Nice work on your headlights and taillights. Though your replacements may not be original, the added brightness makes the added safety worth it, while still preserving essential originality (headlights with "contact lenses" and little oval "snowflake" taillights) The only thing about your car that detracts is that "lowered look."

1958 was the first year of the larger "square window" "Herbie Generation" (1958-1964) bugs. I owned 4 early '60s bugs back in the day, a turquoise '61, a blue '63, and 2 sunroof '62s, one red and one white. That's how much I love them. I decked out the white '62 into a Herbie. My dad also owned a ceramic green '60 bug, same color as the one in my thumbnail.(only year for that color) The later bugs had the not as cute but safer "high heel" taillights with the separate turn signals ('62-'67").

Man that looks great!  Easy sub!  I had a 59 longtime ago and loved it!! Got a 62 now in the carport trying to find exhaust gaskets thinking making some to attach my muffler. My ride looks a lot like yours except I really dont have patina. I even got those side mirrors, thinking of removing not really into.

liking this bug

So many questions. Love the look of the 58. What did you do to drop? Wheel and tire size? How does she ride this low?