Volkswagen S
In the fall of 1973, Volkswagen launched three campaign models. One of them was called “Big” – and that is exactly what Volkswagen’s iconic cars had become.
The Super series
The pictures here cover the 1302 S, 1303 S and 1300 S models. I am not sure what the “S” actually stands for, but I think it is “Super”. Cars with the “S” were delivered with Volkswagen’s 1600 engine with 50 HP. There were also 1302 and 1303 without the “S”. They had the 1300 engine. The new “big” Volkswagen cars received a number of improvements, including McPherson front suspension, better brakes, a larger trunk and better coupé ventilation with air vents in the C-pillar.
Visual changes
At first glance, the air vent in the C-pillar is actually the quickest way to determine whether a car belongs to one of the new models. Another visible feature is that the front has been made more voluminous. Not only does this provide more luggage space in the front compartment, but it also makes the cars look larger. But in reality, there are no major changes to the external dimensions. Nevertheless, the 1302 and 1303 are often referred to as the “big” Volkswagen Beetles. From the rear, the cars can be spotted by the fact that the air intakes for the engine are horizontal slots, not vertical. In addition, the cars got larger rear windows from the 1972 model year, but it is not as easy to spot if you cannot compare with older cars. From the 1975 model year, the front turn signals were recessed into the bumper.
Volkswagen 1303 S.
The 1303 S was special. When it arrived in 1973, I saw it as a last-ditch effort to keep the aging model alive. Some of the most distinctive features of the past decades were changed. The windshield was curved for the first time and the metal dashboard was replaced with the same type of dashboard found in other cars of the time. In retrospect, the 1303 S looks like a very nice car.
About the pictures (1303 S)
The bronze-colored car in the main photo above was photographed at Fornebu. The two green cars – a 1303 S and a 1300 S – were lined up next to each other at a Cars & Coffee at Øvrevoll gallop. Both in the special color “Lofotengrün”. The yellow and the silver-colored 1303 S both participated in a VW meeting in Tossa del Mar, Spain. The beautiful 1303 S (marked “RS”) is pictured at a Cars & Coffee at Øvrevoll gallop. The red 1303 S in winter conditions was photographed at Fornebu.
Volkswagen 1300 and 1302 S
The Volkswagen 1302 S was equipped with Volkswagen's 1.6 liter air-cooled engine, while the 1300 S received a 1300 engine.
About the images (1300 and 1302 S)
The light blue car was photographed at a Volkswagen meeting at the Folkemuseet in Oslo. The yellow car was parked along the street in the center of Berlin. The orange car in profile is photographed at a car meet in Perpignan, France. The beige car is a 1300 S which was parked at Fornebu. The red car with alloy wheels is photographed in a car park in Soltau, Germany, 2024. The white 1302 S photographed with the Westfalia camper was at a car meet on Nebbenes Nord in 2022. The orange car with DA plates is a 1300 S also photographed at Fornebu.
Karmann Cabriolet
The last "bubble" produced in Europe was a 1303 S Karmann Cabriolet. The Cabriolets were produced until 1980 – that is, a few years after the production of the ordinary bubbles was discontinued.
The images may also show cars with convertible solutions from manufacturers other than Karmann.
About the pictures (Cabriolet)
The brown car was displayed at a "Folkevogntreff" at the Folkemuseet. The black Karmann Ghia was photographed at Fornebu. The light blue metallic car parked outdoors was photographed at Rud in Bærum. The blue car – a 1302S with a blue hood and British plates – was photographed at Volksworld 2017. The blue car with a white hood and French plates was photographed at a car meet in Perpignan 2024. The three cars with Spanish plates were photographed at an Aircooled gathering in Tossa de Mar.
More pictures
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