Over six million VW Beetles were sold over more than 60 years of production, so it’s fair to say it’s one of the all-time classic car icons.
Today, there’s a whole thriving scene built up around the legendary little car, from modified examples through to beautifully preserved or restored originals. This one, however, is very special indeed.
First, it’s a “Super Beetle”, of the type introduced in 1971 and fitted with MacPherson Strut front suspension and disc brakes. It’s also a 1303 S, the S denoting a twin-port 1.6-litre engine rather than the more commonly found 1200. Owner by the previous keeper for over 30 years, it has been subject to a ground-up bare metal restoration and is affectionately known as ‘Fiona’.
It’s basic, as you’d expect from a Beetle, but the cabin of the 1303 S is in largely very good order with no major issues or signs of wear.
The black vinyl seat facings are in good condition, as are the carpets, though there’s some minor damage to the driver’s side lower seat trim – it doesn’t affect its usage, though.
In car entertainment comes courtesy of a modern USB digital head unit, while it also has a charming period accessories in the form of a louvred rear sun blind, yellow snooker ball gear knob and wood-rimmed steering wheel.
During his 30 years of ownership, the previous keeper took the Beetle off the road for a number of years and stripped it to a bare metal shell. He completed the full rebuild himself sourcing all original VW parts, which are all evidenced with the invoices along with a photographic record of the rebuild.
It looks vibrant in bright yellow and is superbly presented, with no visible corrosion, marks or damage. The car has only been used in dry conditions in recent years and is kept in a garage.
Period accessories include whitewall tyres and front fog lamps.
The vendor describes the Beetle as being in superb mechanical order. The original engine has been replaced with a replacement 1600 unit that has covered just over 28,000 miles. It runs well, with a distinctive air-cooled gurgle and good oil pressure.
It is said to be good to drive, with no known issues with the steering, suspension or any of the running gear.
This is a great example of one of the most collectable variants of the Super Beetle, with a lot of history and in fantastic, restored condition. As a 1303 S, it has the added appeal of improved performance and cruising refinement, as well as being a car you can buy and enjoy with great parts support and a buzzing social scene.
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1972 Volkswagen Beetle 1303 S
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