1979-80 Wolfsburg Edition Convertible

Country and/or Category: [ Dealer Option ], Canada, USA | VIN range: 159 202 9000 - 159 204 4140 | S-code(s): not known |
Extras/Options M-code(s): not known

Another version of the Triple Black Convertible which was available during the last model year for the Beetle at the regular sales price of $7140. The Black paint (L41) cost $195 extra.

What makes the Wolfsburg unique is its Black top combined with the smooth Ermine Leatherette interior (9001LW). All US Convertibles from 1979 on featured 165 SR 15 whitewall tires, GT (Lemmerz) Sport wheels, cigarette lighter, quartz crystal clock, dual outside mirrors, heated rear window, Leatherette covered sport steering wheel and woodgrain dash applique as standard.

This edition was probably limited and every Dealer got only one.

Contemporary information officially circulated within the VWoA Dealership network leads SEBeetles to conclude that the Triple White, Triple Black and Wolfsburg editions were all special order paint finish models rather than Special Editions in their own right.

The status of the Triple White in particular as a Special Edition has been the subject of erroneous misunderstanding brought about by confusion with it and the preceding Bicentennial Convertible and Champagne Editions. This mistaken association of the Triple White as a Special Edition has been further compounded retrospectively by popular culture and inference thanks to a succession of “white on white” limited and special edition production runs at Wilhelm Karmann GmbH.

It was partly through the 1979 model Triple White and to a much lesser extent the Triple Black models being very prominent on the assembly lines in the closing days of production that they became cult models almost overnight. With the clamour of enthusiasts to purchase new 1978 and 1979 model year Beetle Cabriolets the various white based US specification versions became as much sought after in Europe as they were in the USA and Canada.

This engendered a fashionable legacy in the early 1980s of Special Edition “white on white” models and prompting the production at Karmann of several similarly themed Editions – Rabbit Convertibles, subsequent equivalent Golf Cabriolets, Ford Escort Cabriolets and Scirocco coupés. This fashion was also embraced in Special Editions of the Polo and Golf saloon models – and by other manufactures notably Peugeot. A fashion legacy that retrospectively conferred a higher profile to the standing of the first ever Triple Whites – the 1303/Super Beetle ones.

See also Triple Black and Triple White.

Information courtesy Jan Walter.

 


This page last modified: 2022-11-30