Date: 25th June 1949
Convertible type 15 (Karmann)
The VA has so far received the following 2 test vehicles:
15-1 Delivery on 3/6/49
Current milage 6,382 km
15-2 Delivery on 8/6/49
Current milage 5,834 km
During the short testing period of only 3 weeks, approximately 32 causes for complaint were found. Some of these points are serious and concern the doors, back and folding top of the Karmann type. The floor and front reinforcements that both Karmann and Hebmüller required in accordance with our suggestions yielded relatively positive results in the comparatively short test run. This evaluation, however, is subject to the reservation that the test run distance is still relatively short.
Test runs of the Karmann type, insofar as it differs from the Hebmüller type, could only be started recently and yielded clearly negative results during the short testing period. This fact has forced me to decline responsibility for constructing and selling additional type 15 convertibles of the design that has been delivered up to now, until a sample vehicle in which these weaknesses have been sufficiently remedied can be tested to enable us to prove that customers can expect sufficient durability from this convertible body.
During a meeting with Dr. Feuereissen, Mr. Orlich and Mr. Schick, it was determined that under the present circumstances, selling the Karmann convertibles with the current defects in the door, back and folding top is out of the question.
We have decided on the following so as not to lose even more time:
1 - Test runs will go on for the two test vehicles 15-1 and 15-2 to continue testing the durability of the reinforced floor and front.
2- In addition to the 25 demonstration vehicles already ordered, Dr. Feuereissen will immediately order an additional type 15 sample vehicle. Karmann will give top priority to the production of this vehicle, which will already include the improvements required for the door construction, back and bow of the folding top in the series fabrication type. Test runs will begin as soon as the vehicle arrives, i.e. before the end of the month.
As with type 14, test runs will continue until the vehicle breaks apart, in order to ascertain the total service life.
3 - The VA will try to cover a test run distance of 5,000 to 10,000 km with this vehicle by mid-July. If the improvements presently required for Karmann prove to be sufficient, we will immediately OK production of the 25 demonstration vehicles. I expect these 25 vehicles to be available for the Sales Department by 1/8/49.