VOLKSWAGEN - BEETLE 1303 CABRIOLET 1973

Product description

High-quality metal model of the passenger car Volkswagen Beetle 1303 Cabriolet from 1973.

In 1948, Wilhelm Karmann first bought a VW Beetle sedan and converted it into a four-seater convertible. After a successful presentation at VW in Wolfsburg, the Beetle Cabriolet began production in 1949 at the Karmann company in Osnabrück.

The convertible was more like a Beetle with a folding roof. To compensate for the strength lost when the roof was removed, the sills were reinforced with welded U-slides, a cross member was fitted under the leading edge of the rear seat, and the side panels of the under-dash cover were doubled. Wall. In addition, the lower corners of the door openings had curved wedges welded on, and the doors had secondary leveling wedges on the B-pillar.

The top was convertible style with a full interior headliner hiding the folding mechanism and cross members. There was 1 inch (25 mm) of insulation between the two top layers. The rear window was made of tempered safety glass and heated after 1968. Due to the thickness of the upper, it remained quite high after folding. To allow the driver to see through the lowered top, an internal rear sight was mounted on an offset pivot. Turning the mirror 180 degrees on the longitudinal axis raises the mirror glass approximately 2 inches (5.1 cm).

The convertible was generally better equipped than the sedan with dual rear ashtrays, dual map pockets, passenger side vanity mirror, rear stone shields and, until 1969, decorative wheel rings. Many of these items were not available on other Beetles until the arrival of the optional "L" (Luxury) package in 1970.

After several styling and technical modifications to the Karmann convertible (matching the many changes VW made to the Beetle throughout its history), the last of 331,847 convertibles rolled off the production line on January 10, 1980.

The model is available for pre-order!!!