Early bird

[YvaneS]

Just out of pure curiousity, what are the erliest busses and bugs currently in south africa... Who owns them?
Any pics would be great?
And roughly what would you estimate the worth of these cars/busses?

[Pine]

The first SA Beetle (split, of course) was assembled from a CKD kit in Uitenhage in 1951, but there were probably a few private imports before that. Research by VWSA Historian John Lemon have found that the one shown in the black and white picture as the 'first SA Beetle off the SA production line' was most probably a later one. Last I heard, the earliest known surviving SA-assembled Beetle belongs to a Doctor in Kimberley (Andre, 69Bug, should be able to have more info.) It is obviously priceless...

Pic of early Uitenhage assembly line below

[fig]

The earliest beetle I've heard of in SA was a 1949 in Pretoria, imported from Germany a few years ago. The oldest known bus is Werner Alker's 1953 kombi, which was used as an ambulance by the railways in its later life.

The first SA-assembled beetle rolled off the Uitenhage line on 31 August 1951. The first Uitenhage buses were assembled in August 1955.

[69bug]

Dr Johan van Rensburg's '51 was one of two that were used for long term testing prior to actual assembly of beetles in SA. That makes its survival even more remarkable!

[Tony Z]

Doesnt Oom Attie have number 3 or 4 from the SA assembly line? Attie from Knysna or that area

[YvaneS]

The first Uitenhage buses were assembled in August 1955

So no barndoor's were ever assembled in SA?

[YvaneS]

Dr Johan van Rensburg's '51 was one of two that were used for long term testing prior to actual assembly of beetles in SA. That makes its survival even more remarkable!

Got any pics of this car?

[69bug]

YvaneS, I must have somewhere. Will go thru pic's this weekend and post if possible.

[YvaneS]

Cool thanks, i would apreciate that