Description
Vehicle of Historical Interest certified by Clube Português de Automóveis Antigos, with a valid inspection until July 12, 2026.
The car was imported from France and restored in 2007. It's been in my possession since then, having covered 22, 000 km since the engine was rebuilt. It offers a very pleasant and comfortable driving experience.
The VW 1303LS Karmann Cabriolet was one of the most refined and luxurious Beetle variants, remaining in production until 1980, even after the standard sedan was discontinued in Germany.
The 1303 (known as the Super Beetle in some markets) featured a curved windshield, providing better visibility and aerodynamics. The revised front suspension allowed for a larger front trunk. The dashboard was modernized compared to earlier models. The convertible versions built by Karmann were more luxurious than the hardtop models, featuring high-quality upholstery, better sound and thermal insulation, and a reinforced chassis to compensate for the absence of a roof.
Volkswagen manufactured the base Beetle, while Karmann, a German coachbuilder, handled the cabriolet conversion. Karmann reinforced the chassis and added structural rigidity to compensate for the lack of a fixed roof, making these convertibles more durable and better suited for everyday use.
The Volkswagen 1303 introduced a MacPherson strut front suspension, a major change from the traditional torsion bar system used in earlier Beetles. This new suspension setup helped modernize the car, making the 1303LS Karmann Cabriolet one of Volkswagen's most sophisticated air-cooled models.
