Context: The “Käfer der Käufer” Edition was presented at IAA’73 (Internationale Automobil- Ausstellung), Frankfurt in September 1973 as part of Volkswagen’s extensive stand at the show.
The Edition repeated a theme used by Volkswagen earlier that year in the “Drei Käfer auf Extra-Tour” Edition of using a trio of Beetles as the base models: spartan 1200cc, luxe 1300cc and sports 1600cc.
The “Käfer der Käufer” Edition line up was originally named:
S761 Sonderaktion *Jeans-Bug*
S763 Sonderaktion *Big-Bug*
S764 Sonderaktion *City-Bug*
The prototype naming was changed for series production to:
S761 Jeans Beetle. (later also referred to as the Jeans I or Jeans ’73) based on the 34bhp “1200cc” 1200
S763 Big Beetle based on the 50bhp “1600cc” 1303 S
S764 City Beetle based on the 44bhp “1300cc” 1303
Of the three the Jeans and Big Beetles became two of the most popular images of SEBs marketed throughout Western Europe at the height of the mid 1970’s
In terms of market sectors the Jeans with it’s back accent trim was aimed at the young (or young at heart) buyers. The other two meanwhile drew on contemporary Volkswagen Lux trim themes. The City’ was, true to it’s name, intended as a well appointed urban Beetle whilst the Big’ was intended to capture potential owners having a focus more on inter- urban (or sports) motoring.
The model was based on the 1303 S Super Beetle with 50bhp engine and was therefore the “top end” offering of the Jeans, City, Big’ trio
Unusual for the era was the fact that the Jeans, City and Big Beetles shared an official Volkswagen sales brochure. For markets such as the UK that did not import the City Beetle an alternative version of the brochure was produced featuring only the Jeans and Big Beetles. Publicity photos of this trio were also liberally produced and as a result these three models grouped together have become one of the most frequently seen illustrations of 1970‘s SEBs in books and magazines.
The S729 Sonderaktion *Luxus-Käfer* has frequently, and erroneously, been thought as a second series of Big Beetles.
Further reading on this website:
The individual profiles for The S761 Jeans Beetle The S763 Big Beetle The S764 City Beetle
The S729 Luxury Beetle
SEB Production Articles::
E.3 – Badging
E.4 – Types
E.5 – Wheels
E.6 – European paint inclusive of Tables P-E.1 to P-E.7 “Retrospectively Speaking” editorial columns RS 002 and RS 003.
