The Volkswagen Beetle (officially the ‘Type 1’), although a product of the Nazi regime to create a people’s car – suitable to mobilise a nation and use the country’s growing road network but simple to mass produce and repair – went on to become possibly the most widely recognised car in the world. Designed in the 1930s, volume production did not commence until after the War – initially under British control – and, such was its enduring popularity, production only ended in 2003 after more than 21 million cars had been built. Whilst the car went through various style changes in the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s, and acquired larger, more powerful engines, it retained its original distinctive shape – giving rise to the ‘bug’ and ‘beetle’ nicknames.

The Cabriolet variant of the Beetle entered production in 1950, Volkswagen having commissioned Karosserie Karmann in the late 1940s to create an open-topped version of the popular saloon. Production of the Cabriolet lasted until 1980, by which time the model available was built on the 1303 series saloon base unit – first introduced in 1972 - which featured a curved windshield, rack and pinon steering and could have the most powerful engine unit offered fitted – a 1600 cc motor with around 50 bhp on tap.

This late 1303LS Cabriolet was first registered in April 1979 and has the range-topping 1600 cc engine. We have relatively little detail of its early history in the UK, prior to its purchase by a Jersey-based owner in 2003. The last MOT certificate held does suggest the current recorded mileage is correct. Lightly used in the island, the Cabriolet underwent a full rebuild and restoration in 2020.