There are many visual similarities between the first and the last convertibles from Karmann despite the fact that there is over 30 years in between. The lines and shape of the canopy are the same. But the Volkswagen Cabriolet is not just about Karmann.
No bargains
A friend of mine is carrying a dream. Last year he took a photo of a two-tone Volkswagen 1303 S Cabriolet. He would like to buy one like that - and since he is a handyman, he could imagine buying one that he could renovate himself. The problem - as I see it - is that "everyone" is hunting for convertible-type people cars to refurbish - and now I don't think there are that many left, - and the ones that could be found again may have increased in value.
A quick look at the car exchanges confirms my suspicion. If you're going to have a "real" convertible, you'll probably have to shell out a couple - three hundred thousand for one that can be driven home on its own. But there are still restoration objects that have been stored, and which can now be picked up on trailers. Prices start at NOK 100. When rust is welded, wear parts replaced, new paint applied and a new canopy fitted, you will probably be able to sell it on for a couple of - three hundred thousand kroner. Not a deterrent, given that we are talking about a car with high cult status. But they were cheaper before.
Real convertible?
Did you notice I wrote "real" convertible. In that I add that it is about convertibles supplied by Volkswagen, although this was not something Volkswagen did itself. All the convertibles have been rebuilt by independent coachbuilders. From the mid-50s, all were rebuilt by Karmann. Previously, Volkswagen also had cars rebuilt by Papler and Hebmüller. Over the years, many cars have also been rebuilt by new players unrelated to Volkswagen. Some projects are based on conversion kits - others on free imagination. Some were successful - others not. The ones you can buy cheap.
Early years
The idea of developing convertibles based on Volkswagen cars was put into practice in 1948. Two renowned, independent, German coachbuilders, Karmann and Hebmüller, were commissioned. They developed completely different concepts. Hebmüller chose a "speedster" concept where the canopy was folded in around the rear seat. It gave the body a clean and sleek profile, although the stylish shape came at the expense of space in the back seat. Hebmüller therefore became a 2+2 seater. Karmann followed a more conventional concept where the canopy was lowered outside the compartment - in the same way as was done in the interwar period. Thus, the back seat could be used in its entirety.
Hebmüller went bankrupt in 1952 as a result of a fire that spread to the production plant. The company was not covered by any fire insurance and could not continue. A third coachbuilder, Papler, built special open commando vehicles for the police and military. Today, cars from Hebmüller and Papler are rare - and sought after by collectors all over the world.
Several variants
Karmann continued to convert cars into convertibles according to the same design that they started with in 1948. The canopy solution, the raised window section and the straight, braced A-pillars meant that the convertibles had the same visual impact over the years. Had Hebmüller continued to deliver its canopy solutions, today one would be able to choose cars with the streamlined design. Sleek, sporty bodies were later to be supplied by independent suppliers such as Hoffmann, Ostermann og Dannert. It can be said that there has always been a market for converted Volkswagen cars in designs other than Karmann, and thus several players have covered this market - both with Porsche-inspired fiberglass bodies, and standard cars with truncated roofs and compact canopy solutions.
There are videos on the internet where amateurs cut the roof off their wagons with angle grinders and convert them into convertibles. There are also cars that can be mistaken for "real" cars built by Karmann. Although several have been rebuilt by professional car builders, it may pay to check whether the convertible you are about to buy was originally built by Karmann. If you are going to buy a custom-built car, it should come with documentation.
Real Karmann?
Cars with flat windscreens are surrounded by marked, straight A-pillars (except 1972 Volkswagen 1302 S). The cars have a triangular window in the front side window. Both front and rear side windows can be cranked down. Furthermore, Karmann has a higher waist, separate air openings on the back cover, as the canopy covers the original ventilation. They also have reinforced channels. When the cars were new, they had a Karmann logo placed on the side panel in front of the right-hand door, although these often disappear after restoration. Finally, the cars have chassis numbers starting with "15" followed by the last digit of the year, for example "159" for cars manufactured in 1979 (and 1969). Another check you can make is to check in the vehicle registration card. The Volkswagen Karmann Cabriolet is only registered for 4 people - not 5.
Electrical conversion?
There are standard kits for converting air-cooled Volkswagens to electric operation, with electric motors that can be fitted into existing flywheel housings. The solutions are relatively expensive, probably far more than what a professional overhaul of the existing drivetrain will cost. Vans are popular classics such as electric cars, but so far I have not been able to track down converted convertibles. The reason may be that the Karmann Cabriolet weighs 100 kg more than the standard Volkswagen - with a correspondingly smaller payload - and thus less capacity for batteries. In any case, electric operation may make the car more usable in daily use, but it will no longer be an authentic classic. You can also ask yourself: Will vintage cars with today's battery technology be in demand in 20 years?
Facts about the 1979 Volkswagen 1303 S Karmann Cabriolet
Weights and Measures
Length, width, height: 419 x 159 x 150 cm
Wheelbase: 242 cm
Net weight without driver: 940 kg
Payload: 275 kg
Number of seats: 4
Drivetrain
Engine: 4-cyl. boxer with or without injection, rear mounted
Gearbox: 4-speed via transaxle
Performance (standard)
Engine power: 50 hp
Top speed: 130 km/h
About the pictures
The main picture was taken Volksworld 2017 in Sandown at the exhibition to VW Cabriolet Owners Club GB. The picture of the Hebmüller car with the canopy down has been taken Air cooled 2021 in Tossa de Mar, Catalonia. The catalog image is borrowed from Anders de Lange's archive. The photos of the 1949 Karmann are old press photos distributed by FavCars.com. The red 1958 model was photographed during an excursion organized by Veteran VW club, Asker and Bærum. The yellow converted car was photographed on the occasion of Cars & Coffee, Øvrevoll gallop, 2016. It is a 1964 model. The image of the 1965 Karmann is provided by FavCars.com. The blue Volkswagen 1303 S converted into a Roadster-like convertible was photographed during a stay in a private garage in Fornebu. The brown Volkswagen 1303 S Karmann is pictured during a Volkswagen meeting at Folkemuseet in 2016. The light blue 1303 S was photographed at Rud in Bærum. The blue Volkswagen 1302 S with a flat windscreen is photographed at VolksWorld in 2017.
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