1978 Volkswagen BEETLE CONVERTIBLE

Bought in 2014 from a croupier in Gibraltar, this low-mileage, left-hand-drive VW Beetle Karmann F1 Cabriolet has benefitted from considerable recent expenditure to bring it to the condition you see today.

First registered in 1978, the owner tells us that the car is in “perfect mechanical condition” thanks to the ministrations of his local specialists, B&H Motors of Reading and a recent four-figure bill for an engine-out service is proof that it has been maintained without regard for cost. 

When not being used it has been stored under a cover in a dry basement garage with its battery maintained via a CTEK charger/conditioner.

The car is only being sold because the owner, a self-confessed classic Volkswagen addict, has too many cars to be able to drive them all as much as he would like. Located in Reading, he would welcome potential bidders to examine the car for themselves prior to placing a bid.

As you can see from the photographs, the Beetle is in good solid condition, the paint is very respectable, but it is not concours as there are the inevitable marks and scuffs that come from four decades of use (please see photographs for details). But, the car is very presentable, and any remedial works would not be significant or expensive if so desired. 

The rear engine cover is possibly the worst panel on the car, with rust to the lower surface. However, we think it is almost certainly salvageable but replacement panels are readily available, should the new owner prize ease of repair over originality. The lower door bottoms have some minor rust, but this looks to be fairly minor. And there appears to be a stain on the scuttle paint. The Beetle benefits from recent chromework and new headlights.

While the online MOT history also shows some light surface rust to the underside of the vehicle, the car is solid, but should you choose to use the car on a regular basis, we would recommend a weekend spent on the floorpan - wire-brush cleaned and a decent coat of Waxoyl would see it fighting fit and ready to face another forty years with equanimity.

The blue cabriolet soft-top is in good condition being taut and watertight. It is free of rips and tears but if we are being picky we could mention that it is a tad grubby inside and out and could do with being cleaned. 

Addition:

Please note, we have been advised by the seller that also included in the sale of the Beetle is the hood cover for use when the soft-top is folded. This matches the hood, is in great condition and complete with the necessary studs and fasteners (please see photos in the gallery).

The Beetle sits on matching tyres, all of which have good tread. Regular readers will know that we prize matching tyres above almost everything else as we’ve found that anyone who goes to the expense of fitting matching rubber tends not to skimp on maintaining the rest of the vehicle either. The steel wheels and chrome hubcaps are in good condition.

As you can see from the photographs, the original black interior is in excellent condition; the blue door trim panels are in very good condition, as are the carpets and the wood veneer on the dashboard.

The black vinyl seats are in very good order, and the only damage is a small area to the bolster on the nearside of the driver’s seat. This could be easily repaired at little cost.

The front boot area is neat and clean. In fact, the only work we can see that needs doing (aside from the driver’s seat) is the wiring under the dashboard, which is a little untidy.

The engine was removed as part of a recent full service, a comprehensive procedure that led to a £2,267 bill from B&H Motors of Reading in November 2018. The work included new pushrod tubes and seals, a pair of good secondhand heat exchangers, a new starter motor, a full service, and some brake refurbishment. 

The owner tells us that the engine now “sounds lovely” and that the car drives very well; one of the many benefits of buying a car like this from a marque enthusiast and collector is that they tend to spend far more on maintaining their vehicles than a more casual fan would…

Other recent work includes a new battery and the troublesome mechanical fuel injection system has been replaced with a carburettor. 

The car is also wired for a CTEK battery charger/conditioner, which means the new owner will be able to plug one in without having to install the wiring or access the battery whenever they want to connect to it.

The online MOT history shows nothing of concern whatsoever as all the work that was identified as needing doing was done. The MOT certificate itself expires in November 2019.

The car comes with a number of old MOT certificates plus a sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the recent work that has been done to it. A workshop manual will also be supplied.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been maintained to the very highest standard.

The Karmann Cabriolet is a very collectable Beetle, and this is a well-sorted example that would make an ideal entry to the marque for the VW enthusiast. Needing no mechanical work, it would ideally form the basis of a minor bodywork restoration, enabling the new owner to use it as a daily driver while getting the paintwork sorted as and when time and resources allow.

And the need for this small amount of bodywork is acknowledged in the owner’s expectations; he’s a realistic man who understands that the cost of this work needs to be factored in when setting the reserve. So, we are happy to say that while we think it will sell for between £6,000 and £8,000, the reserve is set at an even lower point, which makes this Beetle extraordinarily attractive and potentially available to those buyers for whom the Karmann Cabriolet had previously been just out of reach. Just as Ferdinand intended, all those years ago…

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen in Reading; 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’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.