Type 3 Production in Australia

7 posts · joined Dec 2011 · 6 Feb 2012, 3:05 pm

#885449

Hi guys

I'm not down under, but I was trying to get a handle on global production of Type 3's, and it appears everything I've been told is not the truth...?

TheSamba, Wikipedia, Type3registry, etc. all say about 2.588 million Type 3 were produced, but Wikipedia has an interesting statement that implies that was just the ones produced in Germany. This led me to question that the half million made in Brazil (which are not quite like the other Type 3's in the world, like some have 4 headlights, etc) might not be counted in that 2.588 million number, especially since Brazil produced Type 3's after 1973, and that's not listed in the 'official production'.

Then for Christmas, I got this book, "Volkswagens of the World" by Simon Glen, and apparently Type 3's were also produced in Australia, completely from 63-68, then as CKD until early '74. In there he says that VW made nearly 3.5 million Type 3's between Germany, South Africa and Australia (apparently Brazil is again a separate number).

Unfortunately he doesn't give any production numbers for Australia or South Africa, so I was hoping somebody here might be able to shine some light on that.

Burrelli Officially Full-On Dubber

244 posts · joined Oct 2008 · 6 Feb 2012, 8:26 pm

#885510

Here is part of Australian production to 69 when CKD started.

58camper wrote:Guys,

This has developed into an interesting thread and not being a Type 3 devotee of any strength I was hoping the following information may be of assistance to the discussion. The numbers are extracted from the ex Factory Clayton production numbers for all vehicles manufactured in Australia.

Aussie production volumes for early Type 3s out of Clayton up to the end of 1968 were;

316N Notch 1011 units from 1/66 to Dec/68
316S Notch 9645 units up to Dec 67 ( Nil 316S were produced in 1968
312S Fastback 6168 units up to Dec 68
366 V31 Squareback Variant 9264 units to Oct 68
366 V30 Squareback Variant 516 units to Aug 66 when last one was produced. (Not sure what the V30 option was but could have been sunroof.)

There was a number of 1600 imported units with 4 of the EA197 Models in the country and through production by August 1968.Volumes started to pick up in September with 149 units completed on the production line and ready for sale.
Hope these numbers assist.
contrybuggybill

vwjon Fahrvergnugen

914 posts · joined Jul 2006 · 6 Feb 2012, 8:53 pm

#885520

dont forget that in 69 oz had the oz only 69 notch (not sure about other models) which had the early body shell on the late pan, a true cross over car, no idea of numbers tho (i have 1 if that helps)

3 1959 cadillacs
1 musso
2 early notchbacks
2 split kombis
2 split panels
1 split ute
1 low light panel
1 ex-pmg bay
1 country buggy
1 beetle ute
1 14" syncro caravelle
1 16" syncro doka
1 golf cabrio
1 vw camper trailer
2 3meter bombs

empi Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,131 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 7 Feb 2012, 1:40 pm

#885638

vwjon wrote:dont forget that in 69 oz had the oz only 69 notch (not sure about other models) which had the early body shell on the late pan, a true cross over car, no idea of numbers tho (i have 1 if that helps)

Errr that would be a 68-69 early body and later pan

"If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you." - Anonymous 🥷

67fasty Casual Dubber

31 posts · joined May 2006 · 8 Feb 2012, 9:09 pm

#885916

55,000 units were 'assembled' at Clayton according to the Davies/Davies 'VW in Australia' book. Production ending Nov. 73.

This figure would include mainly CKD vehicles (they maxed out at about 60% local content) so a portion of this number may be included in the German stats.

nerf herder Learner Dubber

7 posts · joined Dec 2011 · 13 Feb 2012, 1:59 pm

#886706

Thanks guys. Not the huge numbers I was hoping for. Apparently about 26K up to '69, then about 29K afterwards. I guess your production was for your country, and not really exported to neighboring countries, at least not in large numbers.

So: 2.588 million in Germany, "almost" 3.5 million worldwide claimed by Simon Glen, 55K (or 26K, depending who counts the CKDs) in Australia...=> ~800K made in South Africa from 1963-1970? Seems like quite a few, especially considering Brazil only made 460K from 1968-1981. (Brazil's are apparently not part of the 3.5 number, if Simon Glen has that right).

nerf herder Learner Dubber

7 posts · joined Dec 2011 · 17 Feb 2012, 2:59 pm

#887375

Okay, I got the numbers from VW of South Africa, they weren't much more than Australia. So here's the final tally, from the best of my understanding:

• 26,600 Australia ('63-'69): 10,660 notches (halfbacks); 6,170 fastbacks; 9,780 squarebacks. Then another 29,000 CKDs which I assume are counted as German made
• 38,232 South Africa ('63-'69)
• 1,339,100 German notchback/fastback (type 31)
• 1,202,900 German squareback (type 36)
• 42,500 German Type 3 Karmann Ghia (type 34)
• 431,750 Brazilian Type 3's ('68-'81), didn't follow the German body types exactly, they kind of did their own thing

So that's a total of 3.08 million Type 3's worldwide, 2.65 million if you don't count Brazil. That's my best understanding, but I might be proven wrong.

To help keep track of what's surviving, it would be helpful if you register your car at http://www.type3registry.com/, if you haven't done so. (I'm not affiliated with it, but obviously I appreciate statistics. There's a pretty good registry for type34's and from that they estimate maybe 5% of the razor Ghias still survive today).