1973 Volkswagen SP2

The vendor purchased the car in 2019 and is the car’s second UK owner. The vehicle was imported from Brazil by his predecessor, an importer of VW camper vans, and had, we understand, just two owners in Brazil.

We also believe (from a note found in the glove compartment) that the engine was reconditioned some 7,000 kms before it reached these shores and that it was one of the very first SP2s to roll off the production line in 1973.

The first thing the vendor did was to thoroughly overhaul and check the engine and optimally reset the carbs.

Then Covid put things on hold and he used the time to freshen up the paintwork and fit some racy new wheels (the original steel ones are still available should you wish to have them).

He also lowered the suspension slightly, giving the car the squat, aggressive stance you see today, and fitted a new fuel pump.

We have driven the car and can attest to the fact that it starts, goes and stops as you would hope and expect.

The exhaust barely features any kind of silencing, so the car sounds considerably gruntier than it actually is, which all adds to the impression of a properly sporty vehicle even if the reality is somewhat different.

The vendor has taken the car to various events and also completed a 1,000-mile rally – during which it didn’t miss a beat and behaved perfectly well throughout.

He drove the car down to our Oxfordshire HQ, which is invariably a good sign.

The car really does present very well indeed from every angle, and there’s no doubt that the Brazilian design team did a fabulous job.

The bodywork is very straight and true, and there are no dimples, dinks or dents of any real note that we can see anywhere.

The panel gaps and shut-lines are reasonable, although not exactly laser sharp on the doors – we suspect that these cars almost certainly left the factory like that in 1973.

And, if you were in any doubt that this unicorn car might struggle to get enough attention, the bright yellow livery takes care of that.

The paintwork is in exemplary condition everywhere, save for a little scuff on the ‘nose’ of the car above the nearside headlamp cluster and one or two small stone chips here and there.

The wheels are in fine fettle, and the matching 205/45R16 Avon ZV7 tyres look to have plenty of life left in them.

The lights, lenses, badging and other exterior fixtures and fittings all look fine, with the exception of the o/s/r light cluster cover, which is loose and unattached at one end.

The interior is every bit a match for its exterior counterpart in terms of quality, condition and preservation.

The black VW-embossed seats have no nicks, tears or meaningful signs of wear that we can see.

Ditto the VW SP2-badged black and yellow carpets.

The white headlining is largely very good but it is a little frayed at the edges in a couple of places.

The carpeted rear luggage area is home to a steel spare wheel (with a cover), under which you’ll find a hatch that reveals the SP2’s 1.7-litre air-cooled engine.

The steering wheel, gear lever and other controls, dials and switches look decent. The vendor thinks that everything works, with the exception of the electric mirror controls.

There are a few ripples and creases in the door cards and on top of the dashboard trim, but nothing to worry about, as far as we can tell.

The footwell and dashboard trim adjacent to the passenger door is a little ragged and tired here and there.

The ‘frunk’ is largely filled with the fuel tank, but everything looks clean, dry and, as with the rest of the car, free of any rust that we can see.

The cunningly concealed engine bay is dry and tidy, if not exactly shiny or bright, and the engine certainly sounds healthy and hearty when fired into life.

The cars undersides look very good indeed and appear to be possessed of plenty of structural integrity.

Nothing we’ve seen has given us any cause to shake our heads or tut.

The car comes with next to nothing by way of history relating to its life prior to arrival in the UK – and not much thereafter.

Not least because it turned up just in time for Covid and, consequently, hasn’t done much since 2019.

It comes with a V5, plenty of spare keys, and a recent HPI report.

Everywhere you go in this car people will stop and stare.

You’ll see them soundlessly mouthing something along the lines of “What the **** is that?” as you burble past.

You will spend your days explaining it to people and satisfying their endless curiosity.

You will be the proud owner of one of the rarest, classiest and most eye-catching cars anywhere in Britain or, indeed, Europe and beyond.

We like it a great deal – and we don’t expect to ever see another one.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £30,000 - £35,000.

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