The general consensus is correct. I've had several Beetles during my high school and college years. I wouldn't go out of the driveway without a clutch cable, throttle cable, and a tune up kit. I liked the Baja version best because I could drop the engine out in 20 minutes or less. The engines also ran cooler without all the cooling shrouds on the stock Beetle.
Interesting. I was looking at maybe getting an old beetle years ago.
Thanks for the heads up!