Highlights
- Desirable cabriolet built by Karmann
- Recently restored to a very high standard by the vendor
- Rare right-hand drive example
The Appeal
Back in the day when Volkswagen wanted to produce upmarket versions of their best-selling cars, their first port of call was the German coachbuilder Karmann. Since 1949, Karmann had been building special convertible Beetles and they would continue doing so until 1980.
Here we have a right-hand drive 1303S Cabriolet that spent most of its life in Jersey, before being imported to the British mainland and restored. Recognising how special these Karmann Cabriolets are, the vendor ensured that an exceedingly thorough restoration was carried out, with the car being stripped right down to its chassis before being painstakingly rebuilt. If you’re looking for a truly exceptional Beetle, this 1974 example is most certainly one to consider.
The History and Paperwork
- Lived in Jersey for most of its life
- Imported onto the British mainland and first registered in May 2021
- Numerous receipts from VW Heritage and various other parts suppliers
- V5C present
- MOT valid until February 2023 although not mandatory due to its age
- Detailed photographic record of the recent restoration work
- We’re informed that in excess of £40,000 was spent restoring this Volkswagen
The Interior
- Rare 1303S leather-trimmed sports steering wheel
- A DAB radio with separate remote control has been mounted centrally
- Desirable high-back vinyl seats
- Fitted with the heater blower fan
On the inside, this Beetle looks really smart, and you immediately spot that rare and eminently desirable leather-trimmed sports steering wheel and those very comfortable high-back seats.
The 1303 soft dashboard presents well, with a few small cracks appearing but nothing of any note. It features the VDO analogue clock which was standard fitment on the Karmann Cabriolet and we note this example also features the rare heater blower. A DIN radio has been mounted centrally and all the switchgear looks to be present and correct.
On the floor, the carpet appears new and so there is really no wear to speak of. The kinked gear lever is an aftermarket addition and lends a sporty feel to every gear change. Currently, the throttle and brake pedals are missing their rubbers but this wouldn’t be difficult to sort out. The door cards have clearly been replaced and present well. In the rear, the bench seat is in great shape and we notice a battery isolator switch is discreetly positioned in easy reach of the driver.
The Exterior
- Smart silver paintwork
- Lustrous brightwork
- The convertible hood is in great shape and fits well
This car was yellow before the restoration and has now been finished in a rather fetching shade of silver. Having been completed recently and to a really good standard, we saw very few imperfections in the paint and nothing of any note.
The bodywork is really smart too and, from the restoration photographs, we can see that lots of new steel was welded in including floor pans, heater channels and parts of the chassis. The doors fit really well, as do the rear decklid and bonnet.
The brightwork looks to be in wonderful shape and you’ll note that this is one of the first Beetles to feature its front indicators in the bumper rather than atop the wings. Chrome embellishments sit inside the door handles also and all the trims look straight and free from pitting.
The glass is in great shape, including the heated rear window that makes up part of the convertible hood. The roof itself operates smoothly, the material is in great condition and it fits really well.
Underneath, there is of course no corrosion following the very detailed restoration. The aftermarket Empi alloys are a nice period accessory and appear in really fine shape.
The Mechanics
- 1600cc twin-port flat-four
- Four-speed manual gearbox
- Macpherson strut front suspension
- Disc brakes fitted at the front
As a 1600 twin-port engined Beetle, front disc brakes came as standard and this car retains them. The engine itself looks in fine fettle and we understand that everything has been completely rebuilt. Besides an aftermarket air cleaner sat atop the Solex carburettor, all looks to be standard and refurbished.
We’re informed that the car drives without fault. As they’re so light, these 1600cc Beetles actually boast quite sprightly performance and with the roof down, this is a really fun car to drive.
Summary
A beautifully restored, rare Volkswagen that is ready to be used and enjoyed by its next owner.
Notice to bidders
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