1974 Volkswagen Beetle

This isn’t just any Jeans Beetle – it's something far rarer and more special. Meet the ‘Frostrite’ – yes, that’s the correct spelling – a unique dealer special created by Cambridge Volkswagen dealer Jack Frost. Building on the standard Jeans Beetle specification, Jack Frost added his own distinctive touches, making this possibly the only surviving example of its kind.

To complete the Frostrite transformation, a black vinyl roof was fitted to emphasise the car’s blacked-out aesthetic. But Jack Frost also reintroduced a bit of sparkle, with chrome finger plates, rain gutter trims, and rear grilles. The car came well-equipped too – especially for a Beetle of its time – with rare and desirable extras like a passenger sun visor, Blaupunkt ‘Wolfsburg’ stereo, wooden ‘sports’ gear knob, and an integrated fuel gauge within the speedometer.

The previous keeper purchased the car in 1996 from its original owner, who had bought it from Jack Frost himself. It was then purchased from us in 2021 by the vendor, who has since taken the iconic Beetle on, shall we say, a bit of a modernisation journey.

Modernisation journey, you ask? Yes – a full-blown electric conversion carried out by Retro Electric has taken this iconic Volkswagen into the EV world.

Taking a walk around the Beetle, the paintwork presents well, having been restored several years ago. In the sun, the Tunis Gelb yellow hue still looks superb.

At the front of the car, you’ll notice the black bumpers and headlight surrounds are in good order. There are a few minor age-related chips, but nothing excessive. The bonnet aligns well, and the windscreen is in good condition, with no noticeable scratches and a seal free from perishing.

From the side, the iconic Beetle design stands out perfectly. Chrome door finger plates were added as part of the Frostrite edition, along with the rain gutter trims and the vinyl roof. The roof is generally in good condition, though there are some areas around the edges showing signs of age – this could easily be replaced if desired. As with the windscreen, the side windows and seals are in good order.

At the rear, the bumper has some light marks like the front. Both lights are in good condition with no splits or cracks. The vinyl roof comes all the way down to the engine cover, which displays the Jeans decal to match the sides, and the chrome air vent is in good condition with a bright finish.

The car sits on a set of optional 15-inch Lemmerz GT wheels. These are finished in silver and present well. There is a matching set of tyres, all with a good amount of tread remaining.

You can’t really call it a Jeans Beetle without a jeans interior. The seats have been retrimmed in vinyl with a centre jean section and are all in excellent condition. Both door cards are finished in blue vinyl to match the seat fabric and are free from damage.

A replacement three-spoke steering wheel has been fitted. This is in good condition and a nice improvement over the thinner original one. The original instrument gauge reads 51,499 miles. A DAB radio has been installed, allowing mobile phone connectivity for easy music streaming.

The switchgear has been replaced and is in good condition. There are some additional switches, the main one being a three-position toggle switch which acts as the forward, neutral, and reverse selector. The others are for the heater, lights, and wipers, all of which are working correctly. Just below the dashboard is the display unit, which shows the speed and the remaining battery range. A fully fitted carpet is in excellent condition throughout, as is the headlining.

Originally fitted with a 1200cc air-cooled 35bhp engine – which propelled the Beetle from 0–60mph in an eye-watering 19 seconds – the car has now been fitted with something quite different.

With approximately 120bhp and 173lb-ft of torque, the Beetle can now hit 60mph in around 6.5 seconds, and a top speed of 85mph – impressive!

The Hyper 9, 3 Phase AC, Synchronous Reluctance Internal Permanent Magnet (SRIPM) electric motor is powered and controlled by the SME Synchronous X1 Inverter. This is coupled to the factory gearbox using a unique adaptor. Yes, there is still a gear stick and it does change gear, but you don’t need to use it – it's a simple case of leaving it in third for around-town driving and switching to fourth when travelling over 50mph. Other than that, it’s just a matter of pressing the accelerator.

The Beetle has also had disc brakes fitted to the front to cope with the extra power, and these bring the car to a stop effortlessly. There is also a regenerative braking system that has been fitted with a dash mounted switch to provide either high or low levels of energy recovery.

So how long does the battery last? In real-world driving conditions, we are told the battery will last approximately 102 miles, or up to 132 miles with a 12-minute fast charge. A full charge takes approximately four hours.

Registered in the UK on 1st June 1974, the Beetle has had just two previous keepers. Included are the original service passport, warranty card, and owner’s handbook – all housed in the original plastic wallet. There are some previous MoT certificates, including the most recent, which is valid until 23rd January 2026.

The bulk of the paperwork is more recent and includes invoices for the 2022 electric conversion, along with instructions detailing what the switches do and the relevant charging information.

Details of the conversion featured in the June 2022 Volksworld magazine in a six page spread and shown in the documents gallery.

A classic Beetle with a modern twist. Yes, you may not have that iconic sound of the flat-four air-cooled engine chugging away, but you'll be keeping up with modern-day traffic thanks to 120bhp and a 0–60mph time of 6.5 seconds. What's not to love about that?

With more and more electric conversions being carried out, this is a great option for those who want the performance and reliability of a modern car, while retaining the looks of a classic.

We estimate this modern-day EV Beetle to fetch in the region of £20,000–£25,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.