Living with the '03
THE CABRIOLETS

Always a compelling, yet comparatively rare sight on British Roads, the Cabriolet or more correctly the 'Convertible' with the factory designation of type 15 concludes my basic outline of the Super Beetle ..'03 range of bugs.

Del Griffin's 1303 Cabriolet

Indigenous to the standard beetle, the highly desirable 'Top of the range' convertible has always enjoyed a popular following, with the mists of time not affecting depreciation. Quite the contrary, with resale values on well cared for examples commanding three times its peak purchase price of some £4325, in right hand drive in late 1979.

It's not quite fair to regard the convertible as a beetle with soft-top. In fact, all bone-fide convertibles were hand finished by specialist coachworks separate from Wolfsburg's direct influence.

Contemporary advert for the 1303 cabriolet

Download a hi-res acrobat version of this ad

Though with the chassis platform; mechanics and electrical were granted by Volkswagenwerk proper, the main difference was, of course, the body. Willielm Karmann GmbH Coachworks in Osnabruck, Northwest Germany was (and is to this day with the convertible Golf), responsible for its conception and development.

The close and fruitful collaboration between Volkswagen and Karmann can he traced back to its origins, in 1949. Much of the credit of course is rightly afforded to the resourcefulness of Major lvan Hirst, allied to VW's post war mentor and man of enormous resolve, Heinz Nordoff who equally realised there could be a niche market for such a model.

With lost body to roof rigidity (enjoyed by the Saloon), the compensatory factor was to reinforce box sections, added longitudinally between the wheel arches, front bulkhead inner section and under the rear seating area. These body and anti-flexing procedures adding over 6 1/4 stones to the original kerb weight. With so much added but necessary weight to the body & chassis, making the power to weight ratio wanting in all but the 160OCC versions. Even so, a deft touch was still needed when operating the clutch pedal to avoid skuttle shake.

As can be imagined, a convertible version of any saloon has tremendous advantages, with the roof or hood, when fully opened and folded flat, transforming its entire character. It was because of it's folding hood (and ability to seat five passengers) the convertible beetles fully opened hood served to inadvertently obscure the air flow to the engine; thus the four rows of vents were an essential item in the engine lid as was a solenoid operated flap in the baseline of the engine lid. Nevertheless the convertible models did always revel in the luxury of being fitted with all the best of contemporary saloon optional extras e.g. fully reclining front seats; analogue clocks, cigar lighter, two speed windscreen, de-misting, H.R.W; to name a few - which by the Beetle's traditionally austere persona (even in the late 1970's) was quite a minor revolution...

Del Griffin's 1303 Cabriolet - notice the intakes on the decklid

With the termination of the 1303 saloon range in 1975 and the flat screen/ front torsion bar Beetle soldiering on till 1978, it was all too clear to see the fate inevitably awaiting the Beetle convertible, just about tolerated by VW just to mark time for the transition to the up-and-coming water-cooled models.

The convertible version of the Beetle is rightly assured its place in motoring history, with so few made (in stark contrast to the saloon model); the expression. 'Cult Car' is fully deserved and therefore justified.

The last European model come off the production line on January 10th 1980 with circa 331,855 units going before it.

I've had the opportunity of viewing (and sitting) in this last model, now presiding in the Karmann Museum .. Bliss, indeed...

Del Griffin