Special Limited Edition Convertibles
1974 - Sun Bug & Love Bug
In an effort to promote sagging sales, two Special Editions were introduced in 1974. One was the Sun Bug, which came as a standard sunroof sedan, a Super Beetle sunroof sedan and as a convertible. The second Special Edition was the Love Bug.
The Sun Bug came only in gold, although there were a couple of recipes for the paint and so there were two slightly different versions of the Harvest Gold metallic paint. The Love Bug came in two colors, Phoenix Red and Ravenna Green. The Sun Bugs all had bright trim and the Love Bugs had all black trim with vinyl stripes applied. Both models came with sport wheels.
Click to view the SunBug brochure [pdf]
1976 - Special Edition Convertible - S739
This predecessor to next year's Champagne Edition did not have a special name, just the option designation "S739.'' They were all painted white (L80E, light ivory with white interiors and sand tops. Other options were the rosewood dash, 4-1/2 inch sport wheels (w/blackwalls) and the sport steering wheel introduced on the Sun Bug.
These cars were introduced late in the model year and each dealer was to receive just one.
1977 - Champagne Edition
The '77 Champagne Editions convertibles also only came in white, although a different shade (L90B, Alpine White) and their dash also had rosewood trim. They got the same padded sports steering wheel and special sport wheels, but now they had white wall tires. Unique to the Champagne Edition were two gold stripes that ran down the side of the body, just above the running boards.
1978 - Champagne Edition II
For the second year in a row we had Champagne Editions. Labeled Champagne Edition II to go along with 1978's "Volkswagen does it again" ad campaign, there were several cosmetic changes from the previous year. There were also new colors for this year, Ancona Blue metallic and red metallic. All the interiors were white and all the tops and boots were sand. Supposedly, each dealer only got two of these special edition convertibles.
CE II's also came standard with Blaupunt AM/FM radio, quartz clock, white walls (now radials) and sport wheels. There was now burled elm trim on the dash and a special padded steering wheel. Many of these cars were put away by ''collectors and investors'' and you see them now and then offered for sale in the $12000+ range, which is about double what they were new.
1979 - Code 9000
n 1979 the Champagne Edition II continued, but the Ancona Blue metallic and red metallic colors were dropped from production. New for 1979 was the epilogue edition, internally named Code 9000. This last Special Edition marketed in the United States appeared at dealers late in the year. They only came one way, Triple Black - black paint, black top and black interior. The first and last black convertible since 1968, these special editions came standard with a Blaupunt AM/FM radio.
Each dealer was supposed to get only one of these black beauties, but many of them never made it to the showroom floor as they were gobbled up by collectors and speculators.