Volkswagen S
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, it is actually the air vent in the C-pillar that is 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 it provide more luggage space in the front compartment, but it makes the cars look bigger. But in reality there are no major changes in the external goals. Nevertheless, 1302 and 1303 are often referred to as the "big" Volkswagen "bubbles". From the back, you can spot the cars by the fact that the air intakes for the engine are horizontal slits, not vertical. In addition, the cars got larger rear windows from the 1972 model year, but it is not as easy to detect if you cannot compare with older cars.
Volkswagen 1303 S.
1303 S was special. When the model came out in 1973, I perceived it as a "last convulsion" to keep the "bubble" alive. Some of the most peculiar features of the "bubble" were changed. The windscreen was curved for the first time and the metal dashboard was replaced with the same type of dashboard found in other cars at the time. In retrospect, the 1303 S appears to be 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 1303 S in winter conditions was photographed at Fornebu. The beautiful 1303 S (marked “RS”) is pictured at a Cars & Coffee at Øvrevoll gallop. The Gulf-colored 1303 S was on display at the Oslo Motor Show 2024. Judging by the rear end, it is probably equipped with a more powerful drivetrain than the original cars. The yellow and silver 1303 S both participated in a VW meeting in Tossa del Mar, Spain.
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 meet at the Folkemuseet in Oslo. The yellow car was parked along a street in central Berlin. The orange car in profile was photographed at a car meet in Perpignan, France. The beige car is a 1300 S that was parked at Fornebu. The red car with alloy wheels was photographed in a parking lot in Soltau, Germany, 2024. The white car parked by the train car participated in Cars & Coffee Ringerike in 2025. The white 1302 S photographed together with the Westfalia camper was at a car meet at 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 "Volkevogntreff" 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. The silver-gray 1303S car with a light top was parked outside a car repair shop in Fornebu, 2024.
More pictures
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