Volkswagen Beetle 1302 and 1303 (1970 – 1975) Review

Item: Volkswagen Beetle 1302 and 1303 (1970 – 1975) Review 2024
Author: Administrator

Volkswagen Beetle
1600 CC I4
£10,258

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Volkswagen Beetle 1302 and 1303 (1970 – 1975) At A Glance

Proper brakes for the first time, the best performance yet

Padded dashboard and larger lights less visually appealing

As far as Europe was concerned, these were the final Beetles. And in many ways, they were the best. Although to the casual observer, the 1970 Beetle looked the same as previous models, the 1302 and 1303 ‘Super’ Beetles were the most radical reworks of the car during its long life.

MacPherson strut front suspension was adopted, which allowed more front boot space and improved handling. The struts also allowed front disc brakes to be fitted. The 1303, from 1972, had a more safety-conscious padded dashboard and wraparound windscreen, plus larger tail lights.

Engines were the usual air-cooled units of 1285cc and 44bhp, and 1584cc and 50bhp. Collectors don't view these cars with the same passion as they do the earlier ones, but those attitudes are changing over time. It was in this form that the Beetle remained in production in Mexico until 2003.

Ask Honest John

Where should I sell my VW Beetle for the best price?

"I am thinking about selling my classic VW Beetle, it is rare 1967 semi auto. I need to get the best price possible for this car, can you help at all? "

There are a number of options for selling the Beetle but we have found online auction sites such as Car&Classic and Bonhams the Market tend to be the best places for selling cars such as this, or alternatively you can try a private ad in one of the specialist classic titles.

Answered by Craig Cheetham

How do I prevent carb icing?

"How do I prevent carb icing on my 1973 1600 Volkswagen Beetle engine?"

Carburettor icing can happen in any carb if the atmospheric conditions are correct. It occurs when the air outside is humid. The venturi effect of the carb can drop the temperature significantly. For example, although it might be a muggy 18 degrees outside, the air pressure inside the carb means it's 1-2 degrees and capable of freezing moisture. This can then cause ice to form on the surface of the carb's throat (and also the throttle valve). In the short term, it increases the venturi effect but ultimately airflow will be restricted and the engine will run too rich. If you're still struggling to get your head around how humid air can 'freeze', lick your finger and notice how much colder it feels when you blow on it. The only real fix carb icing is to install heaters, but this isn't really possible in most circumstances. Things can be improved by using a premium fuel or an additive, while some cars have an option to reroute warm air in the direction of the carb. That said, air-cooled VWs do normally have an inlet air pre-warmer or a heat riser under the intake manifold on the carb itself. Check if you have these and that they're working correctly.

Answered by Keith Moody

How much is a 1974 Volkswagen Beetle (in need of renovation) worth?

"My father has had a 1974 Volkswagen 'Super' Beetle 1303 sitting outside (covered) for years. It needs renovation and I have no idea how to price it. I don't know much about cars. I'm not in the UK and the car is also not in the UK, but I am so lost in coming up with a value. People say I should just scrap it, but I know there are people that like fixing them up. Could you help me with the value?"

Projects are hard to value, but it's definitely worth saving. There is always strong demand for Volkswagen Beetle so there's a good chance this kind of project will appeal to someone. Good examples can go for £6000 - £7000, but for a project you're probably looking at around the £700 mark - but these guide prices reflect the UK market. You don't say where the car is based, so the best thing to do is have a look for a similar model in similar condition local to where the car is. That will give you a good idea of how to set the price.

Answered by Keith Moody

Why is our classic Volkswagen Beetle losing power?

"Our 1974 Volkswagen Beetle 1303S is struggling to pull away. When you accelerate it feels as though petrol is not getting through, as the car jerks and is very difficult to drive. Do you have any ideas as to what the problem could be? "

The valves eventually fail. I had this in a Volkswagen 181 Kubelwagen thing in Bali in 1983.

Answered by Honest John