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Every Month, A New Super Beetle Story
Standout 1302 and 1303 Super Beetles from the community featuring restorations, survivor cars, custom builds, and the personal stories that showcase the craftsmanship behind these classics.
The Story of a Sunshine Yellow VW 1303 Cabriolet - Owner: Rodrigo Kurmen
Fifty years ago, a revolutionary model, and what many still consider the most beautiful Volkswagen ever built, rolled out of the Karmann factory in Osnabrück, Germany. The year was 1975, and this particular VW 1303 Super Beetle Cabriolet (Type 151) wore the unmistakable L13K Sunshine Yellow, a color as bright and optimistic as the spirit of the open-top Beetle itself. Originally destined for France, it would begin a remarkable journey spanning continents, friendships, and generations.
According to its original documentation, this Cabriolet made its way to Colombia in 1976, a time when the Beetle was already a beloved symbol of freedom and reliability across the world. Nearly a decade later, in 1984, it found a new custodian: a brilliant accountant, tax auditor, and soon-to-be Doctor of Law. But titles aside, he was above all a kind, generous man, one of those rare souls whose passion for life matched his passion for his cars.
We became good friends and it was through him that this yellow convertible entered my life. I first encountered it in 2002 during a photoshoot for El Tiempo newspaper. The assignment featured my own 1302 VW Super Beetle Automatic alongside his open-top 1303, both gleaming under the Colombian sun, a pair of cousins separated by just a year and a few evolutionary tweaks. I remember vividly how the Cabriolet’s bright yellow paint caught the light, how the curves of its fenders seemed to smile. It wasn’t just a car; it was a statement of joy on four wheels.
A few years later, my friend asked me to look after his beloved convertible. It wasn’t a casual favor. It was an act of trust. Caring for a classic Volkswagen means understanding its quirks: the hum of its air-cooled engine, the feel of its steering, the rhythm of its mechanical heart. And so I became its caretaker, ensuring that every drive kept the story alive.
Then, in 2019, plans emerged to export the car to the United States. The paperwork was nearly done, the logistics set, but fate had other ideas. Just months before the global pandemic began, my friend and I reached an agreement that would change everything. I would become the Beetle’s new owner, inheriting not just a car, but his legacy.
This Sunshine Yellow Cabriolet has since become a deeply personal part of my life’s journey. It was there in 2010 when Diana and I got married, our wedding procession led by its cheerful presence, the engine purring like a blessing. For us, it wasn’t simply a car; it was a witness to love, friendship, and continuity.
Today, when I look at the Beetle parked in my garage, I see more than chrome and metal. I see the hands that cared for it before mine, the roads it has traveled, and the people who have smiled at its passing. I see the laughter of friends, the warmth of Colombian sun on yellow paint, and the enduring genius of Ferdinand Porsche’s design, evolved, refined, and perfected by Karmann’s craftsmen.
And someday, I hope my son, Rodrigo José, will take the wheel, feeling that same connection between man, machine, and memory. Because in the end, that’s what the Beetle has always represented: continuity, simplicity, and joy. Half a century since it first rolled off the line in Osnabrück, this Sunshine Yellow Super Beetle Cabriolet remains what it has always been: a timeless symbol of optimism. And for me, it’s a golden thread tying together the past, the present, and the future of our family’s story on the open road.
