Odd and uncommon ACVWs

[Donovan D]

Are there any schwimmwagen's in SA ??

Splitz, most probably not... although Jaap Steenkamp might have found one in Namibia, but I haven't heard from him in quite some time http://www.aircooledvwsa.co.za/viewtopi ... 0+in+buggy

Jaap said he sold it to Merlin as a buggy, and the propeller was actually the lawn-mowers blade...

[Rudi02]

On the four door topic, this car was built to be a taxi in 1953, a Split Zwitter.





Was to expensive to build. A new Mercedes benz 180 could be bought brand new for less than one of these baby's. Pity.

[1972]

KDF Kübelwagen and was built by the Austrian company Kohlruss

[Dutch_Diver]

Does these count?

[Ron&Gill]

Sure they do, Kommandeurs Wagens. Here's one that ran on wood through use of a holzbrenner (wood burner), after things stopped going according to plan, so to speak...

1942 VW Kommandeur-Wagen Holzbrenner Fossil Fuel Type 82E f3q B&W.jpg

These wood burners heated wood until it broke down into flameable gas which was stored until needed, and injected into standard internal combustion engines. Holzbrenners were used in various cars as well as tanks, and were made by Porsche.

hol1.jpg

hol32.jpg

[Ron&Gill]

Before I post anymore 4 door beetles... In '46 VW was looking for a coach works to build their cabriolets and the last two competitors for the contract were Landau and Karmann. (Hebmuller was building the roadsters). It is common knowledge that Karmann won the contract but if you read the report on the Karmann Cabrio prototype, it is scathing to say the least. VW obviously expected high standards. Here's the Landau:

1946 VW Beetle Cabriolet Landau Prototype.jpg

In fact, this made Karmann. Later, Karmann made the Ghias of course, but they continued making convertibles, for Mercedez, BMW, Audi etc. until they went bust the other day and VW bought their arse... Now VW is setting up their Osnabruck factory to build an electric car or something. It is surprising to see what Karmann actually built. All VWs convertibles, new Beetle, Golf etc, and the Scirocco and Corrado. Interesting company...

[buggyfan]

On the four door topic, this car was built to be a taxi in 1953, a Split Zwitter.





Was to expensive to build. A new Mercedes benz 180 could be bought brand new for less than one of these baby's. Pity.

and heres the pimped version

493_d504c850469896996cdf774464178168.jpg

[Ron&Gill]

Ok, so the other four door Beetle... or no-door beetle??

This is a Hebmuller Type 18A for the German police:

1948_VWhebmuller_18a com.jpg

[Ron&Gill]

Of course then there is the Hebmuller we all know:

1950%20VW-Hebmuller%20Beetle%20Roadster%20r3q.jpg

But they weren't the only ones to build roadsters: Here's the Stoll coupe:

1952 stoll fixed head coupe.jpg

1952%20VW%20Beetle%20Stoll%20Coupe%20Sv%20B&W.jpg

As a note: Hebmullers factory burnt down after they built 512 or something Hebmullers. But there were some parts and panels left over after the fire and these were shipped from Wuppertal to Osnabruk where Karmann completed them and produced some more, and the final production number came to 696 in 1952.

[Ron&Gill]

Remember when Toyota brought out their bakkie with the pivot in the load bed? What a novel idea, they said. Not actually so novel, sorry.

1946%20VW%20Beetle%20Pickup%20f3q%20B&W.jpg

And why wait for the T2 before building ambulances when a T1 will do?

1949%20VW%20KrankenWagen%20Beetle%20Ambulance%20Conversion%20by%20Miesen%20B&W.jpg

[Merlin]

And why wait for the T2 before building ambulances when a T1 will do?

That is a very interesting model indeed.

Built by the Karosserie Meisen company.

Initially those were built on Kübelwagen chassis' at first and later on stock bug pans - probably with some extra bracing I would imagine.

I have yet to see/hear of a surviving one anywhere in the world.

You have to admit though, ambulances have only improved since then - I mean, just look at this beauty...

[Pine]

Exactly WHAT language is ECNALUBMA VW?

(I can't wait to buy my first EHCSROP )