1973 Volkswagen Beetle Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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Volkswagen continued the trend of offering special editions of its popular Beetle by introducing the Sports Bug in 1973. It was a 1973 Super Beetle equipped with Recaro bucket seats, a simulated-leather sports steering wheel, oversized sports-type radial tires on oversized Porsche 914 rims, a sports-tuned transmission, and an upgraded suspension. The Sports Bug was available in a Marathon Metallic blue and Saturn Yellow colors with special exterior stripping and Black trim.
The Super Beetle was also available for 1972. It came with larger brakes, an upgraded suspension, and twice the luggage space as the standard model.
The standard Beetle was equipped with the 1600 four-cylinder, air-cooled engine that generated 58 horsepower, as well as a dual braking system, a four-wheel independent suspension, and a flow-through ventilation system.
In addition, standard features for the Beetle included seat belts for the driver and passengers, two-speed windshield wipers with a pneumatic washer system, swiveling sun visors, coat hooks, assist straps, folding rear seats, and luggage space under the front hood and in a three-foot carpeted compartment behind the rear seats. A convertible top was optional.
Published Aug 9, 2022 by CarGurus Editorial Team
User reviews for 1973 Volkswagen Beetle
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by Anonymous
Jul 13, 2014
This car is very unique and fun to drive. I have a 2012 sonata hyundai, but had rather drive my vw around town. I also like the manual transmission, which makes it fun to drive.
It is a joy to own.Jul 13, 2014
by Anonymous
Apr 28, 2014
They are not for everyone, but people that have them love them. Its fun to drive and very cheap to keep running parts are readily available and they look cool. My dog hates it but my kids love it. I wouldn't trade it for a porsche. Apr 28, 2014
by Anonymous
Aug 27, 2013
An economic car. Parts very inexpensive, just be sure to maintain as needed .One mistake I made was did not add motor oil. Bad mistake! I ended up cracking the motor and I am currently looking for it to be repaired.Aug 27, 2013
User rating:
by Anonymous
Jul 13, 2014
This car is very unique and fun to drive. I have a 2012 sonata hyundai, but had rather drive my vw around town. I also like the manual transmission, which makes it fun to drive.
It is a joy to own.Jul 13, 2014
by Anonymous
Apr 28, 2014
They are not for everyone, but people that have them love them. Its fun to drive and very cheap to keep running parts are readily available and they look cool. My dog hates it but my kids love it. I wouldn't trade it for a porsche. Apr 28, 2014
by Anonymous
Aug 27, 2013
An economic car. Parts very inexpensive, just be sure to maintain as needed .One mistake I made was did not add motor oil. Bad mistake! I ended up cracking the motor and I am currently looking for it to be repaired.Aug 27, 2013
by Anonymous
Aug 13, 2013
I love this car it's fun to drive and gets a lot of attention whenever we drive it. My wife really wanted it, but her main goal (to drive it every day to work) never materialized.Since it doesn't have power windows and door locks and air conditioning she never has driven it to work. Oh, and the radio is the original AM (only) LOL. I drive it to run errands and enjoy it. One of my first cars was a 64 bug. Aug 13, 2013
by Mary O
Aug 07, 2013
Just fun to drive - gotta know about the choke - and dont expect to go to fast - needs a good detail - seats are a little stiff - definitely a car of its time - gotta love the sound of it when you drive itAug 07, 2013
by Anonymous
Feb 17, 2012
Gas mileage, exterior was beautiful as is interior. Manual tranny is definitely a plus. Cons - rust, the person that had it before us didn't take care if it, so we're looking at a bit of restoration. Great car overall, would recommend everyone get one, but then again u wouldn't feel special!Feb 17, 2012
by Anonymous
Jan 27, 2012
it should have more engine power but a good car that was and still is the car of the people..and you cant take your eyes of it when its near, regarding of its engine sound.
its hard to find anyone would let go of it easily especially it has a great memory in its owners...Jan 27, 2012
by Travis C
Jan 15, 2012
awesome car awesome looks great exhaust sound good gas mileage parts are
cheap easy to work on really simple its fun to drive as for performace its reliable
but weak maybe 60 to 80 horse but the gears in it help no trouble climbing hills but i
love it my favorite car ive owned so farJan 15, 2012
by Dave W
Nov 17, 2011
fab car for traveling to work reliable but gets a bit cold in the snow pretty easy to get bits for and road tax is free and its not to bad on fuel for an old banger thats about it for thisNov 17, 2011
by Benny N
Oct 18, 2011
acceleration-great
build quality-not to shaby
appearance-allmost as amazing as its model car, the 911 gt3rs
cost of onership-at least 100 k
fun as a kart, drifter, track car or even for road trip
my baby, my build, not for sale!!!Oct 18, 2011
by Anonymous
Sep 08, 2011
loved driving this car. unfortunatly this car has sat in garage and now needs engine work due to it sitting idle. car was kept covered to keep rain and snow away. was not driven in the winter. body in great shape. no rust. Sep 08, 2011
by Willy R. H
Sep 05, 2010
it handles greats , was brake improvd with 4 disc brakes kit. love the car. its never been car accident and hope it dont, it atracts a croud, can be daily driven its economical and a vw its a great way of life.Sep 05, 2010
by Jason H
Jul 10, 2010
I have no idea why/how my parents let me have this tiny death trap as my first car, but it was the very best! I could beat it, fix it, drive it, and haul about 10 friends at a time. I'd kill my daughter if she tried such a thing.Jul 10, 2010
by Mary G
Feb 19, 2010
i loved it. it would go anywhere in any weather. you could park it any where. it was fun to drive. could run forever on a tank of gas. low maintainence. had to finally get rid of it. couldn't find parts for it any more. very sad day. wish they still made them.Feb 19, 2010
by Ahmet T
Dec 16, 2009
hava soğutmalı motora sahip Keyifli Sürüş ve sevgi isteyen bir uğraş olur kendisi.alman porshe nin en büyük keşfi olan bu araç dünyada en çok üretilen ve Satılan araç olma rekorunu da elinde bulunduruyor.70 li yýllarda üretime başlayan ve 2003 Yılına kadar meksikada üretilmiştir.Dec 16, 2009
by Guy V
Oct 02, 2009
The finest car from VW. I own this car since aprit 2007 and I don't reget a minute of it. This is the coolest and funnest to drive classic car. I would recommend this to anyone who like classic cars.Oct 02, 2009
by Nader A
Sep 24, 2009
it never breaks down, refill it with fuel and drive, no need for water and it remains a model for all times and cars. a good car for showing off :P , and to spend the weekends with, but not for a daily use (a collection car).Sep 24, 2009
by Vanessa V
Sep 11, 2009
Best Car Ever!!! love to vw bugs!!! is small but fast!! rally fast i would say. . . . . .!!! also is a really good luckin caar! in fact is a volks wagen bettle. is a classis one! also was my first car ! tSep 11, 2009
by Giovanna M
Jul 20, 2009
It was my first car.
Performance - handled well, especially in inclement
weather. Was a speedy little bug.
Build Quality - I gave that bug a massive beating
and it kept driving. It was solidly built. They don't
make 'em like that anymore.
Appearance - classic. My favorites of the Beetles.
Cost of Ownership - good until the gas gauge went
wonky. Then I ran out of gas all the time when it
said I had a nearly full tank. It also decided to get 9
MPG at some point for no apparent reason when it
used to get 19. Nobody figured out why.
Fun Factor - It was a fun car. Especially when the
bottom rotted out and my passenger seat fell out.
Speedy, took corners fast, braked on a dime. It was
a fun, fun car. I still smile.
I'm sure if I had the money to have a mechanic who
knew VW's solidly, that car would have been
amazing. All in all, I'm sure the kinks would have
been ironed out. But I was dirt poor just out of
high school, flipping burgers and going to beauty
school and living in Arkansas. Nobody there knew
how to fix a car well.Jul 20, 2009
by Ansley R
Jul 02, 2009
Me and my bro built a homemade super-charger using washing machine hoses to redirect air from the fan in to the carb. Definite improvement in performance. Other than that, and the four 16" 250s, she is a stock standard 1600.Jul 02, 2009
by Devin E
Oct 16, 2008
My '73 super beetle has been around the block a few times but is in relatively good shape with very few body issues. This vehicle outperforms most cars on the road as it has had quite a few performance modifications, including a high performance aircooled vw engine (NOT PORSCHE), and a disk brake conversion along with an agressive lowering job. Being that this car is over 30 years old it has its minor issues such as the interior and could use a fresh re-spray to make it a solid "10". My car is also very efficient to operate and maintain at 30 mpg I can still afford to put premium fuel into it. The funfactor of this little car is awesome but in the cooler climate that I live in, I do not drive this car in the winter. Over all I would have to recommend to people who are interested into buying one of these little buggers to look hard for a good quality car as the repairs are not cheap in the bodywork area and Vw of america wants these cars gone.Oct 16, 2008
by Albert P
Aug 25, 2008
The 1973 beetle is the best car you can own if you are looking for fuel economy, the abuse you can give it without breaking down.The only bad of this car is that it only has 30 hp...it cost nothing to roll and no parts or barely any maintenance.This car is really fun to drive the go cart sensation is fun.Aug 25, 2008
by Guy H
Jun 13, 2008
Probably the best built car ever, mine is 35 and still very solid. Nice rear wheel drive handaling and familiar engine noize. Short wheel base gives a go-kart like feeling. The ultimate cheep to buy and run classic car. If it only had an A/C!Jun 13, 2008
by Rye D
May 07, 2008
Also known as the "Death Mobile," our VW bug is a great car. It has survived the flood of '99, numerous dead batteries, and cross country trips and is still running fine. Makes a lot of noise and stink, but it still runs like a dream. Nothing has been replaced, and the only work that needs to be done is for the interior and a new paint job. May 07, 2008
by Jason T
Apr 24, 2008
I've had this car since I was 18, my third bug. I've driven this all over the place, done
everything in it. I once even towed a 70s-era Dodge Duster with it. Up a hill. I love it. The
rear-engine oversteer is fun once you get used to it, and I love air-cooling. Apr 24, 2008
by Der G
Apr 16, 2008
Neat car, decent gas mileage, lots of character. Easy to fix. Apr 16, 2008
by Heather E
Apr 10, 2008
I loved my Bug. It was a Super Beetle, and not just a Beetle. You can tell by the windshields. The Super Beetle has a curved front glass, whereas the Beetle's is flat. Mine was exactly this color...only add a couple of rust and primer spots. :)Apr 10, 2008
by Chris S
Mar 31, 2008
Grandpa didn't want it any more and he bought it brand new in '73. Sat in his garage and in near perfect shape.Mar 31, 2008
by Kolin F
Mar 27, 2008
I got duped by a 'new paint job' ... yeah ... newly painted over old rust. Oh well. I LOVED that car, anyway. I had many dreams for this car. Sorry I wasn't able to store it somewhere until I'm able to re-establish the Bug Ranch that so pathetically failed down south. Booo.Mar 27, 2008
by Chan W
Mar 16, 2008
Amazing ride. Riding pleasure is maximum. Superb handling and even without new safety measurements the safety in the cabin is impressive.
Two times rammed and slashed by idiotic road hogs here but still, I'm free of even scratches and Beetle is still low flying.
Thanks Ferdinand Porsche for the marvelous design.
Mar 16, 2008
by Kathy A
Feb 14, 2008
1914 engine installed by ME
front disk brakes
weber two barrel carb
cupholders
cd playerFeb 14, 2008
by Sean C
Feb 06, 2008
This car was the best car i have ever owned. I plan on buying another one and building it up into a Baja Bug. But it was the most fun with a 1600cc motor, with a 4 speed manual trany. she was yellow and was in really good shape for its age.Feb 06, 2008
by Azmi A
Jan 27, 2008
The Beetle is quite an ingenious car: not the latest technology nor best performance, but it will never fail you.Jan 27, 2008
by Dave G
Jan 22, 2008
never made it to the road, was a roll over victim with a wire harness that kept catching fireJan 22, 2008
by Josh H
Jan 07, 2008
With a 73 VW pancake engine that is far from stock, and 125 hp to the rear wheels its not that fast. The gearing is set for offroading and besides the looks on the way to the trails, that is the only thing that its great for. With no doors it calls for a day 70 degrees or above. Jan 07, 2008
by Anonymous
Dec 18, 2007
I prefer the regular Beetle body to the Super Beetle, but from 1973 on, the quality starts to slide.Dec 18, 2007
by Anonymous
Aug 21, 2007
this car is fantastic, we use ours all the time,our only problem is the engine compartment hood won't open, but other then that we love our bug.
It is also a great way to meet people and make friends, every where we go some one all ways stops us and asks about the car and tells us what they have also.Aug 21, 2007
by Anonymous
Jul 09, 2007
i love it, just takes a while to become reliable if havnt been driven in a while, i got one for my 18th, and its only starting to become reliable now that im 19, an there r still bits and pieces that need fixing, but hey..it is a bug, lolJul 09, 2007
by Anonymous
Jun 13, 2007
I have a 1973 Bug that I have had for 17 years. I am not really a Bug person as this is the only one I have ever owned and probable will ever own, but it is part of the family. over the last 17 years I have only had to do minor repaires on it and flipped the odomitor 3 times and recently put in a new engine due to the old one just lost it's get up and go and leaked a little oil constantly. We have just replaced some body panels and are in the process of fixing it up and customizing it. I run around in it in the summer and it still gets me where I am going with all it's zip.Jun 13, 2007
by Anonymous
May 10, 2007
This is the 3rd Super Beetle that I've owned and absolutely love the sound of that flat4. Did I rave about the gas mileage?May 10, 2007
What users have asked
Automatic Transmission
I just purchased a 1973 VW Super Beetle, but I'm having a tough time with the manual transmission so I can't drive her. Does anyone know of a place that can install a semi-auto or complete automatic trans on this particular Bug? If yes, how much do you think it would cost to have this done? I appreciate any help you could offer. Thanks :)
25257 views
Selling a 1973 Volkswagen
I am helping the daughter and sister of gellow that died in February of 2021 to sell a 1973 Volkswagen that he bought in 2018. The VW Bug was very nice when he bought it. He was a retired engineer and he had big plans for the Bug. He bought over $20000 of new parts for the Bug including a brand new engine and then most everything one could think on from a disc brake set up to new upholstery etc and n etc. 18 pages of parts that I have itemized. We would like to sell the Bug and the parts as one deal. How best to do this? Thanks Mike Martin Madison, Ms
65 views
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