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
- LCI 426
- (a) Type:
- Type 1
- (b) Year:
- 1973
- (c) Colour:
- Cream (Non VW)
- (d) Paint code:
- Non VW
- (e) Engine CCs:
- 1300
History
- (a) Country of origin:
- Ireland
- (b) County first reg'd:
- Laois
- (c) Current or last known location:
- Tipperary
Model information
1300 Beetle Deluxe
Info
I photographed this 1973 1300cc Beetle at an Eircooled Car Club monthly meeting which was held in Mitchelstown on June 10th 2009.
This Beetle was not assembled in Ireland, instead, due to high demand, was brought in to Ireland by MDL as a fully built up unit in April 1973. After going through all of the checks, this 1300 Deluxe Beetle left the Naas Road facility headed for County Laois, Cunningham’s of Portlaoise to be exact, where it was sold to a local owner. LCI 426 was the number assigned to this once Sumatra Green (L61B) Beetle on May 7th 1973.
At some point in its life this Beetle made the journey to County Tipperary and was restored and had a fresh coat of cream paint applied. LCI 426 was modified with earlier towel rail bumpers, swan neck mirrors, front and rear stone guards and of course those lovely 4 bolt BRM style rims. Having been sold on to two further owners, all friends from the Eircooled Car Club as it happens, it is still with the last owner in Tipperary and as I was lucky to see this Beetle recently when it was at a VW specialist being recommissioned, having spent the last few years in storage, I can only imagine that this owner is looking forward to getting back behind the wheel after taking a few years out of the club scene. The Beetle hasn’t changed at all, still looking as good as it did back in 2009 so even though it was off the road, this 1300 Beetle Deluxe has lived an easy life in Tipperary. It’s great to see the owner fire up their old VW again after taking a break from the scene and we look forward to catching up with them very soon.
Submitted by: Cathal O'Toole
Additional Photos
