VW convertible 
type 15
scraps of history
by guif

The Volkswagen Beetle history encloses a thousand of paradoxes, one  of them is the way the convertible version is considered, and has always been since the car exists.
One of them is that the sedan version was destined to mid and lower class people, who thought "why should we put money in a car?" has said the advertisements. And in the other hand there stood the convertible, which had been since the early years akind of "elite car", its coachbuilder was the famous one from Osnabruck, Karmann.
Karmann, started to build convertibles on VW basis in 1949, at this time Heinrich Nordhoff had decided that the sedan model had to be completed by other versions if they wanted to get new export markets.
The two projects on the table at this period was the Karmann version with four seats to transport a complete family; the other one is the famous but rare two seater by Hebmüller, which ended after the factory burnt in 1951.
What differences are there between the convertible and the sedan model? Basically relatively little things in fact, the interior trimmings are the same ones,the materials used are identical for the same functions. In fact what justifies the overcost it is primarily the alteration which requires a deep replanning of the reinforcement of the shell in order to make it more rigid. 

Technical evolution of the convertible version followed closely the technical evolution of the sedan, and contributed much to insert VW in the world of the car of collection.

The total number of production for the Karmann cabriolet is about 331 000 pieces from 1948 to 1980, and this number makes the VW cariolet one of the most produced convertible in the world.

Many VW lovers are dreamind one day or another of driving a beetle convertible hairs in the wind. But as for every restoration the weack point must be checked before any bargain. And they have to be checked very precisely, because a rusted cabriolet is very expensive to repair, of course the heater channel are very appreciated by the rust but also the roof compartment, if water has leacked here for years the car will be heavily wounded and will have lost its original rigidity.
Most of the parts are easy to find but you'd have to find a master in bodywork to install them if you want your car to keep its value. Some VW lovers have been upset after their buy to note that the looking good beetle was a fake with a nice paint. Before any exchange of money examinate well what's going on under the car, take off the wheel under the bonnet to see if the car have been shocked. A magnet can also be very useful to see what the heater channels and the doors are made of.
A french VW found has been very upset to discover that the channels have been filled with a mixture of cement (for buildings!) and used newspapers.

To ride a beetle cabriolet drove people to transform original sedan, this operation consists in cutting the roof of the car. I should say that it's really not enough to have a convertible until you don't reinforce hardly the shell.
In fact this kind of transformation may cost the same price than a real one if you do it well. And the authorities won't easily agree your transformation on the road.