1973 VW Beetle 1303S

Mon, 24 Mar 2008
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This is my first and only aircooled VW and I'm only its second owner. It is a 1973 Kansas Beige 1303s, which I have had since October 2002. It was solid underneath and the heater channels were immaculate, having been Waxoiled from new. It also came with a complete service history verifying it's 60,500 miles.
As soon as I got it home, it was straight into a body shop to have a few minor dents/rust problems sorted and a complete re-spray in its original Kansas Beige hue. I then fitted a set of Proline alloys that had been given to me, and fitted a pair of smoked rear lights. I also got rid of the horrible plastic number plates replacing them with some proper pressed aluminium ones.
I drove around like this for a couple of years and then decided to change the interior. Looking on eBay I found a used 1303 interior, in cream leather with red piping, including cream leather door cards and a dash re-covered in cream leather. So after winning this (for a price!) I fitted it all and sold the original black dash, door cards and basket-weave seats on eBay, recouping most of the outlay.
Spirit of the 50's supplied and fitted the red carpet with beige trim as well as a new headlining! They also supplied the bonnet bra in Black and Beige to match the paintwork. I also fitted a Bugpack Hurst shifter and Sun Pro Monster Tach to complete the interior.
Last year I decided to change the look of the Bug again, without going to the expense of a colour change! I decided the best way to do this was to change the wheels. I wanted to fit original Empi Sprintstars and eBay came up trumps again. I got a complete set of five for £156! I had these refurbished and fitted them with 155s front and 165 rears. I think that these, together with the addition of beige running board mats, make the 1303s look great. Sure, 1303s are not to everyone's taste, but I love it and it hasn't let me down once in over five years and 7,000 miles and in all weathers! Furthermore, I will never sell it as I have promised my daughter that it will be hers when she is old enough to drive! She is only four, so I have some time yet!
Kevin Jackson