The Volkswagen Beetle enjoyed staggering success for many years, and in 1972 became the best-selling car to date, with total production worldwide exceeding 15,000,000 vehicles.

However, by that time, the Beetle was starting to seem dated compared with much of the modern competition and sales were flagging.

In an attempt to maintain interest, Volkswagen produced numerous special edition models during the final years of European production.

These included the Jeans Beetle, City Beetle, Sun Bug and Marathon Beetle, to name just a few.

Despite these efforts, the Beetle was now effectively past its 'sell-by-date' with sales continuing to decline and the last European-built car left the production line in Emden, Germany on the 19th January 1978, immediately taking early retirement in the Wolfsburg Auto Museum.

In 1978, to mark the occasion, the final run of 300 German-manufactured right-hand drive Beetles were all finished in the very special Diamond Silver (L97A) paint colour; they wer...