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Thu Sep 22, 2005 10:10 pm

I'm trying to determine when they actually cut off the Bordeaux Red color. I have an April 10, '51 car that was that color originally.

Fri Sep 23, 2005 5:10 am

I think it ended with the '51 model year. Progressive Refinements says something about that I think.

I know they used it in '50 :wink:

Fri Sep 23, 2005 6:22 am

JH is correct. 1950 was the last year for Bordeaux Red as listed in the VW color charts. (But those things have been wrong before. :wink: )

Fri Sep 23, 2005 7:28 am

Here you go: :D

1948-1949
perlgrau L21, schwarz L41, dunkelblau L32, militärfarben.
7/1949-5/1950
pastellgrün L11, mittelbraun L78, bordeauxrot L51; Standard: perlgrau L21, schwarz L41.
5/1950-4/1951
pastellgrün L11, mittelbraun L78, bordeauxrot L51, schwarz L41; Standard: perlgrau L21, dunkelblau L32.
4/1951-7/1951
pastellgrün L11, kastanienbraun L73, sandfarbe L90, azurblau L36, schwarz L41; Standard: perlgrau L21, dunkelblau L32

Fri Sep 23, 2005 11:04 am

Thanks, Hebster. I know a couple of books say through March '51, you seem to think through April? Any late April cars out there Bordeaux Red? Right on

Sat Sep 24, 2005 10:27 am

Remember that back in the early '50's, VW's model year went from Jan 1 thru Dec. 31... Coincided exactly with the calender year.

Sat Sep 24, 2005 10:41 am

Rome wrote: Remember that back in the early '50's, VW's model year went from Jan 1 thru Dec. 31... Coincided exactly with the calender year.

THats true, except color changes did not correspond with end of model years.

Sat Sep 24, 2005 11:23 am

Rome wrote: Remember that back in the early '50's, VW's model year went from Jan 1 thru Dec. 31... Coincided exactly with the calender year.

Well, in -52 the modelchange came in October (The Zwitter), in -53 the first oval in early March. Again in -55 the major modelchange came in early September... So I'm not really sure what you mean? :?

The changes before -52 is not that easy to date because they just came along as they improved some detail or something...

Wed Oct 05, 2005 3:44 pm

"Well, in -52 the modelchange came in October (The Zwitter), in -53 the first oval in early March. Again in -55 the major modelchange came in early September... So I'm not really sure what you mean? "

The various posts above clarified my thoughts- I did not realize that the VW factory phased in many changes in the Split Era during the calender/model years (except for 9/52!) - I'll need to re-read the "Car of the Century" book.

Wed Oct 05, 2005 5:02 pm

Rome wrote: "Well, in -52 the modelchange came in October (The Zwitter), in -53 the first oval in early March. Again in -55 the major modelchange came in early September... So I'm not really sure what you mean? "

The various posts above clarified my thoughts- I did not realize that the VW factory phased in many changes in the Split Era during the calender/model years (except for 9/52!) - I'll need to re-read the "Car of the Century" book.

The 52 model year ended in December 1952. Tons of changes happened monthly. For example, crotch coolers, wolfsburg crest, etc, were added in the middle of April 1951. There was really no distinction between model years. When they wanted to make a change, they made it.