The Sports Bug
Of all the Special Edition Beetles, the 1973 Sports Bug stands out as a
fan favorite, exclusively available as a Super Beetle. It boasted a unique
paint finish, black bumpers, black exterior trim, a rear window defroster,
and a leather sports steering wheel handcrafted by Petri AG.
Buyers could choose between two exterior colors: L13M Saturn Yellow and
Marathon Blue Metallic, both complemented by a Schwarz cloth interior. The
Sports Bug, along with its counterpart, the GSR (Gelbschwarzer Renner or
Yellow Black Racer), was unique for being the only Special Edition Beetles
equipped with 5 1/2" Lemmerz "GT" Sports Wheels with an ET26
offset.
To support this launch, VW dealerships showcased a variety of themed optional
accessories, enhancing showroom displays. These included a striking US-designed
red and black 'waist' stripe, anodized matte black trim pieces like, vent
grill trim, a four-piece engine lid vent grill set, front and rear gravel
guards, exhaust tailpipes, and black plastic headlamp surrounds produced
for VWoA by Production Plastics of Michigan. Sales brochures depicted the
Sports Bug Edition with black headlight surrounds, as seen in the initial
shipment. However, most of these special editions were delivered with standard
chrome headlight surrounds, which explains why nearly all promotional photographs
feature the chrome version.
Volkswagen of America heavily promoted the Sports Bug, utilizing American-produced
sales literature, national magazine advertisements proclaiming "Volkswagen
announces a limited edition Volkswagen," and extensive television commercials
urging viewers, "If you don't get it now, you might not be able to
get it at all." The sales brochure was an intriguing little folder
that unfolded to showcase two Sports Bugs, surrounded by vibrant cartoon
characters playfully commenting on the vehicles. This creative design was
crafted by Jack Davis, who is widely recognized for his significant contributions
to comic art in MAD magazine. The text playfully hinted: "Every now
and then, we let our imaginations run wild and release a limited edition
of a truly fun car. This is one of those special moments
We produced
a small batch, and then, quite literally, we broke the mold. So if you're
interested, let us know. Like, right now?"
Additionally, the brochure invited potential buyers to "Go all out
and customize your Sports Bug with these sleek black metal trim options
bumper over riders, door handle shields, gravel guards, rear hood grille,
and flare-tip exhaust extensions." Volkswagen only manufactured 20,000
Sports Bugs within the "Rallye" Group of Special Edition Beetles,
making this a very rare and sought after Special Edition Super Beetle.
December Blog
This month features my absolute favorite Special Edition Beetle... The
Volkswagen Sports Bug! I don't know what it is about this SE Beetle
that I love so much, but this is the one I'd love to own. Maybe its the
blacked out trim, the sports seats and steering wheel, but it could be the
cool optional black and red waist stripe! With only 20,000 of these made
before "Volkswagen broke the mold", it is one of the coolest Beetles
ever made, GSR excepted. That said, the Super Beetle
featured for December is also and incredible example of a 1973 1303
Super Beetle that has a great story to boot. Imagine buying a Super Beetle
for one dollar! Well that's what owner Mike Goode did! Another must-read
article at the world's #1 Super Beetle website, SuperBeetles.com. For December
I've updated the Event Listings to include some
2025 VW Shows, there are more VW Factory pics
and a complete 1974 Beetle sales brochure in the Ads
and Literature section, enjoy!
Epilogue - The Last Special Edition Super Beetle
The 1970s marked the launch of Special Edition Beetles, introducing models
like the Sports Bug, Sun Bug, Love Bug, Fun Bug, Winter Bug, La Grande Bug,
and Champagne Bug, along with international variants such as the Jeans Bug
and Big and City models. A notable release was the Jubilee Beetle, which
celebrated Volkswagen's milestone of over twenty million sales globally.
This edition was among the first to be based on both the standard Beetle
and the 1302 Super Beetle, paving the way for more than 35 additional special
editions, with many more produced in Mexico. In 1971, the standard Beetle
convertible was discontinued, and from then until early 1980, all convertibles
manufactured were of the Super Beetle type. The final special edition of
the Beetle was aptly named the Epilogue Convertible, often referred to as
the "Triple Black."
This
unique model showcased a sleek black exterior, complemented by a matching
interior and top. The Epilog celebrated the connection to the original Kdf-Wagen
convertibles produced at the Karmann plant four decades earlier, which were
also finished in black. Priced at $7,140, the 1979 Super Beetle convertible
could be ordered with the special black paint, which came with an additional
charge of $200 and included an AM/FM radio.
The vehicle showcased a sleek black exterior paired with black basket weave
seats, creating a striking triple black look. Like all US convertibles produced
from 1979 onward, the Epilogue came equipped with 165SR15 whitewall radial
tires, Lemmerz GT Sport wheels, a cigarette lighter, a quartz crystal clock,
dual outside mirrors, a heated rear window, a leatherette sport steering
wheel, and wood grain dash accents as standard features. Notably, the final
Epilogue convertible was built four days after the last official convertible
rolled off the Karmann production line in Osnabruck on January 10, 1980.
November Blog
Hiya! Once again the weather has been fantastic and we've been cruising
around catching all the fall colours in the trees. But November 1st is here
and sadly its storage time for our summer ride. If there's a plus, you get
to take collision insurance off while your vehicle is in storage, but I'm
grasping here trying to stay positive. So before I get too sad let's talk
about the amazing feature we have for November.
I love a good story about rescuing a Beetle, but when you're rescuing one
that you aunt owned... that's next level. To top it off she was the original
owner of this sweet yellow Super, so check it out! In the event
coverage section we feature the second event article by Ben Reynolds
with photography by his son Kyndryk. I have to say that this father and
son team have some real VW street credits with their next article coming
from the Las Vegas "One Crazy Weekend" event. Look for it next
month.
Spot a Super in Seconds
At first sight, Super Beetles may appear similar to regular Beetles, but
there are actually several differences that set them apart. Here are a few
key distinctions between Volkswagen Super Beetles and standard Beetles,
along with tips on how to tell if yours is a Super or a Standard model.
A key distinction between the Standard Beetle and the Super Beetle lies
in their suspension systems. The Super Beetle features a MacPherson front
suspension, in contrast to the traditional torsion beam found in the Standard
model. If you know what to observe, identifying this difference is straightforward;
just kneel beside a Super Beetle, and you'll notice the visible springs.
The trunk space in a Super Beetle is more spacious compared to a Standard
Beetle, resulting in a bigger opening around the spare tire. This design
provides an additional 3 cubic feet of storage for your luggage. So, if
you can easily stash your groceries and other items alongside the spare
tire, chances are you're driving a Super Beetle.
While not all Super Beetles came with a curved windshield, it's a noticeable
difference when you place two Beetles next to each other. The curved windshield
also brought about a new dashboard design, which was unique to the 1973
Supers. Volkswagen aimed to set these Super Beetles apart from earlier models,
even if most people at the time might not have recognized the distinction.
You can also identify your car by checking the dashboard and windshield.
If your windshield has a curve and the dashboard is padded, you not only
own a Super Beetle, but it's specifically a 1973 model or newer. Another
method, which requires a bit more effort, is to measure the car's length
and width to determine if it's a Standard or Super Beetle.
So how do you spot a Super in seconds? Take a look for springs behind the
tire located under the front fender. If you find springs, congratulations,
you have spotted a Super Beetle! It's as straightforward as that.
October Blog
We've got a couple of weeks of beautiful weather coming up, so make sure
you get out in that Super Beetle before its too late. Up here in Canada
"Super Weather" runs from about April/May until the end of October,
after that it's time to put your Super Beetle away for the winter months.
The old website had a whole section on how to store your Super Beetle properly
for the winter. Since that's gone, I'm going to sum it all up in a few short
sentences. Wash, wax and clean the interior of your VW. Change the oil.
Inflate the tires to the maximum pressure. Park it in gear with the parking
brake off and wheel chocks to stop it from rolling away. Hang a marine moisture
adsorbent pack inside. Use a Battery Minder to keep the battery topped up
and cover it up with a breathable cover until Spring. I hope you enjoy this
month's feature and all of the addition VW
Ads and Factory pictures that I've added.
The event listings have been updated, so there's
no excuse for not hitting one more VW show this season.
September Blog
Welcome back to the world's #1 Super Beetle website. I like saying that. It
took me over twenty five years to get SuperBeetles.com to that point on the
worldwide web of things. When I started this website back in 1999, I never
thought that it would become so popular. Back in the day, a lot of VW folk
looked down on the Super Beetle because "it wasn't a real Beetle".
The strut suspension, the curved front glass on the 1303, the spare tire that
lays flat in the trunk, were all cool things to Super owners. But these changes
were abominations to Standard Beetle owners and to a lot of the VW community
too. That's why I thought that the Super Beetle deserved a website dedicated
totally to them. At that point SuperBeetles.com was born. In my opinion, when
the New Beetle came out it helped to build a bridge between Standard and Super
owners, giving them another car to say "that isn't a real Beetle"
about. Things have gotten better over the years, but there are still those
purists that will never accept the Super Beetle, and you know what? I'm good
with that.
Book Review: Ugly Is Only Skin-deep
The Volkswagen Beetle became an icon not just because of German engineering,
but also due to the efforts of a Manhattan advertising agency. Established
in 1959 by Doyle Dane Bernbach and carried on into the 60s and early
70s, the campaign for the Volkswagen Beetle is widely regarded as
the greatest of all time. It didn't just market a car, but also introduced
a new style of advertising: one that was simple, charming, intelligent,
and above all, honest.
In his book "Ugly Is Only Skin-deep," Dominik Imseng delves into
the origins of Doyle Dane Bernbach, which faced disdain from major players
on Madison Avenue because of the "ethnic" background of its founders
and staff, who were predominantly Jewish. The narrative then unfolds to
reveal how the agency secured the Volkswagen account and how an unlikely
duo of creativescopywriter Julian Koenig and art director Helmut Kroneshaped
the direction of the most revered advertising campaign in history.
Chapter 7: Will we ever kill the bug? In what was to become an unforgettable
shoot, a brand new VW was borrowed from a local VW dealer and suspended
from crane so that it could be gently lowered and set down on its roof (like
a dead bug). DDB Art Director Len Sirowitz remembers, "The afternoon
light was beautiful. The photographer, with his camera on a tripod in a
locked position, was ready to shoot. And then it happened: in a split second
after the car had touched the ground, its roof collapsed. Fortunately, the
camera had already clicked off two shots, before we had to get up enough
nerve to return the damaged car to the very unhappy Volkswagen dealer."
The book also explores the progression of the Volkswagen campaign and how
advertising luminaries like Bob Levenson, Len Sirowitz, Roy Grace, and Bob
Kuperman succeeded in persuading more and more Americans that smaller was
indeed better. Not only did the Volkswagen campaign revolutionize the advertising
industry, but it also played a role in sparking the cultural transformation
of the 1960s. Although the book does not cover any Super Beetles ads, author
Dominik has told me that the next release of Ugly Is Only Skin-deep will
delve into 1302/1303 ads created by DDB. Highly recommended if you're a
fan of these icon Volkswagen ads. More info at https://dominikimseng.com/the-history-of-those-great-volkswagen-ads/
August Blog
It's funny. I never thought that the new websites would take so long to
update. With the old websites, I'd throw in a new feature, update the event
listings and call it a day. Today it feels like 32c (89.6F) and I've been
sitting on my deck for about fours hours just editing away. With the new
VW Ad and Factory Pictures
sections there's a lot of photo editing and research for photo descriptions.
Add in the August feature, update the event
listings and this month write a book review
and edit photos and an article about the Wasatch
Classic VW show and boom I'm finally done. Don't get me wrong, I actually
love doing it. All of the positive feedback that I've received has meant
a lot to me and has me "Judson Supercharged" over both of my newly
refreshed websites. That said, thanks for all of the props and be sure to
check out my other website, AllAirCooled.com
as well.
What is MacPherson Strut Suspension?
The MacPherson strut, commonly found in the front suspension of modern
vehicles, utilizes the top of a telescopic damper as the upper steering
pivot. This type of automotive suspension system was created by American
automotive engineer Earle S. MacPherson. In 1945, Earle S. MacPherson became
the chief engineer for Chevrolet's Light Car project, aiming to create a
new compact car for the postwar market, resulting in the Chevrolet Cadet.
The Chevrolet Cadet was set to introduce innovative features, including
a pioneering independent suspension system with a MacPherson strut, showcased
in the three prototypes developed by 1946. Despite its potential, the Cadet
project was terminated in 1947 before reaching commercial production, mainly
due to General Motors' apprehensions regarding the projected profitability
of the vehicle.
The French 1949 Ford Vedette is commonly misattributed as the first production
car to utilize MacPherson struts, but it actually featured an independent
front suspension with wishbones and an upper coil spring prior to MacPherson's
design. It wasn't until 1954, following Simca's acquisition of the Vedette
factory, that the updated Simca Vedette adopted front struts. The MacPherson
strut utilizes a wishbone or a compression link, along with a secondary
link, to stabilize and provide a mounting point for the wheel's hub carrier
or axle. This system allows for both lateral and longitudinal positioning
of the wheel. The upper part of the hub carrier is firmly attached to the
bottom of the outer part of the strut, which slides up and down the inner
part.
The inner part extends directly upwards and is mounted in the vehicle's
body shell. The steering axis inclination is determined by the line connecting
the top mount of the strut to the bottom ball joint on the control arm.
To ensure clearance for the tire, the strut's axis may be angled inward
from the steering axis at the bottom, causing the bottom to follow an arc
when steering. The introduction of unibody construction greatly benefited
the MacPherson strut due to its need for vertical space and a strong top
mount, both of which are provided by unibody construction. Additionally,
unibody construction helps distribute suspension stresses. The MacPherson
strut typically carries both the coil spring and the shock absorber, which
is often in the form of a cartridge mounted within the strut. It can also
have the steering arm integrated into its lower outer portion.
This entire assembly is simple and can be pre-assembled as a unit. Removing
the upper control arm allows for more engine compartment width, which is
advantageous for smaller cars, especially those with transverse-mounted
engines commonly found in front-wheel drive vehicles. If necessary, the
assembly can be further simplified by substituting an anti-roll bar for
the radius arm. These factors have made the MacPherson strut popular among
low-cost manufacturers and it also provides an easy way to set suspension
geometry. While Standard Beetles were designed to use torsion bars, all
Super Beetles were upgraded to the Macpherson strut and coil spring setup.
This big change increased the driving quality and improved the Volkswagen
Beetle's poor turning radius. The accuracy of the steering and this smoother
ride can easily be detected by taking both Beetles for a road test. All
images courtesy of Top
Line Parts, your Super Beetle suspension specialist.
July Blog
Welcome back to SuperBeetles.com, the World's #1 Super Beetle website.
Just Google "Super Beetle" to see which website comes up first...
it's us, and we're Super proud of it. We've been online for 25 years and
we're not slowing down. I absolutely love this months featured
Super Beetle. I love the fact that the owner bought it back in 1992,
drove it into the ground, and years later brought it back to life. This
is another must-read feature. To follow up on the "What Makes a Super
Beetle a Super Beetle" article from last month, there's a new one explaining
"What is MacPherson Strut Suspension? If you don't already know, this
is one of the main differences between a Standard and a Super Beetle and
gives the 1302 and 1303 Beetle its super ride. As always, I've added more
pictures from the factory assembly line and a bunch of Super Beetle ads
and other stuff.
BTW:
We just got back from visiting Hungary, Austria and Germany on a Viking
Danube river cruise. During the two weeks we were traveling I was on the
lookout for Super Beetles or any other vintage Volkswagen for that matter.
I was about about to give up when my wife snapped this picture of a 1303
Super Beetle convertible in Munich Germany from the tour bus.
What Makes a Super Beetle a Super Beetle?
The Super Beetle stood apart from the standard Beetle due to several key
differences. One of the main differentiating factors was the MacPherson strut
independent front suspension, which Volkswagen specifically engineered for
this model. While Volkswagen never officially disclosed the exact reasons
behind introduction of the 1302 and then the 1303 Super Beetle, it is widely
believed that safety considerations played a significant role. To accommodate
the new front suspension, Volkswagen had to make certain modifications. They
lengthened the wheelbase by approximately 0.8 inches and extended the hood
and front sheet metal by around 3.2 inches.
These changes may not be immediately noticeable from a side profile view,
but if you examine the front trunk (hood or bonnet), you'll notice that
it is broader and flatter at the leading edge compared to the standard Beetles
V-shaped leading edges. Additionally, Super Beetles featured a slotted front
apron under the front bumper, while all sedans, both regular and Super,
received narrow crescent-moon-shaped vents just behind the rear windows
in 1971. The increased space provided by the MacPherson strut IFS allowed
for a larger trunk and a lay-flat spare tire, as opposed to the more upright
spare tire found in Standard Beetles.
It's worth noting that the Super Beetle name was exclusively used for North
American models equipped with the MacPherson-strut IFS. European models
underwent the same changes but were sold under the 1302/1303 model names.
Further changes occurred on an almost yearly basis. In 1972, the Super Beetle
received a taller rear window. In 1973, all Beetles were equipped with a
curved windshield, a deeper dashboard, "elephant's foot" tail lamps, and
an alternator instead of a generator. By 1975, all Beetles were fitted with
electronic fuel injection and rack-and-pinion steering.
Throughout the Super Beetle's production, numerous minor changes were implemented,
ranging from redesigned front seats to the addition of fender beading. The
Super Beetle sedan was produced from 1971 to 1975 with the Super Beetle
convertible continuing on until 1979, while the standard Beetle sedan remained
in production until 1977.
June Blog
It's June 2024 and the second month of the all-new SuperBeetles.com. I'd like
to start off by thanking our loyal Instagram,
X and Facebook
Group friends for all of the positive feedback about the new website.
I wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't for you and your comments keep me inspired.
I've said it before and Ill say it again, "Volkswagen enthusiasts are
the nicest Volks Folks in the world" and I truly mean that. I've had
people reach out to me about providing content for the website, and I have
to say that every little bit helps. So if you're going to a VW event, installing
some disc brakes on your 1302, rebuilding the engine or lowering your 1303,
reach out to me. We can work together and share your
VW experience right here in the News section.
There's a cool Triple Black Super Beetle as the June
feature and I'd like to make a comment about the monthly features at the
website. I'm not always going to feature a mint-condition Super Beetle, I
feel that every 1302 and 1303 Super Beetle is unique in it's own way and I
want to showcase them all. That's not to say that I don't appreciate a like-new,
mint condition, showroom looking Volkswagen, I actually love them. In fact
my Super Beetle, which you can see on the About page,
is as about as stock and in perfect condition as you can get. It's just that
some people don't have the funds, the time or the resources to do this. Or
maybe just like to have a VW as unique as they are. So if that all sounds
good to you, and you would like to have your Super Beetle featured, lets talk.
Until next month, keep it Super!
Interview with Jon Chabot - Owner of Top Line Parts
SB: When did you originally get into Volkswagens?
Jon: My father bought his first VW in 1958. He had to wait for the
delivery from one of those little dealerships that they had at that time.
When they called him on the phone they said: "We have two cars available,
a black one and a blue one." Dad chose the blue one! Years later when
Dad upgraded to a '66 1300 model, I sold my MG Midget and got the beetle from
Dad.
SB: Do you own or have you owned a vintage Volkswagen?
Jon: Well, I drove that '58 to college for a few years, then upgraded
to the '66 1300cc. I hot-rodded it a little bit with the help on a nice German
man named Karl at Don Burns dealership. It had a Revmaster 22 cam, a header,
and a Bosch 010 distributor. We've had a lot of VWs in the family, but currently
I only have a '67 Baja Bug, and a '72 Super Beetle at the body shop.
SB: What's your oldest Volkswagen memory?
Jon: I think abound 1960 or so, my family planned a camping trip to
Doheny Beach. Dad had a large roof rack (previously on his 1950 Ford), and
we filled that up with all our camping gear. So my Dad, Mom, my Sister and
myself piled into the bug for a week long beach camp out. I remember it being
really a lot of fun. We met some surfers there and tried to surf a little!
SB: When did Top Line Parts open and where are you located?
Jon: Top Line Parts opened in 1979, but previous to that I had a little
retail store in Anaheim, Calif. called Street Scene. Top Line has been at
the same general location from our opening to current times. We've been in
pretty much every unit in the building complex, but now we've downsized and
are in with a company Called 928 International. They sell Porsche parts for
the 928 model. Previous to this we had a fairly busy service shop in the front
of the building. Our current address is 2900 E. Miraloma Ave, Unit D, Anaheim,
Calif. 92806.
SB:Why did you decide to specialize in Super Beetle suspension?
Jon: I think it was around 1979 or so, when I still had my Street Scene
store, and Top
Line Parts was just starting up. My good friend John Dean came into the
shop to discuss how to lower his '73 Super. We came up with a plan to use
the strut inserts from the '74 and later Super, because they were shorter.
The strut bodies had to be double sectioned to make them fit the inserts.
John's brother Gearhardt did the fabricating. The spring holder was lowered
three inches, and the top side adjusted to fit the shorter insert. That '73
Super show car went on to be the first Super Beetle ever to win best of show
at a VW event! The paint color was an outrageous Porsche Raspberry. It was
at the Sacramento Bugorama. My 62 Standard Beetle Cal-Look also got a trophy!
SB: What was the first suspension product that you came up
with?
Jon: That would be the Super Beetle lowering strut. We had been modifying
customers struts for some time by cutting and welding. We got tired of that,
and decided to make a strut tube from all new materials. The amount of drop
was fixed. We had two inch, three inch, and four inch models. It wasn't until
a few years later that we started making the snap ring adjustable models.
SB:What is your current best seller?
Jon: Well, that depends on if you are talking about the number of items
sold, or the dollar volume. Believe it or not, my current best seller (number-wise)
is the Power Pedal gas pedal. We have three different models now! If you are
talking dollar amounts, that would be the MaXX lowering struts. That's the
one with the small diameter spring. It allows big "German Look"
wide rims to be installed. The Super Low Pro kit is a good seller too.
SB: What would you say is the coolest or most unique product
that you have introduced?
Jon: That would have to be the Camber+ kit for the Super. It allows
extra camber adjustment for lowered and modified cars. It also includes black
heavy duty urethane bushings to improve the steering. I had been trying to
think up some device to do the job for several years. One morning, as I was
waking up, the idea for how to make it came to me. That's actually when I
get many of my ideas.
SB: Are you working on something new for the Super Beetle?
Jon: There's always something in the back of my head, but nothing Super
specific is coming up soon. I did recently introduce laser cut cylinder base
spacers for bigger engines. Now that the folks that used to make them aren't
around anymore, there's a need for them. I'm currently expanding the sizes
and thickness of the spacers so that in most cases the they don't have to
be custom ground.
SB: How many people work with you?
Jon: Well, when I downsized a couple of years ago, we closed the service
portion of the business. Now that it's mostly mail order, I don't need much
help. It's myself, my son, and my wife. I still take all of the phone calls,
so when someone answers, it will be me!
SB:Where is the farthest place you've ever shipped your products?
Jon: I'd have to get out my world atlas to be sure, but I'm pretty
sure that would be Australia. Australians got the Super Beetle models just
like we did in the USA. I just shipped an order to South Africa. How far is
that?
SB: What are your future plans for Top Line Parts?
Jon: I'm seventy seven years old now, so it may be time to think about
retirement soon. I'd really like someone to take the helm and keep making
my products to their current quality level. That would make me happy.
May Blog
It's been a busy past four weeks... but the New SuperBeetles.com website is
good to go. I've been working on it pretty much none stop, turning the over
20 year old website into one that can be viewed on all devices. The big issue
for me was using software that was designed in 2000 that doesn't know what
a 'responsive design' website even is. A responsive website adapts for the
best viewing by resizing and moving pictures and text around, so if you're
visiting us on a desktop/laptop, mobile phone or tablet, it looks good and
is easy to read and enjoy. Interesting little fact: In North America 49.68%
of website views come from desktop/laptop, 47.48% from mobile devices and
only 2.84% from tablets. That being said, SuperBeetles.com can potentially
reach 47.48% more Super Beetle enthusiasts that were unable to view the website
properly before, so that's a good thing. I'm going to be updating the website
every month going forward, with new features, the latest news articles, event
listings/coverage, more factory pictures and whatever else I can come up with,
so please come back for a visit. "Content is king" online, so if
you'd like to contribute VW event coverage or have your Super Beetle featured,
please reach out to me. I hope you like the new SuperBeetles.com and would
love to hear your comments. Thanks for helping to keep the air-cooled VW spirit
alive!