Living with the 1302

In the first part of this trilogy, I discussed the 1302 range of "super beetle. Within the second part I'll give a resume of the 1303/1303S models. Though the 1302 range lasted just two years in production, it was cited as an ongoing part of a contingency plan to incarnate proper, into the 1303 model range.

Contemporary advert for the all new 1302

Download a hi-res acrobat version of this ad

Introduced in the autumn of 1972 in a blaze of publicity, the all dancing, all singing 1303 range was by far the most ambitious and radical guise of beetle, certainly by Volkswagen's conservative and austere standards. A major factor and consideration was the all-important USA and North American car market. Becoming ever more safety conscious and environmentally aware, the American safety council was clearly putting pressure on car manufacturers to meet ever tougher legislation on two obvious fronts, safety and anti smog pollution.

One Ralph Nadar of said American Safety Council was the chief protagonist amongst all this. If the name sounds familiar, Ralph Nadar stood as a candidate in the recent US presidential election, representing the green party (figures, eh). He is on record as being highly critical of the beetle, having never been satisfied with the cars infrastructure that allowed exposed electrics in such close proximity to a large quantity of highly inflammable liquid (fuel tank). As is the case with the torsion bar flat screen bugs.

Therefore, with these prevailing attitudes during the 1970's, something quite drastic had to be achieved and quickly. So because of this, the deep-dished padded/ moulded fascia was devised to meet and even exceed the regulations imposed, whereby the electrics/ instruments within and around the locality of the dash could only be accessed from inside the car. Also introduced was a 40% larger double-curved windscreen, huge rear (elephant' feet) lens and uprated rear suspension. This took the form of double-jointed drive shafts (C.V.J), semi trailing arms and transverse torsion bars. Remarkably, this setup was hiked straight into the Porsche 924 model, a decade or so later.

Understandably, along with the front suspension of Mac struts, anti roll bar and steering modified from steering box (worm. and roller) to rack and pinion in late 1974 and on handling and road holding, was infinitely more confidence inspiring. Engines?, well, on the 1303 came 1,285cc with 44bhp and the 1303S saw a 1,584cc lump with bhp. Both engine types with twin port induction and dog-house cooling to further aid cylinder/barrel cooling as the model range evolved with alternators replacing the old dynamo across the 1303 range. Braking was via drum, all round on the 1303, though as with the 1302's, the 1303S enjoyed disc brakes up front.

Again, with every effort to bring the beetle into line with the modern era, such attempts in the region of safety could not be taken for granted. For example, the front steering suspension was cleverly modified to incorporate negative steering roll radius. The idea being that in the event of a front tyre blowout at speed, improved straight-line stability prevailed (and kept your underware clean). Fortunately I've not had to call upon such handling requirements thus far. Further improvements to ventilation, lighting and interior not to mention mechanical and bodily changes continued large and small, which was in keeping with VW's policy of progressive refinement, To itemise each would be churlish for the aims set out in this potted look back over the super beetle models. It was as if VW knew the super Beetles days were numbered, when it became obvious that this 03 family had reached the point where little if any development was possible, without spoiling the fundamental character it set out to create.

The model range was wound down in 1975 and you'll be very pushed to find any younger models than on a "P" plate. Such was the desire to modernise across the entire VW range of models, and increasing interest in water cooled VW's (Golf, Polo) the demise of the 1303 saloon, the cabriolet version held its own only until Jan. 1980 (which I'll cover next), in the final part of Living with the. ' 03, I'll reprise the 1303 cabriolet. In case you are wondering, VW couldn't use the designation. 1301 because manufacturer Simca had used already used it.

Del Griffin