I was driving through Coffs Harbour last week, on my way to Batemans Bay, and just as we were headed out a split window beetle passed us on a trailer. It was white, and had ratty looking paint.
Anyone know who's it was? Looked so cool.
You probably spotted us at the side of the road being defected by highway patrol

That would be me.
That was the last of my cars that I have moved up north (about 30 trips) after moving from Sydney to Yamba 3 years ago.
It's a 1946 Split, obviously in original very used condition.
Were you in a ute, i vaguely remember the highway patrol

Grazza

Quote:

Originally posted by BlackBug You probably spotted us at the side of the road being defected by highway patrol

I was in the Hyundai Van parked just up from the cops. It was one of the other vehicles in our convoy that got done.
A shorty hilux painted up like a US sheriffs car.

The splitty looked pretty tidy though. Definately caught my attention

Blackbug, Does this look like the ratty split Beetle that you saw on the trailer heading north ?
My understanding that this vehicle may have been the ex Kangaroo Island Beetle that came out for evaluation in the late forties from the VW factory and was sold together with another 1946 Beetle at auction by Government Stores Dept in February 1949.
Grazza,
I thought the vehicle ended up with Andrew in South Australia and I am aware that a full restoration is currently well advanced.
Are they two separate cars and if so what is the history of the white one.?
countrybuggybill

Blackbug,
yes, I remember the hilux well, it had the sheriff star on the door. It really looks like a target for the police, that ute.
I saw it later that day on the road so figured they left the plates on it.
Grazza

Bill,
The one in your picture was my 1945 Beetle that, as you state, was brought in for evaluation and sold by the Government Stores Dept.
It is therefore allegedly, the 1st Beetle to ever come to Australia.
I bought it many years age in Melbourne after it had been found on Kangaroo island. It was brought to Melbourne and advertised as an old Beetle.
Turned out to be a Typ 51 after I sent the numbers to VW Germany.
It has gone to Andrew in SA where it is being restored.
The one seen in Coffs is my 1946. I saw this beetle in the late 80's in the background of a documentary on 60 Minutes which was about a Captain Maurice Seddon.
I tracked the car down in London, bought it and had it sent out here.He had travelled extensively through Europe in it and slept in it as well. It is ratty from use.
Make a great restoration or ratty project for someone one day.
Thanks for your interest Bill.
Grazza

Grazza,
Thanks for the clarification.
It had intrigued me for a while as the 1945 now with Andrew was black but this photo of what I thought was one of the evalation cars was a different colour. I guess you gave it a squirt of protective black at some time.
Have a look at the attached photo- I believe this might be the second evaluation vehicle but dont know any of its history after the auction. Do you have any idea of what may have happened to the second car.?
I have also attached a photo of the Seddon vehicle following a restoration at your BW place I think. This should now be the car with you up the coast.?
I have also attached a document showing the differences between the early Type 11 and Type51 Beetles. This came from a Volkswagenwerk Factory Brochure that the British distributed from 1946 onwards. They may be of interest to some of the early Type 1 enthusiasts(eccentrics) on the Forum.
Bill.

Bill,
Yes, the 1945 did get a coat of ''chassis black'' just to protect it, hence the colour change.
Now, the red and white beetle is not the Seddon car!
The red and white is a '52, evidenced by the 'crotch cooler' vents on the front quarter panels. I bought this split in Adelaide during the 80's. it had beed updated to an Oval by cutting out the split pillar. This was common back in the early days.
The 1946 Beetle is still ratty to this day.
I'll take or dig up a photo.
Regards
Grazza

1946 Ratty

1946 Ratty rear end

The 1945 Split on its way to Adelaide

1945 Split on its way to Adelaide

1945 Beetle on its way to Adelaide

Wow, I want it.

Thats the one. I remember seeing the red paint where the white had peeled off.
Looks really solid, compared to that black one anyway!

Who's the Andrew that's restoring it?

Grazza, here are some pictures of your car I took back in 1989 (I think) It was pretty ratty back then aswell. Great to see it's still arround.

Undis,

great pics, thanks for the memories.

23 years ago and I still have the same car trailer!

Grazza.


Black64,

Andrew Patterson is restoring the 1945 Split

so your car is the one that had all of the gas pipes up the outside?

does anyone know what happened to the ex NZ 46/7? that was being restored at one of the vw shops in canberra circa late 90's?

Whatnow,

You might be talking about my 1949 split that I bought in New Zealand from Keith Hall Motors. It was in undercoat grey whilst I had it. I sold it in the 90's and have not heard about it since.

Grazza.

Saw that red & white split at Vics Bahn about 3 or 4 years ago dont know if it sold or not.

Henk.

1946 Ratty rear end

Grazza

What other interesting cars are in this shed,..

Any early Type 3??