1973 Beetle Karmann Cabrio
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Highlights
・Magazine feature car.
・Stunning condition throughout.
・Extensively restored - ready to enjoy!
The Background
The concept of a convertible Beetle can be traced back to the mid-1930’s, when designer Ferdinand Porsche entered into discussions with the iconic Karmann brand with a view to creating a prototype ‘soft top’ Beetle.
Unfortunately, war put a stop to these plans for a number of years, and it wasn’t until 1949 that the official order from Volkswagen was placed to build an initial run of 1,000 Beetle Cabriolets.
Having proven incredibly successful far beyond VW’s initial expectations, Karmann would go on to produce a whopping 2,548,765 Beetle Cabriolets in the following 50 years, far exceeding the number of Karmann Ghia produced which the brand are arguably better-known for building.
The History
This particular Cabriolet is rather special, having been featured by Volksworld Magazine - one of the premier media outlets for any VW enthusiast - and it’s not hard to see why.
Having been purchased as a true ‘barn find’ vehicle in a shocking and neglected condition from eBay in 2012, this Cabriolet was treated to a full and incredibly extensive restoration process, transforming the vehicle into the wonder which you see before you.
The body was entirely split off from the chassis, being stripped down and repaired as necessary before being resprayed in a trendy shade of grey, with numerous new and custom-made panels being fitted. The ‘pan’ was then attended to, with new floor sections being fitted along with any required welding and rebuilding being carried out.
The engine, too, has received plenty of attention during the restoration process, with the finished article being a far cry from the humble and basic-looking flat-four that the Beetle rolled into the workshop with. In fact, this is a custom-built 1915cc engine built by Stefan Rossi of Air Cooled Engineering, producing around 120bhp, coupled to a custom-built transmission from Johnson Autoworks.
Inside, the interior was completely ripped out and re-trimmed in a gorgeous red-and-cream colour combination, with embossed ‘Karmann’ detailing on the front seat headrests. The folding mohair soft-top was also trimmed to match, with the resulting grey-over-red colour combination being sure to turn a few heads.
Finally, to answer the question you’re all wanting to ask - yes, that mileage is accurate, representing the minute distance covered since the vehicle was completed, with the vendor having only used the car on the road to get to-and-from the MOT centre.
The Paperwork
Due to the vendor having funded the restoration themselves, there is very little in the way of invoices and paperwork compared to usual for a restoration as comprehensive as this. Pre restoration mileage is unknown, however the seller advises us that the vehicle has only covered 9 miles since. The speedo's were reset and are currently showing 9 miles.
However, there is a detailed photo record of the car in various stages of restoration which provide a nice timeline of the work being carried out. In addition to this, there is a copy of the Volksworld magazine included, along with an MOT certificate (though the vehicle is now exempt on account of its age.)
The Interior
As you’d expect from a show car of this quality, the interior is virtually immaculate. In fact, we’d wager it likely IS immaculate, given the incredibly low use the vehicle has seen since the restoration was completed.
The re-trimmed door cards, dashboard, seats and carpet are all free of any marks, stains or damage that we can see, while the doors themselves are also free of any scratches from what we can tell.
While the chrome work all looks to be excellent, some minor patina is to be expected, though even high-traffic areas such as the steering wheel look to be almost factory-fresh in their appearance.
Of course, the suede/Alcantara finish will require more extensive care than a regular leather or fabric interior, but the results of regular upkeep are certainly worth it.
The Exterior
Externally, this Beetle Cabriolet has been completely transformed by the restoration, with a notable altitude adjustment, visual overhaul and complete colour change, having been stripped back to bare metal during the restoration process.
The result of all this hard work is a truly awe-inspiring example of the Karmann - bodied Beetle Cabriolet, which is certain to draw a crowd wherever it goes. The paintwork looks to be pristine with no signs of any marks that we can see, with all the body lines and panel gaps being straight, true and even throughout.
Along with the suspension drop the standard VW wheels have been replaced with a set of highly polished Fuchs items, which suit the car well and are, in fact, period-correct in their appearance.
Elsewhere, the chrome details, bumpers, headlight surrounds and window frames all look to be outstanding - just as the rest of the vehicle is. This really is a ‘poster car’ example of the Karmann Cabriolet!
The Mechanicals
“As above, so below” is a phrase that is certainly apt for this air-cooled beauty.
On top, the bodywork and interior are excellent, and the same too is true of the bits that you generally don’t get to see in day-to-day life.
We’ve already mentioned that the floor pans were replaced during the restoration process, though the rest of the underside is also in outstanding virtually as-new condition judging from what we’ve seen. The entire chassis has been refurbished and sprayed in gloss black, with the result being a ‘pan’ that looks like it’s just come out of the factory, with no concerns anywhere to be seen.
In the rear, the air-cooled flat-four engine which is synonymous with the Beetle is in rude health and fantastic visual condition, having been suitably ‘dressed up’ with plenty of chromed parts to transform the humble four-cylinder engine into something that the owner can be proud to show off while at an event or for prying magazine photographers.
The Appeal
The Beetle is an iconic car that enjoys enduring appeal throughout the world, famed for its reliability, simplicity and endless customisation options. The classic air-cooled people’s car has humble roots but has become one of the most popular classics on the planet - and with good reason.
This particular example is about as close to a ‘turn key’ show car as you can imagine, having been featured by Volksworld in their March 2021 issue and finished to an incredibly high standard throughout, this Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet by Karmann would make an outstanding addition to any classic VW collection.
Notice to bidders
Although every care is taken to ensure this listing is as factual and transparent as possible, all details within the listing are subject to the information provided to us by the seller. Car & Classic does not take responsibility for any information missing from the listing. Please ensure you are satisfied with the vehicle description and all information provided before placing a bid.
As is normal for most auctions, this vehicle is sold as seen, and therefore the Sale of Goods Act 1979 does not apply. All bids are legally binding once placed. Any winning bidder who withdraws from a sale, is subject to our bidders fee charge. Please see our FAQs and T&C's for further information. Viewings of vehicles are encouraged, but entirely at the seller's discretion.
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Vehicle specification
- Year 1973
- Make Volkswagen
- Model Beetle Karmann Cabrio
- Colour White
- Odometer 9 Miles
- Engine size 1915
Auction Details
- Seller Type Private
- Location Leicestershire
- Country United Kingdom
27
bids
- Ni•••• £37,000 24/06/21
- vo•••• £36,000 24/06/21
- Ni•••• £35,750 24/06/21
- vo•••• £35,500 24/06/21
- ma•••• £35,000 24/06/21
- vo•••• £33,000 24/06/21
- ma•••• £32,000 24/06/21
- vo•••• £30,000 24/06/21
- ma•••• £29,000 24/06/21
- vo•••• £28,000 24/06/21
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