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Description

Available in the Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet collection, this 1973 model has always been Italian, with black license plates from the first registration in the province of Milan. It is in a beautiful white color with a white hood and black interior. The body and interior are in excellent condition, as are the mechanics. Ready to drive.

Model history and curiosity

The 1973 Volkswagen Beetle 1303 Cabriolet (known in the United States and other markets as the Super Beetle) is one of the most iconic, mature, and technically advanced versions of the Beetle in its entire history. 1973 was a pivotal year, marking the debut of the 1303 series, which introduced radical changes compared to the classic 1960s models to meet the stringent American safety regulations of the time.
The key details that characterize this specific model are:
- The panoramic windshield: It is visibly curved and rounded, no longer flat. This served to distance the glass from the passengers' faces in the event of a crash and improve aerodynamics.
- The modern dashboard: Inside, a protruding dashboard made of impact-resistant plastic (padded) debuts, abandoning the classic exposed sheet metal. The instruments are grouped into a single large circular element in front of the driver.
- The "elephant foot" rear lights: In 1973, large, round rear lights were introduced, significantly more visible than the small ones of previous years.
The 1303 series revolutionized the car's driving dynamics with MacPherson strut front suspension, abandoning the old torsion bar setup. The adoption of the MacPherson strut system with coil springs dramatically improved comfort, steering precision, and doubled the space in the front trunk, also allowing for a flat spare tire. The rear semi-trailing arm suspension (IRS) avoided the sudden changes in camber typical of older models when the rear axle was lightened, making the car much more stable and responsive when cornering.
The 1.3-liter engine offers excellent balance for relaxed cruising. It's a classic, air-cooled, flat-four, with a central camshaft and overhead valves. It delivers 44 hp. It's not lightning-fast, but it's an extremely robust, flexible engine with an unmistakable sound and a single Solex carburetor.
The convertible models were not assembled directly by Volkswagen, but by Karmann in Osnabrück, with excellent build quality. The soft top of the Karmann Beetles is renowned for its exceptional thermal and acoustic insulation. It's a multilayer structure (five layers, including internal padding) that, when closed, makes the car almost as comfortable as a sedan. When the soft top is opened, it doesn't disappear completely into the body of the car but folds neatly at the rear, creating that characteristic and unmistakable profile of vintage VW convertibles.
The 1973 1303 Cabriolet is a highly sought-after model today. While less "retro" in its details than a 1960s convertible, it offers significantly superior driveability, better brakes, and a modern 12-volt electrical system with alternator, making it perfect and highly enjoyable for rallies and summer trips.

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