VW Beetle 1303 convertible

The VW Beetle 1303 Cabrio - important facts about the open million seller

Of the VW For decades, the Beetle was the elixir of survival for VW. Until 1974, when production of the VW Golf started, the sale of the Knutschkugel accounted for a large part of the Wolfsburg-based company. At the start of the VW Golf, the 1303 was in the production cycle, and from 1972 Karmann also built it as a convertible. This car truly became a people's convertible and enjoyed great popularity. The Beetle Cabrio was built on the basis of the 1303, many special models and some design features distinguished the car until the end of its production in 1980:

• Farewell to the small taillights of its predecessors - the large oval taillights, often referred to as "elephant feet", were introduced.
• The windshield was curved and significantly larger than on the previous model.
• The biggest technical change to the previous model was the rack and pinion steering used in the VW Beetle 1303 Cabrio and its closed sister model.
• The 1303 marked the end of the front indicators - from 1975 the indicators moved into the front bumper.


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• The special model World Cup 74 was the first special model based on a 1303 convertible. It was made for the national soccer team, which won the title in 1974 in the final against the Netherlands with a 2-1 victory. 25 vehicles were built in cliff green, the front and rear hoods were black. The special model World Champion 1974 is the fan version and was offered in additional colors.
• Triple Black is the name of the last special model - as the name suggests, the vehicle is completely black on the outside and inside. It was launched in 1979.

Today the VW Beetle 1303 Cabrio is only rarely available, well-preserved pieces are in great demand and, unfortunately, correspondingly expensive. Just as often, however, one encounters the inevitable tuning sins, where the open Beetle has been transformed into a lower discotheque.

Pitfalls when buying a VW Beetle 1303 Cabriolet - that should be taken into account

You have decided to buy a Beetle convertible based on the 1303. More than thirty years after the end of production, not many of this vehicle are on the road any more and for those that still exist, it is important to distinguish between the two Blender vehicles that look great, but are technically inadequate, and the really good vehicles that are both technically and visually in good condition are. Basically, the same rules apply here as with every car purchase, but the VW has its small peculiarities that must be observed:

• If you have decided to buy a VW Beetle 1303 Cabriolet, you should first and foremost be capable of suffering. The vehicles are over thirty years old and an excursion into the countryside is usually followed by days workshop. However, compared to many other classic cars, the technology is extremely solid.
• Rust is a typical problem with the Beetle, Volkswagen was not a pioneer in matters of rust protection in the 1970s, also due to the use of rather inferior sheet metal. The most common places are the convertible top compartment behind the rear seat as well as wheel arches, sills and frame head.
• Of the engine applies to good care as almost indestructible, but keep your hands off highly cultivated tuning sins.
• There are still plenty of spare parts at reasonable prices.
• Compare several vehicles and also plan an amount of money for further repairs. There will be no such thing as a completely flawless vehicle.
• From around 10,000 euros and higher, you will find technically and visually sensible vehicles.
• Pay attention to the tightness of the convertible top and the functionality of the convertible top frame.
• Meanwhile, 30 years after the end of production, spare parts are becoming scarce - and unfortunately correspondingly expensive. This applies to both body parts and interior fittings.
• In general, it is better to buy a vehicle with a good basic structure as a long-term project, instead of expensive repairs to a short-term blender afterwards.

No question about it - a VW Beetle 1303 Cabrio is an automotive dream that many would like to fulfill. But the search for your own dream car can take a long time and the maintenance and preservation of the vehicle can be costly. Therefore, check the offers that are available carefully and it is better to wait a day longer in order to be able to put some money aside. Then you too may soon be able to enjoy the sun's rays with a car made in Osnabrück.