Looking for info on famous 'Antarctica 1' Bug

The Bug Guy · 2011-01-11T04:24:00+00:00

Hi all. I have been on a quest of kinds, to find the well known 'Antarctica 1' Bug, used in Antarctica in 1963 by ANARE. After a few years of searching online, I have found a bit more info than some before me, however without actually coming to Austrailia for the actual search, I have gone as far as I can. My last piece of information puts the car in Seymour, around 1966. (roumered to have been scraped that year. Hope not) If anyone has any info, please let me know so the search might finally lead to reveal the cars true fate. Thank you for reading

vw144 Learner Dubber

7 posts · joined Oct 2010 · 27 Jan 2011, 12:40 pm

#823406

The Bug Guy wrote:
vw144 wrote:
The Bug Guy wrote:Thanks Phil, and Chip. Stumbled onto the Seymour address a few days back, and am doing some mapping. Unless I get any more info on locations after Seymour, the research portion of the search is coming to an end, then it will all be the physical searching for it.
Progressive Motors is still trading in Seymour as a Nissan/Subaru dealer and, I believe, still in the same family ownership as when it was a VW dealer. Why not contact them and jog their memory? My father worked for VWA in the 60s and 70s and I can recall being driven to scdhool in Antarctica 1 after they had won the BP rally. Very impressive to a 14 year old schoolboy!
you were in Antarctica 1 as a kid? Would you remember any particular details about the car, like something that could be used to identify it? (other than the paintjob and such) something that you couldnt really mistake for another cars? Just as a backup in case the physical search finds an actual car, thus I could use something unique to A1 to identify it.

Oh, thanks for the tip. I will see what I can find from them. If you know anyone else who might have info, I would greatly appreciate it if you could pass the word on to them.

My recollection (45 years later!) is that it had full racing harness seatbelts and some kind of rally navigation device mounted in front of the glovebox with the lid removed.

The Bug Guy Learner Dubber

13 posts · joined Dec 2009 · 27 Jan 2011, 2:16 pm

#823413

Thanks. This is good stuff. It will really help identify it, if my search leads to a car. And this was while the car was at the shop in Seymour? Also, would you know anyone still around who might know more about where the car went afterwords?

The Bug Guy Learner Dubber

13 posts · joined Dec 2009 · 4 May 2011, 12:28 pm

#839446

Anyone have any new info? Last post was over 3 months ago

Keats Learner Dubber

3 posts · joined May 2011 · 8 May 2011, 6:36 pm

#840260

The Bug Guy wrote:Anyone have any new info? Last post was over 3 months ago

I recently purchased a copy of the 1963 film short "Antarctica 1", produced by Cinesound for VW Australia. I'll be having it telecined at some point, and will upload it you YouTube when it's done - I'll keep you posted!

bigd Casual Dubber

22 posts · joined Mar 2009 · 10 May 2011, 7:01 pm

#840587

Hi guys , i work with a guy that worked for progressive motors in seymour for 20 years and he doesnt recall seeing any bug like that in his time there , he said about 15 years ago a heap of beetles and kombies were sqashed by a dozer and buried in the rear of the dealership yard so it could have been one of them....who knows?

58camper Wolfsburg Wizard

591 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 10 May 2011, 7:08 pm

#840588

I have several photos of the original Antarctica One sitting outside the Seymour dealership back in late 1964. The vehicle was on display as part of the Australia wide promotional tour the vehicle undertook following its return from Antarctica and running and winning the 1964 BP Rally.

Dont know any more than that at this stage.
countrybuggybill😂

The Bug Guy Learner Dubber

13 posts · joined Dec 2009 · 15 May 2011, 12:00 am

#841186

Cant wait to see the film. please do keep us informed. And hopefully it was not crushed and buried :s

Keats Learner Dubber

3 posts · joined May 2011 · 24 Sep 2011, 9:47 pm

#863734

OK - just got the film transferred on Tuesday, will upload it YouTube some time in the next 24 hours or so. Came up quite well, considering how worn the print is. The print will be going up on eBay spome time in the next few weeks, I think - I've no further need for it...

The film starts with a few establishing shots of Antarctica, then shots of the Dub undergoing final checks at the Clayton factory, then being shipped over to Antarctica, and zipping around the ice.

Here's the link to my YouTube channel

http://www.youtube.com/user/Conniptions886#p/a/u/0/i_FftkcIIdg

Meantime - anyone got any Australian VW radio or TV commercials?

annosL Officially Full-On Dubber

378 posts · joined Dec 2008 · 26 Sep 2011, 3:22 pm

#863996

Thanks for posting that film, unique bit of VW history there

Phil74Camper Head in the Clouds

2,703 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 5 Mar 2015, 8:20 am

#1009321

I have finished rewriting and expanding the Antarctica 1 VW story. which has now been posted at the Club VW Sydney website. Just click on the photos to expand.

http://www.clubvw.org.au/antarctic-vws

Unfortunately the trail of Antarctica 1 has gone cold since it was last seen at Seymour in 1966. It's very doubtful it still exists, and Bill has sadly passed away since this thread was last active. I have however been able to discover a little more about Antarctica 2 and 3.

oldskoolguy Officially Full-On Dubber

329 posts · joined Sep 2011 · 5 Mar 2015, 8:44 am

#1009324

What a great story Phil, and great pictures. The Antarctic Beetles looked great.
Many thanks for posting it.
Cheers, Rob.

"The best trophies are stone chips"
1969 1500 Beetle "Otis"
2008 Golf GTI

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 · 6 Mar 2015, 5:56 am

#1009381

I thought that Antarctica 1 was raced at Catalina rallycross in the early '70s and then scrapped?

I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

Phil74Camper Head in the Clouds

2,703 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 6 Mar 2015, 6:23 am

#1009382

No Phill, that was 'Antarctica 3', the replacement orange car. It was at Mawson from 1966-70, then returned to LNC Industries before it went to Chris Heyer and Rallycross.