1973 Sparkäfer

Country and/or Category: Drei Käfer auf Extra-Tour Edition, Europe | VIN range: not known | S-code(s): S736 |
Extras/Options M-code(s): W 04

Paint and Upholstery:

L21E (23) Blutorange / (50) black leatherette
L65K (33) Ravennagrün / (50) black leatherette

(both paint colours were Karmann palette colours not used on normal series Beetle saloon models. Ravennagrün was used on several SEBs).

Accent to the paintwork was provided by all black external trim including wheel hub caps and like several 1973 SEB models saw 1200 model Beetles fitted with the larger 1303 style rear lamp clusters and Euro bar bumpers neither of which were standard fittings on that model until the following (1974) model year.

Technical Data:

1200cc typ. 111 unbadged.

Factory Fitted Optional Equipment:

A complete package Edition using M pack Z 04 which comprised:
M 032 Lockable fuel filler cap
M 040 Speedometer with fuel gauge
M 095 Blaupunkt ‘LW, MW, UKW’ radio
M 102 Heated Rear Window
M 173 155 SR 15 radial tyres
M 206 Rear view mirror, inner, anti-dazzle
M 282 Passenger’s Sun visor
M 610 12 volt system
M 616 Back-up light in the brake/indicator light
M 167 Passenger handhold and coathook.

As well as being one of the black trimmed group of SEBs this Beetle was also one of the a group of SEBs based on the most basic of all the Beetles – the “economy”, “basic”, “standard” , “spartan” or “savings” Beetle – Sparkäfer.

Context:
S736 Sonderaktion *Sparkäfer* was one of three models in the ““Drei Käfer auf Extra- Tour ” Edition. Although the list price of factory option extras amounted to DM650  the *Sparkäfer* was marketed at just DM300 more than the contemporary standard 1200cc Beetle making an effective saving of DM350.

9,000 Sparkäfer were produced by Volkswagen AG at Wolfsburg (Germany).

During 1973 there was a movie named ‘Ein Kafer auf Extratour’ also known as ‘Superbug, the Wild One’ – just one of a series of ’70s comedy ‘Superbug’ movies directed by Rudolf Zehetgruber.

Sales Literature:

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

See also DuDu.

Further reading on this website:
Introduction to the ““Drei Käfer auf Extra-Tour ” Group of Editions. “Retrospectively Speaking” editorial column RS 005.

Information supplied by Geoffroy lHoest and Paméla Laevens.


This page last modified: 2021-12-30