1973 Sportkäfer

Country and/or Category: Drei Käfer auf Extra-Tour Edition, Germany (Inland) | VIN range: 133 2199 639 - 133 3200 000 | S-code(s): W06 |
Extras/Options M-code(s): W06, M184, M227

Paint and Upholstery: L96M (39, 89, X2) Marathonblau-metallic / (37) Black cloth.

(Marathonblau-metallic was first used on the 1972 Champion Editions but had become a standard model range colour for the 1303 for the 1973 model year in Europe. Not so however for North America where the Rallye Edition Sports Bug was the only model imported in the colour that year).

Technical Data: 1600cc typ. 135 badged “VW 1303S “

Factory Fitted Optional Equipment:

Petri AG ‘leather’ sports steering wheel as fitted to the Rallye Editions
Special wooden gearshift knob
M 976 4½J x15 (ET41) (Lemmerz”GT”) sports style wheels
M pack Z 05 which comprised of:.
M 032 Lockable fuel filler cap
M094 engine hood lock
M 097 Blaupunkt ‘Emden’ radio
M 102 Heated Rear Window
M 162 Rubber Bumper Trims
M 173 155 SR 15 radial tyres
M 206 Rear view mirror, inner, anti-dazzle
M 616 Back-up light in the brake/indicator light

Context:  S736 Sonderaktion *Sportkäfer* was one of three models in the ““Drei Käfer auf Extra- Tour ” Edition and sold at a saving of DM600 over the standard 1300cc 1303S Beetle. 9250 produced.

The Sportkäfer had it’s origins in the two preceding Rallye Editions – the European “Gelb Schwarzer Renner “ (GSR) and the North American “Sports Bug”. It did not however share the sports seats, black external trim and 5½J x15 sports style wheels of those Editions and instead had standard, cloth trimmed seats, standard chrome trim fittings and 4½J x15 sports style wheels.

The Sportkäfer was produced by Volkswagen AG at Wolfsburg (Germany).

Sales Literature: Magazine advertisements and dealer promotional material were published for the Edition in Germany for the home (inland) market.

Further reading on this website:
Introduction to the ““Drei Käfer auf Extra-Tour ” Group of Editions. “Retrospectively Speaking” editorial column RS 004

Pictures and information courtesy Jan Walter


This page last modified: 2021-03-14