VW Beetle 1303 bucket seat guide
1303, 1972 to 1975
The 1303 is the final shape of the classic Beetle in the UK, with the curved panoramic windscreen and the bigger rubber-faced bumpers that replaced the flat glass and chrome trim of earlier cars. Corbeau list a frame specifically for this shell alongside the Mexico, its own separate part from the frames used on the earlier 1200/1300/1500 and 1302.
The seat range spans the same period-flavoured Cobra and Corbeau lines as the rest of the classic Beetle range, plus the full Recaro premium options.
- Corbeau direct fit frame confirmed for the 1303 and Mexico, £245, base mount
- This is a separate part number from the frames used on the 1200/1300/1500 and the 1302
- OMP build a 6 Point Bolt In Roll Cage specifically for the Beetle, £903.56
- The Recaro Pole Position Carbon with ABE at £2,816.10 and the Classic LS at £2,759.40 are the premium options on this page
- The Corbeau Sportsman at £390 is a genuinely classic-style reclining seat, right at home on this car
- All FIA harnesses carry a stamped expiry date that ends their competition life regardless of wear
The fitting frame
Corbeau list a frame specifically covering the 1303 and the Mexico, at £245, base mount. It is a separate product from the frames used on the earlier 1200/1300/1500 and the 1302, so check which shape your Beetle is before ordering. It bolts to the factory floor mounting points, and every seat on this page fixes to it directly.
The fitting kit
The frame is priced per seat, so two front seats means two orders.
- Corbeau direct fit frame, £245 per seat, 1303/Mexico, base mount
- Recaro FIA Steel Side Mount Brackets, £192.00 for Profi SPG/SPA and Pro-Racer side-mount seats
Bucket and reclining seats
The Cobra Classic GT at £359.00, the Corbeau GT4 Retro at £360.00 and the Corbeau Alpine at £390 are the period-flavoured fixed-back options. The Sparco Sprint at £252.00 is an FIA 8855-1999 shell for anyone building toward competition. The Corbeau Sportsman at £390 is a genuinely classic-style reclining seat.
Recaro build the premium end of the range. The Pole Position with ABE at £1,039.50 is road legal with type approval. The Classic Pole Position ABE at £2,179.80, the Pole Position 2018 Edition at £1,446.48 and the Pole Position Carbon with ABE at £2,816.10 sit further up. The Specialist S at £1,146.60, the Expert S at £1,197.00 and the Classic LS at £2,759.40 are reclining alternatives. Two Corbeau pairs, the SVR Vinyl and the Sportline RRS, and the Cobra Stuttgart Vinyl Tartan Edition and Le Mans Carbon Edition round out the range.
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Our recommendationConfirm your shell before ordering the frame
The 1303 has its own frame, separate from the earlier 1200/1300/1500 and the 1302, so confirm which shape you have first. Cameron works out the fit and the best combination for a given car, so tell him how the Beetle is used and he will point you at the right seat.
Harnesses
There is no harness made specifically for the Beetle, so you are fitting a universal belt and working out the mounting yourself. The original lap and diagonal belt mounts were not built for a competition harness, so the roll cage below, a bolt-in harness bar, or a fabricated anchor point is the correct route for a car heading anywhere near track use.
The Schroth Profi 3×2 at £370 and the TRS Magnum 6 Point Superlite at £245 are both FIA 8853-2016. The TRS Magnum 4 Point at £139 is FIA 8854-1998. All three carry a stamped expiry date regardless of wear. For a road or trackday car, the Takata Drift II and III and the TRS Clubman belts cost less, though none of those four are HANS compatible.
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Our recommendationConfirm the anchor before the belt
Tell us whether the car is caged, what is behind the seats now, and whether a head restraint is going in, and we will tell you what the shoulder straps can anchor to before you spend anything on the belt.
Roll cage
OMP build a 6 Point Bolt In Roll Cage specifically for the Beetle at £903.56, the straightforward route to a proper harness anchor on this car.
If competing, check the specification against your class regulations before ordering, and keep the sign-off paperwork with the logbook. Pad any tube within reach of a helmet, and tell your insurer, because a cage is a notifiable modification.
What fits what
All seats below fit the 1303 on the Corbeau frame confirmed for this shell, base mount.
| Seat | Mounting | Style | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cobra Classic GT | Base mount | Period-flavoured fixed back | £359.00 |
| Sparco Sprint | Base or side mount | FIA 8855-1999 | £252.00 |
| Corbeau Sportsman | Base mount | Classic-style reclining seat | £390 |
| Recaro Pole Position with ABE | Side mount | Road legal, type approved | £1,039.50 |
| Recaro Pole Position Carbon with ABE | Side mount | Road legal, type approved | £2,816.10 |
| Recaro Classic LS | Base mount | Reclining seat | £2,759.40 |
| Corbeau SVR Vinyl, pair | Base mount, 291mm x 330mm or 345mm x 271mm | Road and track | £1,020.00 |
Common questions
Which frame does the 1303 need?
Corbeau confirm one specifically for the 1303 and the Mexico, at £245 per seat, base mount. It is a separate part from the frames used on the 1200/1300/1500 and the 1302.
How do I tell a 1303 apart from earlier Beetles?
The curved, panoramic windscreen is the clearest sign, along with the larger rubber-faced bumpers that replaced the earlier flat glass and chrome trim.
Is the Corbeau Sportsman right for this car?
Yes. It is a genuinely classic-style reclining seat, and the Beetle is exactly the kind of car it is built for.
Is there a roll cage for the 1303?
Yes. OMP build a 6 Point Bolt In Roll Cage specifically for the Beetle at £903.56.
Which harness should I buy?
For FIA competition, the Schroth Profi 3×2 at £370 and the TRS Magnum 6 Point Superlite at £245 both meet 8853-2016, and the TRS Magnum 4 Point at £139 meets 8854-1998. For road and trackday use, the Takata Drift II and III and the TRS Clubman belts cost less but are not HANS compatible.
More help
If your car turns out to be an earlier 1200, 1300 or 1302 Beetle, those guides cover the different frames made for them. If you want the frame or the cage confirmed against your specific car, the contact link is the quickest way to get it looked at.
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