What is a Fleetline?

[beetlefanatic]

I hope this is in the right place, but I think so as it has to do with Fleetline info.

What side mirrors would be the correct ones to fit to a Fleetline? I have noticed a few different mirrors while looking through some pics. Here are a few. I think some may be aftermarket, although they look so in place, that they could have come from the factory.

[fig]

I'm not certain, but I believe the original mirrors on Fleetlines were the old round steel Stirling mirrors. Fleetlines definitely had the usual split bus mirror arms sprouting from the top door hinge, so all the door mounted mirrors in your pics are non-original. I have never seen a Brazilian wing mirror, even on an original Fleetline. I suspect they shipped without wing mirrors and VWSA fitted locally made ones.

I like to use the larger, rectangular Stirling universal truck mirrors, which are still made, though nowadays they are made of plastic.

[beetlefanatic]

Are those the rectangular ones as in the first pic? I see left and right are different on that bus.

[fig]

No. I don't know what mirrors those are. That's Kegan's bus; maybe he'll enlighten us.

Dirk's blue Kombi in your pics looks like it has the original Stirling round mirrors.

This is the only pic I could find that shows the rectangular Stirling mirrors clearly:

[beetlefanatic]

Thanks Fig. Isn't the one mounted on the left door of Kegan's bus what is referred to as an "Elephant ear" mirror? I think some split busses used to have them.

[karmakoma]

I checked on my Fleety quick, which I believe is pretty original. Two round mirrors mounted on the door hinges...

[fig]

Thanks Fig. Isn't the one mounted on the left door of Kegan's bus what is referred to as an "Elephant ear" mirror? I think some split busses used to have them.

I don't think so. "Elephant's ear" mirrors is the name given by Americans to the large VWoA accessory mirrors, which were a trapezoid shape, not rectangular. These would only be correct on a US split bus, although I see lots of SA split bus drivers are using the imported repros.

[Sambabus]

The mirror on the left is an unknown mirror,the one on the right is a standard bay mirror,....I have since got rid of them and have the same stirling mirrors Fig has got on his rat fleetline.

[riaanj]

Thanks for the info Fig.. very helpfull

[retrovan]

As I have always thought that the Brazilia, was brought into SA by some 3rd party, I have asked John Lemon to look into this idea.

His reply has astounded me.

According to VWSA, the Fleetline was brought into RSA from 1975 till 1978

This means, that the Brazilia, as we know it, was brought in as a Fleetline, by VWSA, as the Fleetline as we know it was all registered as 1975

The total number of this "Fleetline" import was according to John, as follows ... Total sales of the 10 seater, panel van and pickup from 1975 to 1978 was 11349

Hope this adds some info to an old question.....

Herman

[Merlin]

As I have always thought that the Brazilia, was brought into SA by some 3rd party, I have asked John Lemon to look into this idea.

His reply has astounded me.

According to VWSA, the Fleetline was brought into RSA from 1975 till 1978

This means, that the Brazilia, as we know it, was brought in as a Fleetline, by VWSA, as the Fleetline as we know it was all registered as 1975

The total number of this "Fleetline" import was according to John, as follows ... Total sales of the 10 seater, panel van and pickup from 1975 to 1978 was 11349

Hope this adds some info to an old question.....

Herman

"Fleetlines" (with reference to the split variety) ran from OCT '74 to MAR '76.

The "Brasilia", a Brasilian adaption, took over and was referenced, at least in some areas within VWSA, as the next generation "Fleetline", although I've yet to find an actual vehicle branded as such.

[fig]

Yes, for the purposes of this thread, Fleetline is defined strictly as the Brazilian split buses assembled by VWSA for the 1975 model year. As Merlin says, some sources say Fleetlines were sold from 10/74 to 3/76. The fugly baysplit hybrids may or may not have been called Fleetlines by VWSA, but they did not have the Fleetline branding on the rear hatch like the split Fleetlines did. Some of us refer to these buses as Brasilia/Brazilia, because I have seen them listed as such in some aftermarket parts catalogues.

Yes, the Brasilias were assembled and sold by VWSA as the "budget" bus model to replace the Fleetline. These cars were also assembled in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe.

[oldschool75]

I have a saying when someone asks me if I'm a rugby supporter, that: "No, I'm not a rugby supporter, I'm a rugby-fundi (being a Bulls supporter), the other teams' supporters are supporters"....

The more I read these older posts, the more I am gobsmacked about the collective (BIG english word for a "plattelandse boerseun") knowledge on this forum.
Thus, in my own words, I can see that there are a huge amount of "Kombi-Kenners" here.
Thanks for all your typing away, and sharing the knowledge with us, the Kombi-supporters group.

Johann

[Sambabus]

Yes,....lots of knowledgeable people here, we are very fortunate.

[The Gymkhana Fanatic]

I see this thread has been brought up on The Samba:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewto ... 20#7198820