When it comes to Beetles, the term ‘late model’ refers to anything built after August 1967, though more generally speaking it is used to describe cars with the bigger, chunkier Europa bumpers.
Such cars haven’t had the easiest life in the VW scene, forever in the shadow of their earlier, arguably prettier, brethren. Since the very beginning of the ‘new wave’ VW scene of the 1980s and ’90s late models have either been passed up in favour of earlier models or backdated so they look like earlier cars. Even nowadays, most people would rather have an early ‘sloping headlamp’ car than a later one, and prices reflect that trend.
However, late model Beetles make really practical daily drivers, with such niceties as balljoints, 12V electrics, disc brakes (not universal fit…
