To free up storage space I am selling my 1303.
I bought this 1303 in July 2016 after first seeing it way back in 1989 so nearly a 30 year wait!
The story of this car is that it was bought new in Switzerland by an Irish family who were working there - I believe one was a doctor. When they moved to work in Germany a year later they took their beloved Beetle with them, maintaining a good service regime as they went. By 1977 their tenure was up in Germany and they moved back to Ireland and took their Beetle with them but didn't register it in Dublin until 6 months later in January 1978.
The Beetle stayed in the same family until Jack Honan bought it in October 1985, registering it in his name the following month. Jack told me he bought it because it was so solid and had never been welded. He knew just how hard it was to get a rust free Beetle, even back then so he wasn't going to let this one slip through his fingers.
Jack started the restoration in July 1986 and took almost a year creating his dream Beetle. The restoration was to the standard that still isn't the norm even today, 30 years later.
Jack removed the body and stripped the chassis completely, painting the original floorpans, beam and every component with hammerite to protect them. The original pans are still 100% perfect to this day.
The body was perfect and needed no rust repair. The doors were repairable but due to the body being so good Jack opted to fit a pair of NOS doors that he got from his friend who had access to parts in the factory. The rain seal in the engine bay had trapped some water so Jack removed it as part of future proofing his Beetle from any rust. He refitted the seal after the respray but glued it down which has worked a treat. Under the wings were painted with liquid rubber which has stopped any moisture getting into these vulnerable areas.
Mechanical upgrades on the original 1300cc engine included new 1600cc pots and pistons, high compression, polished and ported heads, lightened and balanced flywheel, a ground and balanced crankshaft, 009 dizzy and a twin choke single Weber carb. All tinware was painted before being refitted. The rain drip tray was also painted before being fitted to the underside of the engine lid. Jack also fitted a Kamei vent cover so the engine has stayed dry even if it was in the rain. It's a pokey motor and keeps up with modern traffic perfectly.
Suspension upgrades included new struts with stub axles, discs and calipers from a 1302S. At the time Jack fitted rims from a Lancia as they had the same bolt pattern but in later years Jack bought these Porsche 914 rims from a 914 owner who since has asked to buy them back Jack told me!
The body was painted in metallic green and silver by the same man who restores and paints the personal collection of the O'Flaherty family before being mounted back on the chassis. New pop-out rear windows were fitted, a pop up glass sunroof and an electric CB aerial on the o/s scuttle. Every nut and bolt was greased before being fitted so this car is like new when you want to loosen anything. A new rear valance was fitted in the early 1990's.
The interior had a set of Renault Fuego seats fitted on the original runners. The entire interior was upholstered to match. The original rubber mats are in perfect condition which is not surprising as Jack fitted a new carpet kit over them. There is also extra sound deadening fitted so it is a really quiet car to be in.
This Beetle is loaded with cool period accessories like the wind deflectors on the doors, Kamei vent cover & front spoiler, Autoplas rear window louvre, Beetle Bouncer stone guard on the front bumper, Kamei centre console, Formula Vee steering wheel, period show plaques, VW logo door sill trims and matching pillar and door trims, remote locking engine lid switch, finger plates, bonnet handle backing plate etc etc
Jack also fitted NOS Hella RHD headlights, again from the factory contact.
I have fitted a new bluetooth Pioneer stereo since I bought it and Podsy has renewed all of the front suspension with new bushings and ball joints etc. Podsy also fitted an EMPI trigger shifter to make changing gears all the much smoother and faster. The new ACE plates were also fitted by Podsy at the same time. These are very expensive high quality number plates. They look sweet on the car too!
The original Kamei front spoiler was damaged a number of years ago so I tracked down a NOS one and this has been fitted also.
I don't know if I've left anything out. Anyone who has seen this car can vouch for how solid and rust free it is. It really is a Beetle you can buy and drive home. It's perfect! This Beetle was restored to the highest level back in the late 9180's and was pampered by Jack until he sold it to me in 2016. The car it still wearing the same paint it got 30 years ago, that's an excellent indicator of how rust free the car was when Jack bought it in 1985 and how well Jack has minded his pride and joy over a 30 year period.
I'm asking €7,500 but I'm open to offers on this Beetle and may even look at a trade-in but ideally I want to free up space for my next project. I've spent a lot of money buying this Beetle and on the upgrades to the suspension so my loss is your gain I suppose! Pretty much every inch of this Beetle are the original VW panels that it left the factory with in 1973. there aren't many Beetles around that you can say that about!
I bought this 1303 in July 2016 after first seeing it way back in 1989 so nearly a 30 year wait!
The story of this car is that it was bought new in Switzerland by an Irish family who were working there - I believe one was a doctor. When they moved to work in Germany a year later they took their beloved Beetle with them, maintaining a good service regime as they went. By 1977 their tenure was up in Germany and they moved back to Ireland and took their Beetle with them but didn't register it in Dublin until 6 months later in January 1978.
The Beetle stayed in the same family until Jack Honan bought it in October 1985, registering it in his name the following month. Jack told me he bought it because it was so solid and had never been welded. He knew just how hard it was to get a rust free Beetle, even back then so he wasn't going to let this one slip through his fingers.
Jack started the restoration in July 1986 and took almost a year creating his dream Beetle. The restoration was to the standard that still isn't the norm even today, 30 years later.
Jack removed the body and stripped the chassis completely, painting the original floorpans, beam and every component with hammerite to protect them. The original pans are still 100% perfect to this day.
The body was perfect and needed no rust repair. The doors were repairable but due to the body being so good Jack opted to fit a pair of NOS doors that he got from his friend who had access to parts in the factory. The rain seal in the engine bay had trapped some water so Jack removed it as part of future proofing his Beetle from any rust. He refitted the seal after the respray but glued it down which has worked a treat. Under the wings were painted with liquid rubber which has stopped any moisture getting into these vulnerable areas.
Mechanical upgrades on the original 1300cc engine included new 1600cc pots and pistons, high compression, polished and ported heads, lightened and balanced flywheel, a ground and balanced crankshaft, 009 dizzy and a twin choke single Weber carb. All tinware was painted before being refitted. The rain drip tray was also painted before being fitted to the underside of the engine lid. Jack also fitted a Kamei vent cover so the engine has stayed dry even if it was in the rain. It's a pokey motor and keeps up with modern traffic perfectly.
Suspension upgrades included new struts with stub axles, discs and calipers from a 1302S. At the time Jack fitted rims from a Lancia as they had the same bolt pattern but in later years Jack bought these Porsche 914 rims from a 914 owner who since has asked to buy them back Jack told me!
The body was painted in metallic green and silver by the same man who restores and paints the personal collection of the O'Flaherty family before being mounted back on the chassis. New pop-out rear windows were fitted, a pop up glass sunroof and an electric CB aerial on the o/s scuttle. Every nut and bolt was greased before being fitted so this car is like new when you want to loosen anything. A new rear valance was fitted in the early 1990's.
The interior had a set of Renault Fuego seats fitted on the original runners. The entire interior was upholstered to match. The original rubber mats are in perfect condition which is not surprising as Jack fitted a new carpet kit over them. There is also extra sound deadening fitted so it is a really quiet car to be in.
This Beetle is loaded with cool period accessories like the wind deflectors on the doors, Kamei vent cover & front spoiler, Autoplas rear window louvre, Beetle Bouncer stone guard on the front bumper, Kamei centre console, Formula Vee steering wheel, period show plaques, VW logo door sill trims and matching pillar and door trims, remote locking engine lid switch, finger plates, bonnet handle backing plate etc etc
Jack also fitted NOS Hella RHD headlights, again from the factory contact.
I have fitted a new bluetooth Pioneer stereo since I bought it and Podsy has renewed all of the front suspension with new bushings and ball joints etc. Podsy also fitted an EMPI trigger shifter to make changing gears all the much smoother and faster. The new ACE plates were also fitted by Podsy at the same time. These are very expensive high quality number plates. They look sweet on the car too!
The original Kamei front spoiler was damaged a number of years ago so I tracked down a NOS one and this has been fitted also.
I don't know if I've left anything out. Anyone who has seen this car can vouch for how solid and rust free it is. It really is a Beetle you can buy and drive home. It's perfect! This Beetle was restored to the highest level back in the late 9180's and was pampered by Jack until he sold it to me in 2016. The car it still wearing the same paint it got 30 years ago, that's an excellent indicator of how rust free the car was when Jack bought it in 1985 and how well Jack has minded his pride and joy over a 30 year period.
I'm asking €7,500 but I'm open to offers on this Beetle and may even look at a trade-in but ideally I want to free up space for my next project. I've spent a lot of money buying this Beetle and on the upgrades to the suspension so my loss is your gain I suppose! Pretty much every inch of this Beetle are the original VW panels that it left the factory with in 1973. there aren't many Beetles around that you can say that about!
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