1978 Volkswagen Beetle

£ 14 995

Equipment

Diamond Silver metallic paintwork, Blue velour upholstery, Steel wheels with polished hubcaps, 4-speed manual transmission, Individually numbered dash plaque (no. 111), Inertia reel front seat belts, Radio, Heated rear window, Fresh air blower, Handbrake warning light, Fuel gauge, Spare wheel, Spare keys.

Exterior

Finished in attractive Diamond Silver Metallic, a shade unique to the LEB (Last Edition Beetle), this low mileage example looks fantastic beneath our studio lights. The paintwork is well presented and the car is overall very sharp but as to be expected with an older resto it’s not entirely without imperfection. The brightwork and trims remain in good shape, the lights are clear and crack-free, and all the glass is original with the factory VW etchings clearly visible. A very rare model and a really useable example with the just the right level of patina in our opinion.

Interior

The interior is trimmed in its original Marine Blue corded velour, all in excellent condition with no wear to the bolsters or piping around the edges. There are also no marks on the switchgear or dash where the uniquely numbered LEB plaque is displayed. The original steering wheel has been wrapped in leather and feels great in hand, and in the footwells the grey carpets are first-rate with no major wear or frays. The door cards and rear bench are immaculate, and the front storage area is also very tidy.

This charming Beetle benefits from a recent £1,500 shakedown that included a full vehicle health check, major service, 4 new Continental tyres, and brake cylinders all round. The 1200cc engine fires up first turn of the key and idles smoothly up to temperature. Out on the road the car pulls surprisingly well with no annoying squeaks or rattles, and the gear change is notably smooth with no synchromesh issues. The engine bay remains in tidy unrestored condition.

This delightful Last Edition Beetle was supplied new to its first keeper in January 1978. The LEB is regarded as the most limited production of any special edition Beetle and, with only 9k miles under its belt, this particular example would make a significant addition to any serious car collection. Having been treated to a sympathetic refresh between 2011-2013 it remains in lovely usable condition, and freshly serviced with new tyres it’s also ready to be driven and very much enjoyed. The accompanying documentation includes a selection of invoices, MOT certificates, a clear HPI report, multiple spare keys, and the current V5C registration certificate showing 10 former keepers.