Hi
Just stripping my 60/61 bug down getting ready for paint and noticed a blue ckd stamp behind the dash and one by the washer bottle.
I was to believe that from 1960 on the beetle was 100% manufactured in Clayton Melbourne and not from knock down kits supplied from Germany .
Has this stamp any signifigance on how my bug was built ?
thanks in advance
Tony
do you have a picture of the stamp
Hi
Hopefully this picture will shed some light ?
Tony
Well the 1960 Beetle was indeed the first model to be 'manufactured' in Australia (as distinct from assembled), but it wasn't 100%.
It was a gradual process to increase the local content, which VW had agreed to do from 1960 to meet the government's 'Plan A' minimum tax requirements - this required a local content above 90%. It couldn't be done straight away. Two separate factory expansion projects were started, the second larger one in 1964 to build a non-ferrous foundry to make alloy parts. VW was hoping to reach the 90% figure by 1965 and even 95% by 1967. However in reality local content didn't get above 80%, and Plan A was dumped in 1968.
The simpler panels like the floorpan, roof, sides, doors, bonnets and mudguards were the first to be locally pressed. It may have taken a year or two for all the body parts to be fully locally stamped, with a mix of Aussie/German panels for a short time. Still, that doesn't explain your CKD stamp, which must have been applied AFTER the car was painted. I can't think of a reason they would have done that for an otherwise locally manufactured vehicle built after 1960.
Can you narrow down when your car was built? You say 1960/61 - do you know which it is? What's the chassis number? What is the date stamp on the back of the speedo? Also check each of the five wheels - there are date stamps on the centres in between the wheel bolt holes. I'm wondering if yours is slightly older than you think?
I have been reading a book called "Volkswagen in Australia. The Forgotten Story, by Rod Davies & Lloyd Davies".
This is verbatim from the book and refers to the early 60's ;
"Locally manufactured Sedans and Type 2s were now growing in local component content, as VWA worked towards its second phase of exporting Australian-made CKD packs or built-up units to the Pacific and South-East Asian countries. The organisation experienced anti-German attitudes at some ports and docks, leading to minor vandalism."
"The best trophies are stone chips"
1969 1500 Beetle "Otis"
2008 Golf GTI
Speedo stamped 11/60
Wheels 5/60
Chassis nmber 3273817
50/50 tailights
its a 60/61 for sure !
Maybe it's an Aussie CKD that has found its way back from wherever it was exported to, it could be an interesting story.
"The best trophies are stone chips"
1969 1500 Beetle "Otis"
2008 Golf GTI
The plot thickens ! I was led to believe by the 2nd owner the car was originally a NSW car from new.
