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<x-flowed>Pat -- I had this handy, and thought it may save you some typing.
-Greg
Theo Thepin has been kind enough to translate this story from German. It
orginally apeared in the newsletter of Typ 3 Liebhaber IG, the German Type
III club.
_________________________________________________________________
Hi everybody,
Here's the English translation of the article about the earliest type
3 found as yet that Aaron typed in. I have to say I was impressed that
someone that doesn't speak German can type in a German text with so
few typo's. I couldn't do the same thing in eg. Polish!! I did my best
to stay as close to the original text as possible. However, some
things are difficult, if not impossible to translate, so I had to make
some free interpretations. The original text is not very well written
and especially the part about the different versions of the pockets in
the doors and the moldings on the doors, I found somewhat confusing.
Maybe the pictures can clarify things. If needed I'll correct some
things later.
My apologies for any typo's and maybe 'funny' sentences. It's not so
easy to translate something from German into English as I always have
to go through a 'Dutch phase' first. If anything is not clear let me
know, I may be able to improve things once I know what you guys don't
understand.
Cheers, Theo _________________________________________________________________
Number 54 is alive !
Especially the type 3's of the first model year are rare and interesting. Somehow one gets the feeling that VW used the first Beetles as test models, as in the first model year, the changes have been numerous. But even before regular production started, Volkswagenwerk built themselves a pre production series for testing and PR purposes. One of these cars (or rather its remains) turned up recently. It has chassis number 0000054.
With this pre production series one couldn't really speak of an
assembly line production. Apparently, in the first couple of months
the VW workers built and rebuilt everything they laid their hands on.
That's why the type 3's that were photographed for the first
catalogues differ in some details between the different versions. Many
of them even had white steering wheels and steering columns. Some had
4 levers for the fresh air vents, whereas others had 3 like in the
production models. Some had door panels with pockets, others were
pictured with a flap. On some of the pictures the glovebox can be
locked. Apparently this part was designed for the planned convertible,
which was only built in small numbers as a prototype. The parts manual
doesn't show this glovebox lock.
Cleverly touched up pictures, or were these real? Number 54 can at
least answer some of these questions, although new ones arise and much
is left uncertain. Not much is left from the once 'golfblau' sedan.
The remaining part of the left rocker panel hangs from the wiring
loom, and the pan has for the most part rusted away. The engine is
missing. That's a great pity, as especially in the first models, VW
changed many things as at first the 'flatfour' wouldn't run in the
larger brother of the small beetle. The carburettors and ignition were
optimised over and over again. The seats of number 54 were changed for
later models from a 1500S. Fortunately the door panels remained in
place. And they are unusual enough. The door pockets are indeed
designed as flaps with elastic band. On both sides they are very dirty
and moulded, but in place. Also at the closing side, at the top of the
doors, there's something peculiar: chrome moldings. the production
version of this sedan didn't please the owner with these additional
decorations. The question regarding the white steering wheel remains
unanswered: number 54 has a black one. When looking through the
relevant publications from 1961, one also only sees black steering
wheels. Only in some catalogues the steering wheel is white. The fresh
air regulators come as three levers in this car, like in the
production models. Nevertheless there must have been cars with four,
as in the 'Hobby edition' of July 1961 they are clearly recognisable.
Behind the foot panel underneath the backseat, there are two supports
(girders) made out of thin plates. They were once attached to the
rocker panels. In the production cars VW omitted these senseless, as
in being too weak, details. Another characteristic for the early
models, albeit not specific for the pre production series, are the
rear popout windows. When opened, the frame is connected to the
window, whereas the seal is attached to the body. From chassis number
0015000 (I 'll have to look up the exact number) the seal is attached
to the window and frame. As is correct for a pre 63 type 3, the car
has instruments with red needles. The fully chromed glovebox lock can
be locked. Did they really have these in the pre production cars only?
At least three others are around as new parts. Who else has any of
these in his type 3?? In the front luggage compartment there are some
surprises. The fuel tank is grey and not black and the fuel sender
unit was, according to the mark, produced in February 1961, although
the first parts catalogue from VW dates the start of parts production
on April 1961. The paperboard upholstery is grey and smooth, not with
the impressed chequered pattern of later models. It gets even more
interesting in the rear luggage compartment. The famous 'torque
support' (that's what VW called the rear engine mount in the swing
axle cars, underneath the engine lid) has a completely different shape
compared to the later cars. Not much more can be said about this as
half of the left rear body and left rear wing have been replaced after
collision damage. In the front luggage compartment there was one of
the original rear reflector housing. It's blue and has no draining
hole at the bottom, that's why these things rusted through so quickly.
Only later VW made a draining hole so the steel wouldn't rust anymore.
On number 54 however the housing is made of cast aluminium. Also the
tail light lenses are different. As you all know, the flat lenses come
in two sizes. They differ about 3mm in height and fit all units of the
shortnose {there is no real English equivalent to a 'kurzschnauzer' ,
it signifies the old type 3 as opposed to the late types with longer
nose, Theo}. On this early type three there is even one lens left,
however without any indication of the size. The other one was probably
destroyed in the crash.
For sure there must be many differences between this car and the
production series that one overlooks in the short time of a photo
shoot. The changes are noticed by those in the know anyway. Yet, Jonas
Uhland from Finland spotted the interesting details of this car. How
this blue car ended up in Finland is virtually impossible to track
back. From Paul 'the Puppy' Medhurst of type 3 detectives in Great
Britain, club member Patrik Dickman from the USA heard about this car,
bought it unseen and had it transported to Germany. At the moment the
ruins of the car has an uncertain future as the owner can't ship the
car to the USA for personal reasons.
It is going to be very difficult to get this type 3 back in it's
original state. The one year only bumpers are not to be found for love
or money. A second 62 car as parts car is necessary as the original
body is beyond repair. Everything, from the engine to the floormats
(which are missing by the way) and the original seatcovers, is
different and hard to get. That's why this number 54 is a case for the
real freaks. Who dares ? Seriously interested people can turn to
Patrik or the editors of 'Der Grosse Volkswagen'. The fun won't
definitely be cheap!
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