1974 Volkswagen Käfer 1303 Cabrio – Exterior and Interior – Motorworld Classics Bodensee 2022

Within this changing landscape, the Volkswagen Käfer 1303 Cabrio assumed a special role. While the 1303 sedan was discontinued after the 1975 model year, Cabriolet production continued until January 1980, largely as special versions for the US market. This made the Cabrio the final German-built expression of the Beetle concept.

Technical Details:

Introduced for the 1973 model year and continuing with incremental updates, the Volkswagen Käfer 1303 Cabrio shared its engineering foundations with the 1303 sedan but incorporated refinements aimed at safety, comfort, and regulatory compliance. Central to the Volkswagen Käfer 1303 Cabriolet was its revised front axle geometry, which featured a negative scrub radius. This change improved straight-line stability and steering behavior, particularly under braking, and reflected Volkswagen’s response to evolving safety expectations in Europe and the United States.

The chassis retained the familiar Beetle layout, but with notable updates. Wider 4.5J x 15-inch wheels were fitted, contributing to improved road contact. A key technical milestone arrived mid-decade with the adoption of rack-and-pinion steering, replacing the long-used worm-and-roller system. This eliminated the need for a steering damper and delivered more precise steering input. The Cabriolet also benefited from compliance-driven updates to its powertrain, as engines were adapted to meet stricter emissions regulations in both Europe and the US, though the fundamental air-cooled boxer architecture remained unchanged.

Over its production life, the Volkswagen Käfer 1303 Cabrio saw relatively few mechanical changes, underlining Volkswagen’s strategy of gradual evolution rather than radical redesign. By the late 1970s, updates were largely limited to interior elements such as seats with adjustable headrests, introduced in 1978. The final German-market price reached 14,423 Deutsche Mark, reflecting both inflation and the Cabrio’s increasingly specialized position in the Volkswagen range.

• Manufacturer: Volkswagen
• Model name: Volkswagen Käfer 1303 Cabrio (Type 15)
• Year of manufacturing: 1974

Design:

Visually, the Volkswagen Käfer 1303 Cabrio is instantly recognizable as a late-stage evolution of the Beetle’s iconic form. The most obvious external cue is the larger, more curved windshield introduced with the 1303, which gave the front end a fuller appearance compared to earlier models. For the Cabriolet, this was paired with a reinforced body structure engineered by Karmann to compensate for the absence of a fixed roof, resulting in a four-seat convertible that maintained acceptable rigidity.

By the 1974 model year, several exterior details defined the car’s appearance. The front indicators had moved into the box-style bumpers, a change that was immediately visible and aligned the Beetle with contemporary safety standards. The Volkswagen Käfer 1303 Cabrio also received a larger rear window, improving rearward visibility and subtly modernizing the silhouette. Black fender beading replaced body-colored trim, adding contrast and simplifying production.

Inside, the Volkswagen Käfer 1303 Cabrio balanced familiarity with incremental modernization. Changes to sun visors, door panels, and side trim reflected cost considerations, while optional equipment packages allowed buyers to specify additional sound insulation and chrome window surrounds. The cabin retained the Beetle’s upright seating position and simple dashboard layout, emphasizing usability over fashion. The fabric roof, neatly folded behind the rear seats when open, reinforced the car’s dual identity as both everyday transport and leisure vehicle.

Historical Significance:

On July 1, 1974, the last Volkswagen Käfer rolled off the production line in Wolfsburg after nearly three decades and more than 11.9 million units built there since 1945. From that point on, Beetle production for European customers was concentrated in other plants, while Wolfsburg transitioned to producing newer models such as the Golf and Audi 50.

Within this changing landscape, the Volkswagen Käfer 1303 Cabrio assumed a special role. While the 1303 sedan was discontinued after the 1975 model year, Cabriolet production continued until January 1980, largely as special versions for the US market. This made the Cabrio the final German-built expression of the Beetle concept. At the same time, Volkswagen was streamlining its lineup, dropping most trim and engine designations so that all large-front-end Beetles were simply branded as 1303.

The Beetle’s long-term success also carried consequences. Volkswagen’s reliance on the Käfer and its derivatives through the 1960s delayed broader technical innovation, leaving the company vulnerable as customer expectations evolved. The eventual end of German production marked not just the close of a model cycle, but a strategic turning point for the brand. Even so, Beetle production continued in markets such as Brazil and Mexico, underscoring its global relevance.

Quirks and Pop Culture:

The Käfer’s nickname, inspired by its distinctive shape, had long since become universal by the 1970s. By the time of the 1303 Cabriolet, the Beetle was as much a cultural symbol as a mode of transport. The open-top version added an extra layer of appeal, particularly in export markets, where it was seen as a nostalgic yet approachable convertible rather than a cutting-edge design.

Despite rising prices over the years, the Cabriolet maintained a loyal following. Its continued production after the sedan’s withdrawal reinforced its status as a lifestyle vehicle rather than a mass-market necessity. Today, the 1303 Cabriolet is closely associated with the final chapter of Beetle production in Germany, making it especially valued among enthusiasts and collectors.

Display and preservation:

The vehicle was exhibited at Motorworld Classics Bodensee in 2022. This event, held in Friedrichshafen, is a popular gathering for classic car enthusiasts in southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The 2022 edition featured over 800 exhibitors spread across multiple halls and open-air spaces, offering a vibrant mix of vintage automobiles, motorcycles, boats, and aircraft. Visitors could explore restoration workshops, parts markets, and club presentations. A key highlight was the live vehicle auctions and dynamic driving demonstrations on the event grounds. The show reaffirmed its reputation as a hands-on celebration of classic mobility culture.

Conclusion:

The 1974 Volkswagen Käfer 1303 Cabriolet captures the Beetle at the end of its German production story. Technically refined with updated steering, suspension geometry, and safety-oriented details, it combined familiar air-cooled engineering with incremental modernization. Its design balanced classic Beetle cues with visible late-era changes, while its historical role as the last German-built Beetle variant gives it lasting significance. More than just a convertible, the 1303 Cabriolet stands as a transitional model linking Volkswagen’s past to its future.