1973 The U.S. Edition

Country and/or Category: Fruit Series Edition, USA | VIN range: 113 2199 639 - 113 3200 000 | S-code(s): S714 |
Extras/Options M-code(s): 108

Country and/or Category: Fruit Series Edition, USA | VIN range: 113 2199 639 – 113 3200 000

S-code(s): S714

Extras/Options M-code(s): 108

Paint and Upholstery:
L15M (51) Zitronengelb / Lemon Yellow, Sand beige (*)(cloth)

Accent to the paintwork was provided by all black external trim and  bumper trim tape colour coded to the paintwork.

Technical Data:
1600cc. typ. 113 badged “VOLKSWAGEN”

Factory Fitted Optional Equipment:
Awaiting confirmation

Context: From a colour photograph taken of North American market Beetles parked within the Wolfsburg factory on 11th November 1972 that clearly shows a typ.113 Beetle with black trim we believe that the Fruit Series Editions included a version for the USA.

We believe that most, if not all, of The Fruit Series Editions were covered by generic listing “S714 Spezialausführung und Sondermodell Export-Länder 111 – 114; M 108”

The US Edition would appear to have combined selected special equipment from both the 1200 and 1300S European market Fruit Series Group models into a unique package. The result appears to have been a North American 1600cc Standard /Custom (flatscreen) model of the era finished in L15M (51) Zitronengelb / Lemon Yellow with the black trim in the style of the European 1200cc Fruit Series models.

It is our conjecture that the the US Edition probably also had M 976 4½J x15 (Lemmerz) “GT” style sports wheels as seen on the European 1300S models.

This Edition suggests to us that it may have been the inspiration and basis for the European 1300S Special Editions. Our reasoning is that three of the distinctive features of those special 1300S models were: a 1584cc engine mated to a 3.875:1 final drive gearbox (as opposed to the normal European 4.375: ratio) in a typ.113 body shell, the larger 1303 style rear lights and wings instead of the tombstone style still in use on standard production European “1300” models for the 1973 model year and the padded dashboard. All three of these were standard features of the 1973 model year flat screen ‘Basic Beetle”  Sedan for the US market on which this Edition appears to have been based.

Caveat:
Further research and evidence is still needed to confirm our opinions but the overwhelming circumstantial and reasoned evidence has given us the confidence to publish this profile in at least draft form.

Sales Literature:
Non known.

Further reading on this website:
Introduction to the Fruit Series Group of Editions.

With thanks to Pete Frost who initially brought our attention to the image.


This page last modified: 2021-07-05