This 1983 Embeesea Charger Lader is (as many might have already suspected) a VW Beetle-based kit car, but with much better resolved styling and packaging than most. The car has what looks like an early Lotus Esprit/Bizzarrini Manta inspired side profile, and condition looks to be unusually good for this type of build–in fact, the seller makes a point of describing it as well-maintained. Find it here on Catawiki somewhere in the Netherlands with reserve not met. Special thanks to BaT reader Kyle K. for this submission.

The car’s fiberglass-reinforced plastic bodywork was the work of Buckinghamshire, England-based Embeesea, and though the company offered a few different variations on this wedge theme, the Charger is believed to have been their most successful model, with 420 manufactured between 1977 and 1986. The seller says that this one remains in very good shape thanks to careful maintenance over the years, but admits that paint was amateur to being with.

We dig this red and white scheme though, and bodywork does indeed look to be in nice shape. Wheels are standard Beetle items, but actually look pretty sporty in this context. Says the seller: “Polyester body on a standard 1983 VW Beetle chassis. The base plate and chassis are in perfect condition. The model comes from the late 70’s, early 80’s, and these body kits were primarily manufactured for the British and Australian market.”

The interior is unusually well finished for a kit car, but is still by no means luxurious or comprehensively equipped. The instrument pod contains (from left to right) a VDO clock, VDO speedo/fuel level gauge and Veglia voltmeter, no tach is fitted. Ventilation seems to be by rear-extracting pop-up roof/gullwing vents only, so you’ll need to be moving along at a fair clip to keep things cool inside.

This could be a bit of a problem considering the standard 1200 Beetle engine in back, but thankfully weight is said to be just 890kg.

The car is sold with current Dutch roadworthiness certification, presumably meaning it’s in good working order and ready to go.