Beschreibung:

One of the most cherished and long-lived variations of the Volkswagen Beetle is the Cabriolet, which actually outlived the German sedan by three years. In 1949, soft-top versions of the Beetle were produced by two German coachbuilders, Hebmüller and Karmann. The Hebmüller was a two-seater with a long engine deck, produced only through 1952, when the company folded. Karmann, fated to have a long association with VW, also produced bodies and special models for Porsche, DKW, BMW, Ford of Germany and Opel. The name is perhaps best known for the Karmann Ghia coupes and convertibles, designed by the latter Italian concern, built as sporting Volkswagens from 1955 to 1974. The Karmann cabriolets were four-seat models, which gave them a much wider audience, particularly in the United States where they sold well. The Karmann cabriolet generally mirrored the development of the Beetle during its life, both mechanically and in body features, although the top mechanism maintained its distinctive appearance. When folded the top did not disappear, but sat proudly on the rear deck, covered with a canvas boot. When VW introduced the Super Beetle, with MacPherson strut front suspension and improved luggage space, in 1971, the Cabriolet adopted its characteristics, retaining them even when Super Beetle sedans were discontinued after 1974. Production continued alongside the standard Beetle, and alone from 1977 when the German Beetle was discontinued. The last of more than 330,000 Karmann Beetle Cabriolets was produced on January 10, 1980. This car is an example of one of those late production Cabriolets. The late cars benefited from features like Bosch fuel injection, which was able to cope with emissions standards but also provided improved performance. Based on the Super Beetle this car also has the MacPherson strut suspension and curved windshield glass of this series. The convertible Beetle was always significantly more expensive than its sedan counterpart. This well-maintained and nicely-presented model is in fine order and runs and drives well. These charming vehicles have lots of appeal and the late fuel-injected cars really are the most practical to use. Without reserve