5000 'Marathon Beetles' where produced during 1972 to celebrate the Beetles world record production figure of 15,007,034 - that car (a 1302) subsequently named the 'World Champion'.

 'Marathon Beetles' were offered across all Beetle models with special Marathon Metallic (metallic silver/blue, 96M) paint and silver and black sports wheels (Lemmertz made), with octagonal alloy centre caps.

Also included was a commemorative folder 'History in the making', a small certificate, keyring and souvenir gold coloured medallion with the inscription 'Der Weltmeister 1972, Wolfsburg, Germany' both with a side view of a Beetle.