Despite their name, you actually can have 'nacho chips.' You can also have today's VW Type 3 Notch. That is of course, unless it's asking is not yo' price.

Volkswagen's Type 3 was in reality the brand's fourth model brought to market, following the Type 1 Beetle, the Type 14 Karmann Ghia, and the Type 2 Bus. They stuck to the marque's mojo, featuring a stamped steel platform and separate body, along with a rear-mounted flat-four engine that gave up its excess heat directly to the air, eschewing any need for an intermediary liquid.

They were first introduced in 1961 in the form of a natty notchback 2-door sedan. The two-door wagon - which we know today as the 'Squareback' - arrived only month later, while a fastback was added to the line in 1965.

Here in the States, the Type 3 made its debut for the 1966 model year in both Square- and Fastback iterations. The original Notch didn't make the trans-Atlantic trek to the U.S. but was sold in both Mexico and Canada. Perhaps it's not so remarkable, considering how handsome a car the Notch is, many have made their way into the U.S. through unofficial channels.

That's the most likely explanation for the presence of this which is presently offered for sale in Orange County, California. I've seen a lot of Notches over the years, but I have to admit that I've never seen on the 1970+ models here in the U.S.. Admittedly, I lead a very sheltered life.

The '70s featured a significant redesign, offering a re-shaped nose, larger chrome bumpers in place of the earlier blades, bigger brake lights, and larger turn signals both front and rear. This car has an external gas cap, and that may have also been part of the update as well, but don't hold me to that one.

This one of course has all of those features, and what looks to be a pretty nice paint job. Contrasting with that however, the big bumper in front looks to have seen some action. Momo 17" wheels hold things up, and might be an acquired taste, while the interior is said to be all-new, and presently covered with what look to be Trader Joe's uniforms. Disc brakes are said in the ad to reside at each corner, and a big muffler pokes out from under the rear fender.

The ad also claims the car only has 26,000 miles on the clock. That's quite remarkable if accurate. There's not much else in the description, allowing for some speculation. I'd guess that the mill is your standard 1600, and that the car sports a 4-speed manual and not the cruelly and inaccurately named Sportomatic.

VW fans here in the State love the Type 3, especially the Squareback. Why the Notch never made it over here officially is anybody's guess, but it may have had something to do with production capacity coupled with the home market swallowing them up in preference over the Fastback and Squares.

The price on this rare and seemingly clean Notch is a not insubstantial $18,500, and you now need to say whether you think that's a square deal for this non-Square Vee-Dub. Alternatively, for that much, is this a Type 3 for which you wouldn't Notch your belt?

You decide!

Orange County , or go if the ad disappears.

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