This 1974 Sterling is a fiberglass-bodied kit car based on a VW chassis. Penned by kit designer Richard Oakes, the Sterling originated in England in the early 1970’s with this sleek, low-profile body intended to fit onto an existing Beetle chassis with minimal modification. This particular car carries a build plate with serial number SO75 from California Component Cars, Inc., a Sterling builder in Oakland, and is based on a 1964 Beetle with a lowered floor pan. It runs a 1973-74 AH-group 1600cc air-cooled VW 4-cylinder engine and 4-speed manual transmission. The car was purchased by the seller in March 2014 for the Kansas City Auto Museum, where it lives as a running, driving ‘interactive exhibit.’ Records and service manuals are included with the car, as well as a binder full of data. The car carries a FL title as a 1964 VW with Vehicle Number 6049271, matching the chassis, and is now being sold here without reserve.

The paint looks to be largely presentable with a slightly hazy but even sheen. Several scratches and chips were touched up by the museum staff in the past month but remain noticeable, particularly a quarter-sized flaw on the hood. Some stone chipping can be seen on the leading edge of the nose. Close-ups of the paint can be seen in the gallery. The passenger side exterior mirror is mounting holes and screws remain. The wheels are period 15″ alloys and with a 4-lug bolt pattern in the front, and 5-lug at the rear.

The hydraulic canopy roof is a distinctive feature of the Sterling kits. The cockpit glass looks to be clear, though the plastic headlight covers show light scratching over the repurposed Beetle headlights. The seller notes that side windows were never installed, but are still in production and available from Sterling, along with most other replacement parts.

The interior features a lowered floorpan for additional headroom, and has been equipped with adjustable seats sourced from a NA Miata. These currently wear cheap covers, and the underlying seats are pictured in the gallery below, with a large chunk missing from the driver’s seat back bolster. The dash is a one-piece fiberglass unit, painted black, and shows scratches along the console and a large circular cut near the ignition. The seller notes that the oil pressure gauge is inoperative but monitors low oil level.

The engine is a 1600cc air-cooled VW four-cylinder from 1973-74 (AH185534), roughly contemporary to the kit build, and mated to the stock VW 4-speed transmission. A dual glass-pack exhaust with heat risers has been fitted. The seller noted that the car was last serviced in 2014, and has been driven 200 miles since without issue.

Underside pictures are not comprehensive, but show no evidence of serious corrosion around the exhaust or suspension mounting points. Leaks and fluid accumulation are similarly absent as pictured here and in the gallery. The fuel tank has a minor leak that presents only when fully fueled, and the fuel sending unit is also noted to have a few ‘dead spots’ that infrequently manifest.

The car is accompanied with documentation including wiring diagrams and build info, a Sterling manual, and a CD-ROM of additional information. It is also listed in the National Sterling Registry.