Where are they - Special Edition 72 Bajas

[GB2S]

I always liked the special edition 72 Baja but I never see them. Where are they

Geoff
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1963 Ragtop

[Zundfolge1432]

I give up where are they?

[APPLEGREENVW]

Here's 2.
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Parts for sale https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/search.php?username=APPLEGREENVW

02/76 Beetle sedan

[gt1953]

I have the wheels and a buddy has the car without the wheels.
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Volkswagen: We tune what we drive.
Numbers Matching VW's are getting harder to find. Source out the most Stock vehicle and keep that way. You will be glad you did.

72 type 1
72 Squareback
({59 Euro bug, 62, 63, 67, 68, 69, 73 type ones 68 & 69 type two, 68 Ghia all sold})

[Rome]

Sometimes the World Champions end up just like other "plain" Supers in the rust belt; downtrodden, rusted and used up. This one was in a junkyard in MA nearly 11 yrs ago. The yard closed shortly after, and was cleared of all of its remarkable cars.

[Coffee Freak]

[Mike Peckham]

My Dad's 1972 World Champion Beetle (known as the Baja in The States). I bought it from him in 1993, it's now covered 85,000 miles and has a fully stamped up Service Booklet!

[GB2S]

What were the special extras on this car?

Geoff
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1963 Ragtop

[Glenn]

[Maddel]

[Mike Peckham]

In Europe it was known as “Der Weltmeister” or “World Champion”, And was issued to celebrate VW’s overhauling of the Model T Ford’s world record production figures. In America it was seen as less politic to celebrate the overhauling of an American Institution, so it was marketed as the Baja and came with the option of extras fitted by the dealer.

On continental Europe and in America and Australia the model was based on the 1302, or Super Beetle, in the UK the World Champion was based on the 1300, this being the best selling model in the UK at the time.

When new the World Champion was sold with a large certificate showing it alongside a Model T Ford and declaring it the new World Champion. The certificate was made out to the first owner and included the registration number of the car.

World Champion Beetles quickly became known as Marathon Beetles, due to the Marathon Blue body colour, which until then had only been seen on Audi’s.

The extras spec in Europe was: rubber bumper inserts, Marathon Blue Paintwork and 10 spoke wheels. 1500 were issued to the UK. 2 to each large dealer and one each to the smaller dealers. Interestingly, dealers were encouraged by VW to sell this edition to returning “older” customers.

Mike

[GB2S]

Thanks for the great information. I do wonder why being a special edition, it
Didn't come with a sun roof

Geoff
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1963 Ragtop

[Mike Peckham]

Geoff, you're welcome

Here's a picture of the certificate for mine

Mike

[GB2S]

So given the date on your certificate, 2-17-72, all car
Were built after this date? A mid-year model?

Geoff
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1963 Ragtop

[Mike Peckham]

Mine was first registered in June '72. Vic Kaye in the UK set up a register of the surviving World Champion Beetles in the 90's, it amounted to about 150 of the original 1500. It listed all the chassis numbers, and production dates seemed to be mostly late May I think.

I'll see if I can find the list.

Mike

[EnjoyNukaCola]

It's cool and unique but what's "Baja" about it?
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"when i go to drive it i get to like 5-10 mph it is at high rpms and gets higher the faster i go when i shift up to second the rpms drop is this normal or what and this is my first vw please help"

[Maddel]

[Hartsa66]

Greetings from Finland!

[Mike Peckham]

[RichNJohn]