 below the bottom of ACA’s guide, the story wasn’t over when the hammer came down.

With a provisional bid, the auction house can speak to the vendor after the bidding and see whether they’re prepared to accept the highest figure.

On this occasion, they were.

The £3,600 hammer bid was accepted and the Squareback found a new owner.

With buyer’s premium added, Anglia Car Auctions records the final result as £3,888.

A lot of character for the money?

That’s what makes this particular result interesting.

£3,600 before fees doesn’t buy you an immaculate, factory-standard Type 3.

But it did buy somebody an unusual 1972 Squareback with an engine rebuild in its history, plenty of accompanying paperwork and a collection of modifications that suggest it was intended to be used.

And just look at it.

There’s something inherently likeable about a Type 3 estate, particularly one that’s already evolved sufficiently that its new owner doesn’t need to worry about preserving every last detail exactly as Volkswagen intended in 1972.

Would you change it?

We’d be tempted to leave much of its character intact, sort anything mechanically that needed attention and simply enjoy it.

Would you have paid more?

Compared with the sums changing hands for plenty of classic Volkswagens, this certainly looks like an interesting way into air-cooled VW ownership.

And it’s also a good illustration of why it’s worth understanding provisional bids at classic car auctions.

A car can fail to reach its reserve when it crosses the block without necessarily remaining unsold.

Sometimes the highest bidder and vendor aren’t actually very far apart.

On this occasion, a deal was done.

Would you have paid more?

You can see the original auction description and photographs on the Anglia Car Auctions website:

https://angliacarauctions.co.uk/auctions/2774-22-Aug-2026/15287~2-1972-vw-1600-type-3-squareback