In the August 73 Safer Motoring there's their first 'ancient beetles register' list and Tony states that it's a 1951 and the chassis number is 1-0433703
(Which makes it early 53!)
:wink:

Dont suppose you would mind looking for our 55?

In the history an old owner says that he sent off for her to be in the ancient beetles register but he could not get hold of the august edition!

She would be down as a 54 (they were a bit off!:wink: ) Registration SDV 551, brown

The owner would be a Mr Perham!

Would really appreciate it if you would have a look for me! :d

Thanks!

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Only one thing that puzzles me thru' all this what possible reason would Tony have had to falsify the year of his cars production.

Because the car he had in the seventies and beyond was an early '53 but the car that started the mileage claim was a '50 or '51 that he brought back from Germany. At some point between 1951 and 1970 the original cars identity was passed to a later model to continue the high mileage claim.

The story about it being a prototype was probably fabricated to explain its being a zwitter built in 1951.

That's my guess anyway... :?

Mike

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Only one thing that puzzles me thru' all this what possible reason would Tony have had to falsify the year of his cars production.

He was an odd guy.

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Maybe Rattletrap is on its way to the Wolfsburg museum having been bought by VW.:?
It says near the end of the magazine article on the previous page that Tony says there is a place ready for it there :wink:

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Maybe Rattletrap is on its way to the Wolfsburg museum having been bought by VW.:?
It says near the end of the magazine article on the previous page that Tony says there is a place ready for it there :d

Must be true then.:d

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In the August 73 Safer Motoring there's their first 'ancient beetles register' list and Tony states that it's a 1951 and the chassis number is 1-0433703
(Which makes it early 53!)
:wink:

I have a September 1975 copy of Safer Motoring which contains 'List No5' of the Ancient Beetles Register. This is the earliest edition I seem to have. However it gives the dates of the magazines in which the four earlier parts of the Register appeared as being:
List 1 - August 1974
List 2 - September 1974
List 3 - October 1974
List 4 - December 1974

There were obviously even later lists in subsequent issues.
I wonder where all these cars are now?

Because the car he had in the seventies and beyond was an early '53 but the car that started the mileage claim was a '50 or '51 that he brought back from Germany. At some point between 1951 and 1970 the original cars identity was passed to a later model to continue the high mileage claim.

The story about it being a prototype was probably fabricated to explain its being a zwitter built in 1951.

That's my guess anyway... :?

Mike

I´d bet your right on the mark with this. Would explain a lot - a "prototype" that no-one else has ever heard of for example.

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.....
I wonder where all these cars are now?

I know :wink:

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Because the car he had in the seventies and beyond was an early '53 but the car that started the mileage claim was a '50 or '51 that he brought back from Germany. At some point between 1951 and 1970 the original cars identity was passed to a later model to continue the high mileage claim.

The story about it being a prototype was probably fabricated to explain its being a zwitter built in 1951

To have notched up enough miles to have the idea of replacing the first worn-out car with another must have been into the 1970's at a guess.

But back then, it must have been difficult to find a replacement black split-window Beetle anywhere other than Germany:?

As we know it's so much easier today to find these cars with the internet to use, but even now the car is usually abroad somewhere so you've got the hassle of getting it back:?:

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As we know it's so much easier today to find these cars with the internet to use, but even now the car is usually abroad somewhere so you've got the hassle of getting it back:?:

Before the internet we had Exchange and Mart, even in the eighties there was at least one oval window beetle in there most weeks usually selling for between £50 - £100. Split window Beetles showed up too but at over £400 they were out of my price range. :wink:

Mike

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I wonder where all these cars are now?

I think all this talk proves that a good on-line data base of preferably but not exclusive to, UK registered Vintage VW's is needed.

Would be fab to look at a website with Beetle's, Buses, Ghia's and T3's from say pre-53, 53-57, 57-64 and 64-67 depicting known or unknown cars, last sighting, where known > photos, original colour, chassis/engine numbers etc and owners story's, perhaps a car a month? Could even include those that got away like my Southampton scrapyard Oval.

Anyone fancy setting one up with me?

As we know it's so much easier today to find these cars with the internet to use

Certainly helpful but it can still be limited. I've been trying to track down the 60 RHD Cabrio I sold a few years ago. It's listed on the DVLA website but that's as far as I can get!

Before the internet we had Exchange and Mart, even in the eighties there was at least one oval window beetle in there most weeks usually selling for between £50 - £100. Split window Beetles showed up too but at over £400 they were out of my price range.

I remember trawling through the Expand and Fart – it was never easy to get a split-window Beetle. It's easier today but not a breeze either. Ads for these were very scarce, some were still abroad anyway and description was not always accurate and there were no pictures either. Ovals were common though, but they were sold in the UK of course. And as for getting a split in a certain colour…[-x

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Found a couple more taken on that day at Stonor which incidentally was 1986, not 87 as I'd previously posted.

I think all this talk proves that a good on-line data base of preferably but not exclusive to, UK registered Vintage VW's is needed.

Would be fab to look at a website with Beetle's, Buses, Ghia's and T3's from say pre-53, 53-57, 57-64 and 64-67 depicting known or unknown cars, last sighting, where known > photos, original colour, chassis/engine numbers etc and owners story's, perhaps a car a month? Could even include those that got away like my Southampton scrapyard Oval.

Anyone fancy setting one up with me?

Sounds great!

I've often thought about how useful and interesting it would be to have some sort of registry, but I wouldnt have a clue how to set one up!:wink: :lol:

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but I wouldnt have a clue how to set one up!:wink: :lol:

I've got all the ideas Will, just need someone young who knows HTML!

I've got all the ideas Will, just need someone young who knows HTML!

HTM What?:wink:

Im pretty good with computers but when it comes to code and hosting a website it is waaayyyy past me!:lol:

But love the idea and would love to help, probably more with ideas however!:lol: :wink:

What are you thinking? A big long list with for instance a photo, reg number and year, then a link that you can click on to find out more about that specific car?

Also I suppose a search function for if you are trying to look up a specific a car! I would just quite happily sit there all day scanning through them, looking at pictures!:wink:


Just think, a new online "ancient Beetles" register!:d :wink: 😎

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I remember trawling through the Expand and Fart – it was never easy to get a split-window Beetle. It's easier today but not a breeze either. Ads for these were very scarce, some were still abroad anyway and description was not always accurate and there were no pictures either. Ovals were common though, but they were sold in the UK of course. And as for getting a split in a certain colour…[-x

I have little doubt that the illustrious Mr Levy would have thought nothing of hopping across the Channel to the Fatherland to look out a replacement black split in the days when they were rather more plentiful. :wink:

Mike

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I have little doubt that the illustrious Mr Levy would have thought nothing of hopping across the Channel to the Fatherland to look out a replacement black split in the days when they were rather more plentiful.

If that's so, he was a bit stuck for choice as he came back with apparently the wrong model:!:

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If that's so, he apparently was a bit stuck for choice as he came back with the wrong model:!:

But he made up a good story to disguise the fact! :d

Mike

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