HI Everybody!
Has someone some info about the assembly plant in Victoria that shut down in the 70th.....(The VW Museum in Germany called it a CKD Production)
I am after info about my 1962 Standard VW..which was assembled there(no alu stripes..no glovebox lid,no trim around the rear window..)
So could someone help?
Thank a lot
borgie
Yep it stop producing VWs in 1976, and started Datsuns about then.
what is it you want to know ???
Full manufacturing ceased here in March 1968 and reverted back to CKD.During the changeover a lot of '68 Beetles were imported as whole cars.In September of 68 all the presses were dismantled and shipped to Brazil. Yes the last CKD Beetle was built in late 76 and sold sometime early 77-I remember reading about it a few years back in one of our Mags.My records show that from '53 to '77 there were 260,055 beetles sold here.That doesn't sound high enough to me.
Rod and Lloyd Davies from Melbourne have put a book together on the Australian VW's...they did a lot of research on the Clayton factory....they went over to Germany to get detailed info...it was on microfich over there at the museum...there was not enough info out here for them to fill the holes
The book should be out late this year....they'll be taking orders at the DOVW
....no glovebox lid in a 62!!! Wonder why? Very weird...
sounds like a 1300 Custom (or the povo pack) no chrome and no glovebox lid:beer
Yeah if you didn't want a Glove Box Lid or chrome you could save about $200.
BAJA NOW FITTED WITH A FULL FLYING REBUILD
sounds like a 1300 Custom (or the povo pack) no chrome and no glovebox lid
they were STANDARD models not custom
It's now the HSV factory!
Pay your debts, CxxT
Hi
They made Bug & dattos on the same production line.
Steve
I don't think anyone mentioned it borgie, but CKD is "Completely knocked down" which means the cars came in kit form almost, built there to be assembled here.
Yes NISSAN Bought the old Volkswagen Australasia Plant at Clayton in Victoria...
The Custom came out AFTER the standard Beetle...
The standard beetle was bloody horrible.....
A dark silver painted bumpers & hubcaps....
No glovebox lid.... No Chrome at all....
Then the "Custom" arrived with its STAINLESS STEEL Bumper blades... no over riders... still no chrome or glovebox lid....
I'm not sure about the Custom hubcaps.... They weren't the same as the standards terrible dark silver paint....
maybe bright silver... just cannot remember...
The one chromed item I can remember on the "Custom" was the chromed "CUSTOM" badge on the rear engine lid...
the deluxe had 1300 deluxe badge on the rear...
Does anyone know what a CKD Car looked like before it was assembled....
that sure looks like a Datsun 1600 sedan - Beetle then an early type 3 variant.... all on the one assembly line....
circa 1968-69-70?? guessing....
I did read where the last Beetles were made [assembled] in the Now "Nissan" factory.... in Clayton --
Assembled in 1976 and the last sold in 77...
But type 3s finished after 1973 model....
Lee --
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---
I've been chasing that book for about 5-6 years....
there is a copy at a Library in Victoria...... can't remember where.... I did talk to one of the authors last year and was told that a New Edition with more info was to be published last year... and the publisher by email.... Good to see its finally happening... thanks Jenz
Lee
jenz58 wrote:Rod and Lloyd Davies from Melbourne have put a book together on the Australian VW's...they did a lot of research on the Clayton factory....they went over to Germany to get detailed info...it was on microfich over there at the museum...there was not enough info out here for them to fill the holes
The book should be out late this year....they'll be taking orders at the DOVW
[quote/]
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---
Interesting.
Actually Lee, the book Jen is referring to is a NEW book, that has been worked on for the past year (?).
The one you are most likely referring to has been around for a few years and was half authored by Phil Matthews who is on this site.
Always good to have more books though
😀
68AutoBug wrote:I've been chasing that book for about 5-6 years....
there is a copy at a Library in Victoria...... can't remember where.... I did talk to one of the authors last year and was told that a New Edition with more info was to be published last year... and the publisher by email.... Good to see its finally happening... thanks Jenz
Lee
jenz58 wrote:Rod and Lloyd Davies from Melbourne have put a book together on the Australian VW's...they did a lot of research on the Clayton factory....they went over to Germany to get detailed info...it was on microfich over there at the museum...there was not enough info out here for them to fill the holes
The book should be out late this year....they'll be taking orders at the DOVW
[quote/]
Part of Melbourne's Unreal Aircooled VW Community
Volkswagen Australia found after its drastic slide downwards in sales during 1966 and 1967, ceased local production at Clayton, Melbourne, and resumed CKD assembly (completely knocked down) during 1968. This is when Datsuns and Volvo cars also commenced CKD assembly along side VWs under the nuetral new name of Motor Producers (owned by VAG). However, several hundred imported 1500 Beetles (including 'stick shift models) filled the expected sales gap. The Beetle continued production until 15 July 1976 when the last Beetle left the 'body drop' section of the production line, producing 260055 Beetles and selling up to March 1977. Nissan took complete control of the Clayton plant on the 1st April 1976(does this make them April fools?) and Volkswagen vehicles continued limited production into 1977.
In 1962 an more austere version of the VW 1200 sedan was offered to the public, and was known as the 'Standard' (model 112). Essentially it was identical to the locally produced VW 1200 sedan without glove box lid, side trim, lack of chrome and sparse interior trim. It also lacked a steering damper.
when did the Victorian plant start assembling beetles?
Heidi - 1960 White Beetle
'65 Kiwi Ghia
:tree
June 1954 is when FULL assembly commenced at Martin and King Pty Ltd
Thats very penny pinching producing the standard Beetle with No Steering Damper....
The standard Beetle looked terrible, even when New with No chrome strips but a painted stripe and painted hubcaps and bumpers...
The Custom was a much better looking car with stainless steel bumpers without over riders....
Lee
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---
Jay_1965vw wrote:Actually Lee, the book Jen is referring to is a NEW book, that has been worked on for the past year (?).
The one you are most likely referring to has been around for a few years and was half authored by Phil Matthews who is on this site.
Always good to have more books though 😀
That would be correct, as its been out of print for many years and is being reprinted after an update....
as usual its past its deadline.....
Lee
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---
Any more photos of the Production Line in Australia???
Its still got Me beat, how 3 or 4 [or more] different cars could be made on the same assembly line.....
The logistics of it is mind blowing.....
and no computers back in those days.....
How did We do anything without Computers??
Lee
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---
The new book previously mentioned has lots of photos of the plant, inside and out. The nightmare of Beetles, Kombis, Type 3s, Volvos, Datsuns and Merc trucks all together must have indeed been a huge logistical nightmare. The new book seems to give many answers.
68AutoBug wrote:Jay_1965vw wrote:Actually Lee, the book Jen is referring to is a NEW book, that has been worked on for the past year (?).
The one you are most likely referring to has been around for a few years and was half authored by Phil Matthews who is on this site.
Always good to have more books though 😀
That would be correct, as its been out of print for many years and is being reprinted after an update....
as usual its past its deadline.....
Lee
No, Lee.
This is a new book by different authors.
As far as I know, Phil's book is not being revised at the moment, although I could be wrong about that.
I saw a copy of the Davies' new book a week ago and it looks fantastic. BLKBUG has put up a thread in here with an order form.
http://www.aussieveedubbers.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=33097
[Edited on 19-12-2004 by Jay_1965vw]
Part of Melbourne's Unreal Aircooled VW Community
