My wife Helen and I enjoy spending time driving our 1979 VW Beetle Karmann Cabriolet and travelling around the country camping in our 2001 T4 Campervan. Here is some information about both.
'Bernadette' - VW Beetle 1303 Karmann Cabriolet
Date of manufacture: 1979 – this was the last year that Karmann produced the Beetle Cabriolet for Volkswagen at their Osnabruck factory in West Germany, so this car is one of the last produced before the model was discontinued and replaced by the Golf Cabriolet.
1303 denotes the model type – the so-called 'super beetle' introduced in 1973 which had a curved windscreen, padded dashboard, larger more bulbous front boot lid to improve luggage capacity (at the expense of styling some say?), semi-trailing arm rear suspension, macpherson strut front suspension, and on this late model rack-and-pinion steering.
The car was originally delivered new in Florida and was in 'triple white' colour scheme – white body, upholstery and hood.
In 1990 the car was imported to Jersey and converted to right-hand-drive. At this time it was given some cosmetic restoration work and resprayed in metallic blue. The interior was also re-upholstered in white leatherette and new carpets fabricated.
In May 1996 I bought the car in it's blue paintwork and drove it daily, also taking it to many rallies and festivals.
In June 2000 it failed it's MOT due to corrosion, and was taken off the road until I had a garage to store it in and start restoration work.
In January 2002 I began stripping the car down to a rolling shell and found out how extensive the corrosion was. Assorted parts such as the glass, hood, interior and wings needed to be stored wherever they could in the house!
In November 2004 the rolling shell was transported to a local garage who were commissioned to repair the corroded metal. They removed the body from the chassis and replaced:
In May 2005 the car was delivered back to me, and the painting and assembly began. I sprayed it in VW B3B3 'mellow yellow' (a colour from the New Beetle Cabriolet range that I particularly liked) in my garage using an Earlex general purpose sprayer.
The car has been fitted with UK/Euro style bumpers, rather than the larger original US spec ones it came with, as I prefer the less bulky style. The front indicators have also been moved from the top of the front wings to the bumpers, and the chrome body trim not refitted to give a clean and smooth style to the car.
Other specification details:
'Billie' - T4 Transporter Camper
We bought Billie in 2019, kitted out as a day van with simple storage furniture and a rock and roll bed. She is a 2001 ex-AA van, repainted in grey (some of the original yellow can still be seen under the trim etc! Along with some Star Wars themed stickers, here's a few other improvements we've made:
'Bernadette' - VW Beetle 1303 Karmann Cabriolet
Date of manufacture: 1979 – this was the last year that Karmann produced the Beetle Cabriolet for Volkswagen at their Osnabruck factory in West Germany, so this car is one of the last produced before the model was discontinued and replaced by the Golf Cabriolet.
1303 denotes the model type – the so-called 'super beetle' introduced in 1973 which had a curved windscreen, padded dashboard, larger more bulbous front boot lid to improve luggage capacity (at the expense of styling some say?), semi-trailing arm rear suspension, macpherson strut front suspension, and on this late model rack-and-pinion steering.
The car was originally delivered new in Florida and was in 'triple white' colour scheme – white body, upholstery and hood.
In 1990 the car was imported to Jersey and converted to right-hand-drive. At this time it was given some cosmetic restoration work and resprayed in metallic blue. The interior was also re-upholstered in white leatherette and new carpets fabricated.
In May 1996 I bought the car in it's blue paintwork and drove it daily, also taking it to many rallies and festivals.
In June 2000 it failed it's MOT due to corrosion, and was taken off the road until I had a garage to store it in and start restoration work.
In January 2002 I began stripping the car down to a rolling shell and found out how extensive the corrosion was. Assorted parts such as the glass, hood, interior and wings needed to be stored wherever they could in the house!
In November 2004 the rolling shell was transported to a local garage who were commissioned to repair the corroded metal. They removed the body from the chassis and replaced:
- Both heater channels (sill assemblies) and strengtheners
- Rear firewall and boot floor
- Rear cross members
- Rear quarter panels
- Both chassis floor pans
- Rear valence
- Bumper mount repairs
In May 2005 the car was delivered back to me, and the painting and assembly began. I sprayed it in VW B3B3 'mellow yellow' (a colour from the New Beetle Cabriolet range that I particularly liked) in my garage using an Earlex general purpose sprayer.
The car has been fitted with UK/Euro style bumpers, rather than the larger original US spec ones it came with, as I prefer the less bulky style. The front indicators have also been moved from the top of the front wings to the bumpers, and the chrome body trim not refitted to give a clean and smooth style to the car.
Other specification details:
- Engine: 1641 cc with twin Weber 36IDF carburettors and electronic ignition
- Front drilled disk brakes (originally drums) with braided hoses front and rear
- Adjustable 'Bugpack' Macpherson strut front suspension
- Rack and pinion steering
'Billie' - T4 Transporter Camper
We bought Billie in 2019, kitted out as a day van with simple storage furniture and a rock and roll bed. She is a 2001 ex-AA van, repainted in grey (some of the original yellow can still be seen under the trim etc! Along with some Star Wars themed stickers, here's a few other improvements we've made:
- Full mains electric hookup
- Gas hob and sink
- LED lighting
- Leisure battery and split charge system
- 12V compressor fridge