• One of only 3000 Ultima Edition models

 • Rare right-hand drive example

 • Only 52,431 km (32,579 miles) from new

 • Electric Sunroof

As the last of the German-built VW Beetles scampered off the production line in 1978, the unsurpassable air-cooled icon managed to remain in production in other parts of the world, thanks to the demands of local markets requiring cheap, reliable and durable transportation. One of those markets, where the Beetle was always popular, was Mexico. 

Local production had originally started in 1954, with the car gradually seeing upgrades and improvements allowing for demands related to emissions and refinement. However, the basic blueprint and silhouette of the car remained true to its roots. In its latter years of production, the car saw a 1.6-litre engine with single-point fuel injection, front disc brakes and an electronic ignition system as well as improved noise isolation to complement the uprated front seats. 

This is one of the limited edition 'Ultima Edition' series models, to celebrate the end of an era for the original air-cooled Beetles. 3,000 examples were produced in 2003, with around 200 to 300 cars known to have been shipped into the UK by various importers. This 2004 Aquarius Blue car with Franell Grey interior was converted to RHD by Beetles UK, who are recognised for their association with Danbury camper vans. 

Fitted with whitewall tyres, wider 5J Colour coded wheels, electric front windows and sunroof, central locking, Winter pack (front windscreen defroster) along with an upgraded CD/MP3 player, this example has seen over £1000 worth of work in the last year and has a full year's MOT.

 • Imported and converted by Beetles UK to RHD

 • Good service record

 • 12 Months MOT

 • Over £1000 spent in the last year

The story starts with the memory of the owner’s Infant teacher's car. She recalls fond recollections of desiring a classic air-cooled Beetle ever since then and adored that Aquarius blue car as much as she adored the teacher! Roll on a few years, the opportunity arose through the Car and Classic website last year, and after only 15 minutes of deliberation, with full encouragement from her husband decided to take the car on. The previous lady owner bought the car in 2012 with the intention of learning to drive in it, but they never completed their goal and couldn't bear to part with it, so they kept it for ten years. Over that period it didn't see much more than 2,400 miles but while it was in her company, the car was subjected to a service, rear hubs seals/gaskets and gearbox reconditioning totalling £1700. 

When the current owners brought the car home, it was promptly inspected and given a full service, as well as brake, alternator, and other minor repairs by a VW-knowledgable specialist at a total cost of £700. The car has since been used for local journeys, mainly for pleasure but proved to be reliable enough for the odd domestic duty, with the owners confidently suggesting they’d have no hesitation in using it for longer journeys. Stored over the winter months, the owner also noted that the engine had fired up instantly after a few months of inactivity. 

The owners have admitted that they are not using the car as much as they should and feel genuine remorse for selling it, as it has literally become part of the family. The car has recently passed an MOT, with around £400 of recent spending to rectify a leaking brake cylinder. The car also comes with 8 service stamps to 2010 and a UK Beetles instruction manual as well as a series of brochures, a Spanish language handbook and a handful of recent invoices.

 • Excellent presentation

 • MP3/CD player

 • Wooden steering wheel

The cabin retains the same look and feel as the German-built cars, with a handful of welcome improvements. The Franell Grey cloth seats are firm and all in very good shape, with very little in terms of wear or damage. The front seats have neat backrest pockets. The carpets are tidy and damp free, with the Beetles UK issue mats supplied with the car.  The headlining is rip free, with a few minor marks, that wouldn't need much effort to resolve. The door cards are good, with no suggestions of wear or damage. 

The familiar-looking metal dashboard set-up is in very good condition and is adorned with an MPH speedometer but retains the KM mileage reading. Other than the upgraded Pioneer CD/MP3 player with rear parcel shelf mounted speakers, there is nothing on the dashboard that will look unfamiliar to the seasoned air-cooled Beetle driver. All of the controls are said to work, including the electric windows. Minor wear is noted on the gearstick knob, with the upgraded smart wooden steering wheel in very good condition. 

The car is fitted with a fully functional electric sunroof, bringing in a new dimension previously unknown to air-cooled Beetles. There appears to be no evidence of water ingress from the sunroof. The front luggage area is roughly in line with what you might expect - best used for light shopping rather than suitcases but has a tray to keep the contents from falling into the recesses. The wiring and washer tanks are upfront with the spare wheel, with the dashboard wiring appearing to be in good order. The car is also fitted with four seat belts and a fire extinguisher. The immobiliser and central locking were part of the original spec, but have not been tested. 

 • Good Aquarius Blue finish

 • Solid floor pan

 • Original Ultima Edition trim

Structurally the car is in good shape, clearly offering a massive benefit over the older German-made cars by the virtues of not having as much time for issues to develop. The usual VW Beetle trouble spots such as the spare wheel well, sills, inner wings and the under the rear seat all look solid. The floor pan is good, with small signs of exposed undercoating revealing minor corrosion on the bumper hangers and some running gear components but all of these blemishes appear to be cosmetic and easily treatable. Externally the panel work is positive, with all of the panel gaps and fit looking good. 

There are a couple of issues that will need addressing, the most pressing observation is the area on the windscreen scuttle, below the front windscreen, the bottom edges of both passenger doors, with the lowest section of the off-side door showing corrosion. There is also light corrosion noted on the very bottom edges of the wings. The front lower section of the left-hand side of the bonnet is slightly buckled, perhaps as a result of a minor mishap, with evidence of a paint touch up too. 

All doors open and close with no obstruction, the car still retains its famous door seal ‘vacuum’ when closing the passenger doors. The door wells are good with a slight hint of corrosion noted in the corner of the nearside sill. The Aquarius Blue paint finish has good coverage throughout, with a good lustre. The car is generally free from any distracting paint chip damage, with no marks on the door edges.

The glass and their respective rubbers are good. There is some light tarnishing observed on the front bumper and headlamp chrome and the rear bumper has also received a light dent - all of which are easily obtained. The condition of the headlamp glass is good, with no issues with the rear elephant lamp plastic lenses and unique chrome-plated surrounds. The exterior trim is correct for the Ultima Edition, including the neat coat of arms of Wolfsburg, as a direct tribute to the car's heritage. 

The running boards are in decent condition with light surface corrosion noted underneath. The wider 5J colour-coded steel wheels are in good shape, with minimal evidence of wear and are fitted with a set of American Classic whitewall tyres, they are all less than 10 years old and still display a good level of tread. The offside rear hubcap is damaged with corrosion, but the other three items are in good shape. 

 • New brake components and alternator

 • Over £1000 spent in the last year

 • Recently Serviced

The car starts up with no issues at all, the engine firing up and retaining a healthy beat as the engine chatters away. There were no suggestions of leaking fluids noted. The oil pressure and battery light remained off while the engine was on tick over. A short test drive reveals no issues at all, the gearbox is pleasantly smooth, with the clutch offering a good biting point. The car was driven along the dual carriageway, keeping up pace with traffic with no ill effects to its engine and displayed remarkable stability. 

The motor was well behaved, with no undulations of hesitancy upon acceleration and didn’t produce excessive smoke at any point. No issues were recorded while the car is idling in traffic, with no signs of overheating. The brakes were reassuring good for an air-cooled Beetle, with no fade or juddering noted. The steering was compliant at all speeds with a little play noted, but no evidence of tram lining. The ride was good with no knocking noises coming from the wheels, cornering without any creaks. 

The physical condition of the engine is positive. The hoses look intact, with minor wear, a deep clean could yield a very presentable result. The exhaust and heat exchangers have an expected level of light surface corrosion but both appear to be leak-free. 

It retains the exact same charm and characteristics as the original cars, with the added bonus of having less time for things to succumb to age and wear. 

These Ultima Edition cars have developed quite a following of their own and offer a neat compromise for those looking for the classic air-cooled VW experience, with a few sensible upgrades to ensure the car copes with modern conditions, with the genuine potential to keep a smile on your face.