Description
Here is a very rare and special Beetle SP1600 Twin carb. These were built and sold only in South Africa and there are not many remaining.
The car has the original tartan interior, original wheels and black double SP stripes and is in very good overall condition. The car sounds like a hot rod and if you text me I will send you a clip on whatsapp. There are some surface rust issues mainly on shut lines and the car could do with a carpet set. These issues are reflected in the price.
This was a show car and could very easily be again.
Context:
The SP1600 was based on the contemporary VW_ 1600_L model with many of its standard fittings unique to Uitenhage production* It did however take inspiration from the Brazilian 1600S ‘Super Fusca’ or ‘Bizorrão’ which preceded it and had a very similar twin carburettor set up combined with 14” road wheels. The carburettor (and distributor) set up of the SP1600, which delivered an extra 15% power increase over and above the standard 1600 models, is reported to have been achieved using parts imported into South Africa from Volkswagen do Brasil.
Released initially as a Special Edition during late 1976 for the 1977 model year its popularity soon won it a place in the standard factory range through the 1977 and 1978 model years until the cessation of Kewer / Beetle production in South Africa.
Whilst originally released in Arctic White, Sunburst Yellow and Silver Cloud Metallic the colour range was subsequently supplemented with Calypso Coral Red. These normal series colours were joined by a strictly limited number of 50 ‘Midnight Series’ Black SP1600s with a silver body stripe.
