The Volkswagen 1200 was internally designated the ‘Type 1’, though to the public it became universally known as the ‘Beetle’ - a colloquial nomenclature that Volkswagen itself did not officially adopt for many decades.

Early examples of Dr Ferdinand Porsche’s ‘People’s Car’ featured a split rear window and are now known as ‘Split Window’ models, followed by the ‘Oval Window’ cars produced between 1953 and 1957.

From 1958 onwards, the Beetle gained its more familiar rectangular rear window.

In the United States, the ‘Oval Window’ Beetle was distinguished by its distinctive ‘bullet’ front indicators, while European-market tastes retained semaphore indicators mounted within the ‘B’ pillar.

This American specification gives a particularly attractive and rare appearance, making such examples sought after.

The feature also signifies ‘XSV 797’s’ roots in the USA - specifically, in this case, Orange County, near to Los Angeles, California, one of the cultural heartlands of the American Vo...