MAKE & MODEL: Volkswagen Beetle 1303S

REGISTRATION: PPD 228L

YEAR: 1973

COLOUR: White/Green

ENGINE SIZE: 1,600 cc

CHASSIS NO: 1332506583

ENGINE NO: AR001690

DOCUMENTS: V5C; MOT August 2020 with no advisories; invoices
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By the end of the 1960s, the Beetle was struggling to keep up with the competition, it’s cute looks and quirky ways no longer being enough to keep abreast of the competition from Europe and Japan.

VW’s answer was the Super Beetle of 1971, introduced with a host of safety and comfort mods. Along with a longer wheelbase to give a more stable ride, it also got front disc brakes, improved steering and Macpherson strut suspension that improved the handling and doubled the luggage capacity.Crash safety was improved while both front and rear screens were enlarged for better visibility. Outside, it had a lengthened bonnet, fatter wings, a redesigned engine lid and bigger ‘Elephant feet’ rear lights.

Power came from a new 1,300cc engine or, for the more sporting driver, a 1,600cc flat-four of ‘twin port’ induction design with a higher final drive ratio. It was the last of the Beetles to be manufactured in Wolfsburg, Germany, before production moved to Yugoslavia in 1974.

Dating from March 1973, this eye-catching 1303S 1600cc has spent the last 10 years in storage but has recently been recommissioned and thoroughly serviced with many new parts including plugs, leads, dizzy, wipers and fluids plus new belts, a carb tune and conversion to an electric windscreen washer (invoices on file).

It had previously been restored, although sadly its owner died without leaving any bills to substantiate the work carried out. We are told that the bodywork was attended to, it was repainted in white and green, new wheels were fitted along with whitewall tyres, new bumpers and a re-trimmed interior using two-tone quilted vinyl with diamond pattern stitching to match the exterior colour.

Still looking very smart indeed with an MOT until August 2020 with no advisories recorded, this eye-catching Bug starts promptly and runs nicely.

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