Ovalbug
14 years ago
Very interesting thread.....:d
Going slightly OT for a minute though, the talk of the first 1953 'batch' of 945 officially imported vehicles interests me as my own oval was delivered to VW Motors London in Sept of that year.
Does anyone have any info on how VW Motors actually sold these UK cars back in '53?
I'd always imagined the cars being sold in drips and drabs throughout '53, with the March cars being sold and then replaced by the April-built cars etc and so on.....
If this wasn't the case were the cars sold by the dealers to special order or were they all available to UK customers ex-stock?

:wink:
'63 Karmann Ghia RHD
'72 1302LS Karmann Cabrio RHD
Standard split
14 years ago

Very interesting thread.....:d
Going slightly OT for a minute though, the talk of the first 1953 'batch' of 945 officially imported vehicles interests me as my own oval was delivered to VW Motors London in Sept of that year.
Does anyone have any info on how VW Motors actually sold these UK cars back in '53?
I'd always imagined the cars being sold in drips and drabs throughout '53, with the March cars being sold and then replaced by the April-built cars etc and so on.....
If this wasn't the case were the cars sold by the dealers to special order or were they all available to UK customers ex-stock?

:wink:

Ovalbug wrote:



I believe that Colbourne Baber, VW dealers in Guildford, Surrey (still there) were among the first official VW dealers in 1953. They started reconditioning and selling used VWs bought over by ex-servicemen in the late '40s, LHD of course :wink:



Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook!
:d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378 
Rattletrap
13 years ago
Here's a very interesting photo; this is MRT 308 being unloaded onto UK soil at Dover, April 1952 – a new right-hand-drive Volkswagen.:thumbup:

So, VW Great Britain, this pre-dates your first batch of right-handers in 1953.:p
 MRT Arriving at Dover Apr1952.jpg You have insufficient rights to see the content.
Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook!
:d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378 
Rich Oakley
13 years ago

Here's a very interesting photo; this is MRT 308 being unloaded onto UK soil at Dover, April 1952 – a new right-hand-drive Volkswagen.:thumbup:

So, VW Great Britain, this pre-dates your first batch of right-handers in 1953.:p

Rattletrap wrote:



Great pic John. Where did you get it from?
47 Beetle, 56 UK Karmann Cabriolet, 56 UK Beetle, 57 UK Type 2, 59 UK Beetle, 66 UK Fastback.
Rattletrap
13 years ago
A worker within the VW factory in 1952 a Rudolf Mez, retired to Canada back in 1979. I managed to trace him, he was a great guy and sent me everything he had and knew about MRT, including some fascinating photos.:beer:

See my post about him on the lower part of page 1.

Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook!
:d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378 
Rattletrap
13 years ago
Here's a real treat. MRT 308, brand new in the UK and just registered, seen here with the proud new owners (April 1952).8)
 MRT New-rear.jpg You have insufficient rights to see the content.
Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook!
:d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378 
59 Ragtop
13 years ago
Mike Peckham
13 years ago
yes, great pic. Do you know where it was taken? Would have been great to take the car back there and set the scene up again.

I love that sort of provenance with a car - early photos are a real treasure!

Mike
July 1957 UK supplied RHD Oval. 1972 World Champion Beetle. 1978 UK supplied RHD 1303LS Cabriolet. 1973 UK supplied RHD 1303s.
Rattletrap
13 years ago

Great pic8)

59 Ragtop wrote:


Thanks:!:

yes, great pic. Do you know where it was taken? Would have been great to take the car back there and set the scene up again.

I love that sort of provenance with a car - early photos are a real treasure!

Mike

Mike Peckham wrote:


Walberswick, Suffolk, Mike. MRT is a bit like having our own VW38. I used to show that car everywhere, always very popular.

I'd love to have it back. Be nice for it to be back on the scene.8)
Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook!
:d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378 
GKL 7
13 years ago



I'd love to have it back.

Rattletrap wrote:




Is it still with Fred?Contact him,you just never know.
Thats who owned my old cabrio,and he sold that.
Rattletrap
13 years ago

Is it still with Fred?Contact him,you just never know.
Thats who owned my old cabrio,and he sold that.

'50 Karmann wrote:


Email just gone off to him George…

I'm having my house valued tomorrow, and the Tatra has gone in the 'Motoring Expand and Fart' :unsure:

Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook!
:d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378 
GKL 7
13 years ago

Email just gone off to him George…

I'm having my house valued tomorrow, and the Tatra has gone in the 'Motoring Expand and Fart' :unsure:

Rattletrap wrote:




I see,so you really meant.....
I wish i could have it back at the price i sold it........Er!OK:bored:
Rattletrap
13 years ago

I see,so you really meant.....
I wish i could have it back at the price i sold it........Er!OK:bored:

'50 Karmann wrote:


:?: :?
Be nice, wouldn't get an Oval project for that today.
Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook!
:d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378 
59 Ragtop
13 years ago

Indeed, buy it back. :wink:
55Kab
13 years ago

Indeed, buy it back. :wink:

59 Ragtop wrote:



x2

Do it!

Rattletrap
13 years ago

Indeed, buy it back. :wink:

59 Ragtop wrote:


The email went, the house is up for sale and I'm awaiting his reply…:roll:


Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook!
:d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378 
GKL 7
13 years ago

The email went, the house is up for sale and I'm awaiting his reply…:roll:

Rattletrap wrote:




What's Fred's e-mail add John,if he's selling cars,i'll have his Heb.
Steady Rob,i was first:wink:
Rattletrap
13 years ago

What's Fred's e-mail add John,if he's selling cars,i'll have his Heb.
Steady Rob,i was first:wink:

'50 Karmann wrote:


Doesn't he have a KdF Wagen too, George.:sneaky:

Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook!
:d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378 
GKL 7
13 years ago

Doesn't he have a KdF Wagen too, George.:sneaky:

Rattletrap wrote:




Yep
And a Kuble and a swimm.
Rattletrap
13 years ago

Yep
And a Kuble and a swimm.

'50 Karmann wrote:


Mmm… a serious player here.:unsure:

Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook!
:d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378