Highlights
- Professional conversion to right-hand drive
- Many new parts and genuine VW panels
- 12-year restoration
- Rebuilt engine
THE APPEAL
Built by Karmann, the VW Beetle Cabriolet is one of the rarer models of the Beetle. In fact, the owners club thinks there are as few as 500 on the UK roads in both left and right-hand drive form. Being few and far between means finding one that doesn’t need some sort of restoration is tricky, and that's if you can persuade the owner to part with it.
Luckily this particular 1975 cabriolet has been fully restored by a previous keeper and has been owned by the vendor for the past five years. Using it mainly for owner's meetings, classic shows, and the odd run out at the weekend has ensured that the Beetle has been kept in excellent condition. Even luckier, especially for someone who is searching for a Beetle cabriolet, the seller has decided it is time to part with the German classic and let someone else cherish it as much as he has.
THE HISTORY AND PAPERWORK
- V5 is present
- UK Registered 17th February 1989
- MOT exempt
- Some rare spares included
- New Jopex exhaust
- 2 x tail light clusters
- 4 x Genuine VW RHD rubber mats
- 4 x Reproduction rubber mats
- 1970s bonnet bra and side panels
- KHM tonneau cover
- 2 x VW mudflaps
- New handbrake cable
- Reconditioned VW jack
- New gravel guards for front and rear wings
- Petronix HT lead set
- Various VW Beetle books, including some rare Cabriolet books
- Box of miscellaneous items
The main bulk of the work on the Beetle has been carried out by a well-known air-cooled garage in Norfolk called Broadland Leisure Vehicles, who in 2003 took ownership of the car. This was an on-and-off project which took approximately 12 years to complete, and it was then sold. During the restoration, the Beetle was given all the attention it deserved with new floor panels, wings, running boards, and engine cover complete with rain catcher. It was then finished off in a coat of 2-pack solid black paint. The RHD conversion was carried out by CJ Conversions Ltd.
Other items included new lights, windscreen, refurbished and powder coated hood frame and fully undersealed with waxoyl. On the mechanical side, the engine has been rebuilt and bored out to 1641cc, and there has been a new steering box fitted and a full rewire on the electrics.
Other items included new lights, windscreen, refurbished and powder coated hood frame and fully undersealed with waxoyl. On the mechanical side, the engine has been rebuilt and bored out to 1641cc, and there has been a new steering box fitted and a full rewire on the electrics.
The Beetle was then sold to another gentleman in 2015, who owned it for two years and carried out some work to the interior, plus the addition of the German imported Sonnenland hood, which has a glass rear window and is fully insulated.
In 2017 the vehicle was sold to the vendor who has cherished it since then and further carried out some improvements to the interior with a correct set of seats fitted and retrimmed by Aldridge Trimming in Wolverhampton, who also replaced the carpet set.
THE INTERIOR
- Freshly trimmed interior to the original style
- New carpet set
- New electrics
Inside, the Beetle is in excellent condition having had the seats rebuilt and retrimmed by classic vehicle upholsterers Aldridge Trimming. These have been finished in the original Beetle style vinyl material on the front and rear seats. The door cards are also in excellent condition, with no scuffs or marks.
The dashboard is in good order with no damage, and the steering wheel is a good condition original item which the seller has fitted. The odometer is working as it should and shows a reading of 8,604 miles which the seller believes to be around 109,000 miles. Everything is reported to work as it should apart from the clock, which periodically will kick in again and then stop. The radio cassette is from the 1990s and working as it should with some Panasonic speakers also from the same era fitted.
The carpets are also excellent as these are new and again have been made and installed by Aldridge Trimming. The headlining inside the hood is nice and clean and fits well. The boot is clean and tidy, and the matching carpet finishes it nicely. The spare steel wheel is present and has been refurbished.
THE EXTERIOR
- Extremely well presented
- Excellent brightwork
- Sonnenland hood
- New front and rear lights
The overall appearance of the Beetle is excellent, and the 2-pack solid black paintwork looks to be free from any apparent chips, or swirl marks. Starting at the front, the chrome work is in excellent order with no tarnishing, and the headlights have been replaced along with the surrounds. The bonnet aligns straight and even and opens and closes nicely. Further up, the windscreen has been replaced with a top tint screen held in place with a new seal.
Around to the sides, the wings have been replaced with genuine parts along with the indicators. These fit nicely and fasten to the new running boards; the doors align well, with an even panel gap. The chrome frames for the windows look to be the originals which have minimal signs of tarnishing or pitting, and the windows are free from any noticeable scratches. The roof, as mentioned, is a Sonnenland hood which has a glass rear window and is fully insulated. This fits like a glove and is of superb quality.
At the rear, the engine cover has been replaced with a 1500 cover as this was reported to be the only one the owner at the time could find. It has a rain catcher built to prevent rainwater from entering the engine bay from the vents. The rear lights are in good condition with no splits or cracks, and the bumper is also free from tarnishing.
The GT Beetle wheels have been refurbished, therefore in excellent condition and fitted with a matching set of tyres which were fitted in March 2021, and since then have only covered a few miles.
THE MECHANICS
- Fully rebuilt engine and bored out to 1641cc
- New carburettor
- New exhaust
- New clutch
The distinct sound of the air-cooled Beetle is something everybody will recognise. This 1641cc engine fires up with no hesitation and sounds just as you would expect from any Aircooled VW.
The car has been well maintained and regularly checked over by the seller's local air-cooled specialists. When the engine was rebuilt, it was also fitted with a new carburettor, and more recently, a new coil was fitted.
The car is reported to change gear as you would expect, and the car moves well through the gears. Having had the suspension components replaced, the ride quality is very good, with no knocks or bangs coming from either corner. The brakes are also in fine fettle bringing the car to a halt in a straight line as you would expect.
SUMMARY
Perfect for the summer! A classic 1975 Beetle convertible in stunning condition. It has had a restoration completed by Broadland Leisure Vehicles, who has carried plenty of work such as like replacing the floor panels and other body panels before finishing it in solid black. It was then given a new interior by the seller, who has cherished it for the past five years.
The Beetle is ready to be enjoyed leaving just one thing left to do, and that's pull the roof back and take it out for the weekend or draw in the crowds at any classic car show where it will hold its own on the show field.
Notice to bidders
Although every care is taken to ensure this listing is as factual and transparent as possible, all details within the listing are subject to the information provided to us by the seller. Car & Classic does not take responsibility for any information missing from the listing. Please ensure you are satisfied with the vehicle description and all information provided before placing a bid.
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