Would you pay three quarters of a mil for a restomod VW Beetle?

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Milivié was founded with the intent of resurrecting “extinct German automotive icons and discreetly re-engineering them anew to unimaginable standards,” and so the legendary Bug-shaped sedan makes fine sense. But how does a company give a car that saw 22 million models produced over its decades-long lifespan a value of over three-quarters of a million dollars? 

Because the Milivié 1 looks a fair bit like the real-deal 1303 model upon which it’s based, only with sleeker and more modernized elements like custom fenders with LED lighting, a ducktail spoiler, flush door handles, a lengthened hood, modern mirrors, and 19-inch wheels with a funky five-spoke design, and modern disc brakes. The brand also stripped the car of all its chrome and “VW” badges (replacing the latter with Milivié’s mark) and added dual tailpipes in a titanium or black finish. 

But according to the brand, only part of the original metal monocoque body and floorboards remain, with the rest of the car being built anew, including the chassis, which now wears front and rear independent double-wishbone suspension, twin-tube dampers, and special springs.

Rather than swapping in electric power as so many modern restomods do, Milivié opted for a 2.28L flat-four air-cooled engine tied to a rebuilt automatic Porsche Carrera 2 transmission that sends power to the rear wheels. A standard transmission is available as optional. 

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Milivié also reconfigured the entire interior, right down to the software, which was developed in-house and is displayed on a 12.3-inch screen with custom graphics, set into a futuristic dash bearing piano wood accents. Other updated amenities include four bucket seats, a 9-speaker audio system, dual cameras with parking alerts, Porsche 911-inspired doors, USB charging, remote data display, and, to cap it all off, a special leather carrier designed by Bill Amberg Studio. 

Reservations are open now, with the first Milivié 1 scheduled to arrive next summer and the final in the spring of 2025. Pricing for each of the 22 units has been set at €570,000 (CDN$779,000).