2003 Volkswagen Beetle 1600

Our delightful Beetle, left-hand drive of course, is resplendent in “Aquarius Blue”, undoubtedly the better of the two colours offered.

Imported into the UK early in its life by experienced Beetle folk, Beetles UK Ltd, the car spent almost all its life with two brothers who clearly loved and cherished it.

The importers changed the face of the speedometer so that it reads in miles per hour, leaving the odometer to register the distance covered in kilometres. Interestingly, they didn’t change the headlights, so the keen eye will spot beam deflectors, a strange omission, but one that is easily rectified.

Our seller bought the car a little over a year ago and used the lockdown period to give it a little love and attention.

We are told it drives well, but for those unacquainted with Beetling, the driving experience is quite unique. The pedals jutting out of the floor take a little getting used to, but once accustomed, they readily become second nature.

The spindly gear lever moves around its narrow gate with delightful mechanical precision and the steering is light, if a little vague.

Beetle handing is a little individual too, the result of the engine slung out over the rear wheels. It is not a car that likes to be hurried, more a car to gently potter about in on a fine summer’s evening.

It is such a simple car mechanically, that most jobs will be within the reach of the competent DIY enthusiast. Parts are readily available too and there is a selection of spares with the car.

The paintwork wears its considerable years very well. Is it all original? That we very much doubt, but any paint the car has had appears to have been well done.

The seller had the wheels refurbished and repainted and they look resplendent with the lovely period chrome hub caps.

Oh, and whilst we are on the subject of chrome, there is plenty of it and all of it in decent nick too.

The rubber on the door sills has seen slightly better days and we note that the glass on the passenger door mirror is past its best. The aerial is also in need of replacement, a simple task. It’s the little things….

Other than that, get the polish out and enjoy the admiring glances that the car will undoubtedly attract on your travels.

It’s a simple interior, with nothing superfluous to distract.

The cloth seats look in fair condition, being covered as they are in a material built more for longevity than luxury. Perhaps a bit of a steam clean wouldn’t go amiss. There are even seat belts of sorts in the rear to help keep your loved ones safe.

Door cards and headlining look fine.

There is a Kenwood CD player in the dashboard, which looks far too modern in our eyes. We would be tempted to source something a bit more in keeping with the car’s older design. The speakers too might be on the upgrade list too, the one’s in the rear parcel shelf in particular.

A peep under the carpets would suggest that all is sound, though we would be inclined to break out that steam cleaner once again to bring a little new life to that floor covering.

With the doors open, a few small rust spots are visible, and we would endeavour to get these attended to without delay.

The car also has a fitted fire extinguisher, though we cannot vouch for its effectiveness.

The modest front boot area houses a matching spare wheel, though we note the exposed paintwork could probably do with a refresh. The fuel tank looks in good order, but please don’t crash your Beetle, or you will end up with a lap full of unleaded.

There is also a small, carpeted area behind the back seat, not very accessible but useful extra luggage capacity, nonetheless.

The interior’s highlight of course is the commemorative “Ultima Edicion” plaque on the dashboard.

The engine bay appears clean and tidy and is nicely filled by that peppy 1.6-litre engine. Fire it up and there’s a distinctive Beetle soundtrack to enjoy.

Pictures of the car’s underside show nothing of any great concern. The usual dirt and grime can be seen. The seller had the underseal renewed in February of this year.

The last MOT was accomplished with no advisories and they do have a good old poke around these days, the aim being to seek out any areas of concern.

There is a large collection of old MOT certificates which confirm the car’s modest mileage. There were no advisories at the time of the last test and there is still ten months to run before it all needs doing again.

There are some photographs of invoices for work done. More recent work carried out includes a new starter motor and service in 2019. In February of this year the horn was replaced, the aforementioned undersealing carried out and the front brake callipers, hoses and pads were renewed.

This must be one of the youngest Volkswagen Beetles still plying UK roads and with it being a run-out edition, is mighty desirable.

Low ownership and modest miles covered undoubtedly makes this one for the collector. Simple to work on and modest part prices will ensure that the lucky buyer can afford to keep it in tiptop condition without breaking the bank.

It’s a car that will bring a smile to your face every time you jump behind the wheel.

We estimate that the Beetle will sell for between £9,000 and £12,000, so put in a bid and maybe it will be you.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.