One can only assume that during the period the car was in the U.K. it was repaired to keep it on the road. We have to take into account the fact that during the 60's and 70's this car would have been worth very little. Ask Bob Shaill, Jim Murray, Sean Meehan, Chris Clarke or Roger Beasley and they will tell you how Splits were available for £50 to £100 and no one really cared, bar the serious VW enthusiasts. So what we would today class as the holy grail was not seen as such back then and so you wouldn't go to the extent to 'restore' the car as you would now. Take a look at the classifieds in any copy of Safer Motoring from the early 70's and you'll wish you had a time machine so you could go back and snap up all the bargains!
So, if this car doesn't meet with you high and exacting standards or originality, you should perhaps take into account these facts, plus the fact that John Jones has explained what the car 'is' and that it was not 'restored' to perfection. I think this is obvious when you look at the price... To properly restore a '47 (including purchase) would be a LOT more.
Equally, very few VWs of this vintage would actually be free from rot, damage or updates. Most are like Trigger's broom!
If you look at the car Traugott and Christian Grundmann are currently re-creating you have to admit that they have very little of the original car - but is the most talked about car of recent times. The fact they are bringing it back is what matters, and that they will happily share it with us.
My opinion, for what it is worth, is that this '47 is what it is, an early car which has survived over 60 years and will be a joy to see here in the UK. Sure it's probably had as many panels worked on as most 1972 1200 Beetles on the road today, but who really cares - it's a 1947 VW that spend most of it's life in the UK and is no coming back!
I, for one, can't wait to see it!