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
- RKI 211
- (a) Type:
- Type 1
- (b) Year:
- 1974
- (c) Colour:
- Red (non VW) Originally Lofoten Green
- (d) Paint code:
- Non VW (Originally L61H)
- (e) Engine CCs:
- 1200
History
- (a) Country of origin:
- Ireland
- (b) County first reg'd:
- Waterford
- (c) Current or last known location:
- Tipperary
Model information
1200 Beetle Deluxe
Info
Here is another Lofoten Green (L61H) Beetle, well, it was once Lofoten Green but now it is red after having a restoration and colour change in the late 1990s. The current family owners are no strangers to classic car ownership but it was the father, a classic car enthusiast and a talented woodworker who took on the restoration and it’s fair to say he took this restoration in his stride. I’ve seen this Beetle first hand and can say that it is testament to this man’s talent that the Beetle still looks as good today as it did when the restoration was completed many years ago.
This Beetle was originally assembled in Dublin in August 1974, making it one of the fist of the ‘new’ 1975 models, and by new I mean that the exterior look of the Beetle changed by moving the indicators from the wing tops into the front bumpers, which also changed as did their brackets and it was also the year that Lofoten Green was introduced. The interior saw design changes too but the most notable were the upgraded front seats. These more sculpted and heavily padded seats, which any Mk1 Golf owner may recognise, are thought to be the most comfortable seats in the Beetle’s long production run.
Once quality control checked at the end of the assembly line, this 1200 Beetle Deluxe was then sent to Waterford to be sold. It was registered to its first owner in September 1974 and stayed in the Waterford/Tipperary areas ever since. After its restoration, RKI 211 could be seen (in its new red hew) absolutely anywhere in Ireland as it was used and loved by the son of the man who restored it. I can tell you that the same son still loves his Beetle, tells great stories of his time behind the wheel as a carefree (careless as we all were) first-time driver, and is hoping to get RKI 211 back on the road as soon as time allows but for now it’s going nowhere and is stored in the comfort of the dry family garage.
Additional Photos
