1972 Volkswagen Beetle | Watford, Hertfordshire

A 1972 Volkswagen Beetle, the rounded, rear-engined small car that stayed in production through the 1960s and 1970s. Its air-cooled engine and simple build made it easy to live with, and larger windows than the earliest cars give the cabin a light, open feel. Film audiences know the model through Herbie in The Love Bug. This car is blue with a black interior, a plain, strong pairing that holds its own against brick, greenery or a studio backdrop. The 1285cc engine sits at the back, and the two-door body seats four. Its domed roof, round wheel arches and short bonnet read clearly in any frame, and a first registration in August 1972 puts it squarely in 1970s territory. Period film and television work suits it, as do advertising and music videos that want a friendly, lived-in look. Fashion and editorial photographers can shoot it from low angles to make the most of its curves, and events can use it as a bright, approachable centrepiece. Weddings and personal hires are an easy fit too. The car is based in Watford, Hertfordshire.