WARNING.— The person in whose name this vehicle is displayed may or may not be the current owner of the vehicle. Readers are warned, therefore, that this entry is not proof of ownership.
Details
- Registration Mark
- IBI 414
- (a) Type:
- Type 1
- (b) Year:
- 1971
- (c) Colour:
- Gemini Blue
- (d) Paint code:
- L96E
- (e) Engine CCs:
- 1300
History
- (a) Country of origin:
- Ireland
- (b) County first reg'd:
- Monaghan
- (c) Current or last known location:
- Limerick
Model information
1302LS Beetle
Info
This 1971 1302LS Beetle popped up on Donedeal for sale on January 28th 2026. The D&S Motors rear window sticker was what caught my eye. D&S will mean more to those of a certain vintage and those classic motorsports enthusiasts and historians. Why? Well, The S of D&S is for Sherry, Kevin Sherry to be exact. Kevin was best known for championing the newly launched VW Beetle among the fledgling motorsport community. He would have raced in local motorsports events as well as winning the Circuit of Ireland in 1959 in a Beetle. Kevin also raced against Paddy Hopkirk, who was began his days in a Beetle also. We will have more information and photos of D&S Motors, Kevin and his motorsport days in our book on Volkswagen in Ireland.
So, back to IBI 414 and what we know about it. The 1302LS was not assembled in Ireland, but brought in as a FBU or Fully Built Up unit. It was processed in MDL and sent to D&S Motors in Monaghan in May 1971. The then Gemini Blue (L96E) 1302LS was the top spec Beetle in its day, having a 1600cc engine, disc brakes and metallic paint. The Beetle was sold to its first owner who was based in Monaghan, hence the ‘BI’ registration. We first spotted this 1302LS when it came up for sale in March 2023, again, looking in fantastic condition. We noted then that it had the “D&S dealer sticker in rear window, rear window vent trim as well as a vent decklid with matching trims, gravel guards on the wings and overriders on the front bumper only.”
As of today, January 29th 2026, the Beetle was being offered for sale in Newcastlewest in Limerick for €17,000, and it was noted that there was no work needed and was always garaged. It certainly looks like a well sorted Beetle, a plug and play Beetle that you can buy and drive home. The Gemini Blue Metallic paint has been replaced with a different shade but it’s still a very eye-catching Beetle. There have been a few changes to this 1302LS since we saw it in 2023, such as the addition of EMPI 8 spoke wheels which replace the stock steel rims and hubcaps, the removal of the chrome accessories such as the front and rear stone guards on the wings and the engine lid and rear window vent trims.
Additional Photos
