To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' The Taj Ma Garaj Collection event, 28 September 2019.
Estimate:
$20,000 - $30,000

• One of the last 3,000 produced in Mexico
• Only 337 kilometers from new
• Accompanied by purchase documents
• The final year of the original Beetle

Cultural icon, political statement, mass-transport exercise, and even film star—there can be few cars which have crossed as many boundaries as the Volkswagen Beetle, nor engendered quite such affection along the way. Created by the legendary Ferdinand Porsche and his team in Wolfsburg, Germany, the classic Volkswagen Type 1, a marvel of functional engineering and design, holds a special place in automotive history. During its production run from 1938 to 2004, over 21.5 million Beetles were sold worldwide, making it the best-selling car of all time.

In 2003, with Volkswagen officially ending Beetle production for the Mexico market, a celebration was in order. The most famous car in the world needed a proper send-off, and Volkswagen did so in the form of a limited-production special model, the Beetle Última Edición. The car featured modern touches to the old design in a nostalgic homage to the iconic car. Only 2,999 were offered for sale through Volkswagen dealers across Mexico, with the 3,000th and final car being shipped to the Volkswagen museum in Wolfsburg, Germany.

This 2004 Última Edición is finished in Harvest Moon Beige with a black interior. It rides whitewall tires mounted on body-colored wheels with Volkswagen hubcaps. The interior is equipped with an AM/FM radio with CD player, modern bucket seats, and Wolfsburg steering wheel. A full-size spare resides up front, and a fire extinguisher is mounted in the passenger footwell. This car was purchased new by Gabriel Larrea Soltero for $85,001 pesos in 2003. John Dixon purchased the car shortly thereafter in October 2003. The car is accompanied by purchase documents from the first owner, a laminated copy of the car’s 2003 Mexico registration, and the owner’s manuals in their respective pouch. The front bumper is likewise included but was removed at the time of catalogue photography.

The final iteration of the original Beetle, the Última Edición has been a sought-after model among air-cooled collectors since its release. This example, having covered only 337 kilometers from new, remains in pristine condition throughout and is sure to impress as a nostalgic homage to the best-selling car in the world.

Please note that this lot is offered on a Bill of Sale only.

To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/tg19.