About this model
The Majorette Volkswagen 1302 (cataloged as No. 202) ranks among the brand’s all-time commercial bestsellers, serving as a staple of the French manufacturer’s core 200 Series for decades. Debuting in 1972 in 1/60 scale, the model captured the charm of the real-world Super Beetle with practical play features such as working wire-spring suspension, a molded open sunroof, and an integrated rear tow hook. Its immense popularity ensured an unusually long production run, making it a fixture in millions of toy boxes worldwide and cementing its status as one of Majorette’s definitive casting hits.
Collector interest centers largely around an important structural shift in the casting. The early editions made between 1972 and 1978 featured an opening front hood that revealed a molded spare tire and luggage compartment inside, typically riding on early three-spoke concave wheels. Around 1979, Majorette simplified the mold by casting the front hood shut to streamline manufacturing and eliminate fragile moving parts, later outfitting the car with standard turbine wheels and renumbering it as No. 203 for 1990s reissues. The casting was also occasionally adapted for specialized peripheral releases, most notably serving as the basis for a distinct novelty keychain variant. Today, unblemished first-generation examples with their delicate opening hoods intact represent the most sought-after iteration of this miniature classic.
One of the casting’s most idiosyncratic spinoffs was the Majorette Odorette.
