Exterior and Interior
The “Super Beetle,” as it is known by aficionados, was more than just a facelift, with many improvements made under the skin by VW. This model of the VW Bug, however, features a different body than its earlier relatives. Super Beetles featured a lengthened wheelbase, different sheet metal for the hood, a curved windscreen, and wider fenders. Our featured car is painted blue with a grey soft-top roof. Its immaculate exterior is completed with chrome bumpers, mirrors, headlamp surrounds, and body trim. It rides on 15-inch steel wheels with chrome hubcaps and Kumho tires. Moving inside, you’ll find a large three-spoke wooden steering wheel and a 100-mph VDO speedometer set ahead of the driver. Located under the dashboard is an auxiliary VDO oil pressure gauge, a Kenwood radio head unit that has AM/FM functions, and a CD player.
Engine
Located in the rear, the 1978 Volkswagen Super Beetle Convertible’s engine is a 1.6-liter fuel-injected and air-cooled flat-four motor. Coupled with a manual gearbox that directs power to the rear wheels, the powerplant is one of the defining elements of the VW Beetle, enhanced by the desirable late-model fuel injection. When new, this engine offered 48 hp at 4,200 rpm.