If we were to write a tourist guide aimed at vintage car enthusiasts, this pre-1967 Volkswagen Beetle would be one of the must-see attractions.  It can regularly be found in the parking lot of a small village hiding among oversized SUVs and late-model hatchbacks.

The sticker on the Beetle’s rear window indicates that it was sold new at Sodra Volkswagen-Audi in downtown Marseille, a dealership that still stands today.  It likely did a bit of traveling in its youth and it still wears the oval “F” on its decklid, a sticker that was mandatory on all cars leaving France up until 1992.

The Beetle retired to a much slower-paced life in the countryside about seven years ago but it still wears numerous scratches and dents from battles lost and won in Marseille’s chaotic streets.  Every time we see it the paint is a little more faded and the window seals are a little more dry but it is always driven regularly and lovingly maintained, making it one of the best examples of automotive patina in the area.