TheSamba.com :: View topic - Did any 49's or 50's come with suicide doors?

Tue Jan 24, 2006 11:25 am

Hi. I'm pretty new to the forum. I tried the search function with no luck. I know of a 49 beetle with 70K miles not in this country. It has the original running drivetrain, interior, and paint. The car I was told is not rusted out and the body is in great shape with original paint. It has only had one owner since it was imported. I believe the car belonged to a person that was a member of a vintage car association in the country where it's located.

Does anyone know if VW may have produced the car with the suicide doors?. From the info I received this morning, it seems that the car may have come that way. Or is there a way that I can get in touch with VW in Germany to find out?.

Any help would be appreciated.

Tue Jan 24, 2006 11:26 am

Tue Jan 24, 2006 11:35 am

thebucket wrote: nope

4 door Rometch split window taxis had suicide doors, I believe.

Tue Jan 24, 2006 12:17 pm

2splits wrote: thebucket wrote: nope

4 door Rometch split window taxis had suicide doors, I believe.

Yes, but only the back doors I think

Tue Jan 24, 2006 12:27 pm

2splits wrote: thebucket wrote: nope

4 door Rometch split window taxis had suicide doors, I believe. come on kevin :D Thats like asking if anybeetles came with radiators then saying the 05's do. He never said coachbuilts, etc....

Tue Jan 24, 2006 12:34 pm

thebucket wrote: 2splits wrote: thebucket wrote: nope

4 door Rometch split window taxis had suicide doors, I believe. come on kevin :D Thats like asking if anybeetles came with radiators then saying the 05's do. He never said coachbuilts, etc....

Well, Romy taxi's had them in the back.

The poster did not specify any information other than it was a split VW with suidice doors. That is the only instance where this could be the case (unless it was a D&S - which it clearly is not).

Tue Jan 24, 2006 12:37 pm

2splits wrote: thebucket wrote: 2splits wrote: thebucket wrote: nope

4 door Rometch split window taxis had suicide doors, I believe. come on kevin :D Thats like asking if anybeetles came with radiators then saying the 05's do. He never said coachbuilts, etc....

Well, Romy taxi's had them in the back.

The poster did not specify any information other than it was a split VW with suidice doors. That is the only instance where this could be the case (unless it was a D&S - which it clearly is not).

from the factory :?:

Tue Jan 24, 2006 12:45 pm

thebucket wrote: 2splits wrote: thebucket wrote: 2splits wrote: thebucket wrote: nope

4 door Rometch split window taxis had suicide doors, I believe. come on kevin :D Thats like asking if anybeetles came with radiators then saying the 05's do. He never said coachbuilts, etc....

Well, Romy taxi's had them in the back.

The poster did not specify any information other than it was a split VW with suidice doors. That is the only instance where this could be the case (unless it was a D&S - which it clearly is not).

from the factory :?:

It came from the Romy factory that way.

Tue Jan 24, 2006 1:29 pm

I hope to find out soon if it could be like the one pictured. But as far as I know so far, it's a standard beetle.

Thanks for the input. I'll know more in the next few days hopefully.

Tue Jan 24, 2006 1:49 pm

only VW factory built vintage VW with suicide doors are Kubelwagens. The rest are coacbuilt or one-off custom mods.

Tue Jan 24, 2006 2:07 pm

Kubel Nick wrote: only VW factory built vintage VW with suicide doors are Kubelwagens. The rest are coacbuilt or one-off custom mods. Thanks Nick my point exactly

Tue Jan 24, 2006 2:43 pm

thebucket wrote: Kubel Nick wrote: only VW factory built vintage VW with suicide doors are Kubelwagens. The rest are coacbuilt or one-off custom mods. Thanks Nick my point exactly

But you are not really being useful to the poster, now are you?

Perhaps he has a 4 door Romy that he has info on, does your comment really provide any information or help to the guy?

I never said VW sold splits with suicide doors. However, there are indeed, period correct cars that have suicide doors.

Wed Jan 25, 2006 9:06 am

All the early prototypes up to 1938 had suicide doors. Ther first not to have them was rhe 60K7, ther 7th prototpe model, when they did a major redo of the body design, and were referred to as the VW38 series. They were also the first bodies to have the split rear window .

Officially all the earlier cars were destroyed. But various parts have shown up over time, mostly chassis which had ended up being used under later bodies for test purposes and eventually made it into private ownership.

If this fellow has a pre 1938 body with suicide doors he has really got something. Its possible, but not probable. Anything else with suicide doors are one offs or coachbuilt.

NB Citroen was working on their 2CV at the same time and just before the war they officially destroyed all earlier prototypes - at least 3 have survived - one complete car, hidden in the false factory ceiling for a "time test on corosion" hidden by a factory engineer. 2 others were really old water cooled prototypes and were used by Michelin tire factory as factory mules until the fifties and survive in cut up form bodywise. I think that 3 more may be known, of the last prewar model, used by factory people to flee the Germans and abandoned/hidden in barns. You never know.
Eric

Wed Jan 25, 2006 9:11 am

All the early prototypes up to 1938 had suicide doors. Ther first not to have them was rhe 60K7, ther 7th prototpe model, when they did a major redo of the body design, and were referred to as the VW38 series. They were also the first bodies to have the split rear window .

Officially all the earlier cars were destroyed. But various parts have shown up over time, mostly chassis which had ended up being used under later bodies for test purposes and eventually made it into private ownership.

If this fellow has a pre 1938 body with suicide doors he has really got something. Its possible, but not probable. Anything else with suicide doors are one offs or coachbuilt.

NB Citroen was working on their 2CV at the same time and just before the war they officially destroyed all earlier prototypes - at least 3 have made - one hidde4n in the false factory ceiling for a "time test on corosion" hidden by a factory engineer. 2 others were really old water cooled prototypes and were used by Michelin tire factory as factory mu8les until the fifties and survive in cut up form bodywise. I think the 3 more may be known, of the last prewar model, used by factory people to flee the Germans and abandoned/hidden in barns. You never know.
Eric

Wed Jan 25, 2006 9:29 am

2splits wrote: thebucket wrote: Kubel Nick wrote: only VW factory built vintage VW with suicide doors are Kubelwagens. The rest are coacbuilt or one-off custom mods. Thanks Nick my point exactly

But you are not really being useful to the poster, now are you?

Perhaps he has a 4 door Romy that he has info on, does your comment really provide any information or help to the guy?

I never said VW sold splits with suicide doors. However, there are indeed, period correct cars that have suicide doors. You're right Kevin. I always assume two doors unless otherwise stated. If the car is a four door he should snatch it up. There's my advice :D

Wed Jan 25, 2006 11:00 am

thebucket wrote: 2splits wrote: thebucket wrote: Kubel Nick wrote: only VW factory built vintage VW with suicide doors are Kubelwagens. The rest are coacbuilt or one-off custom mods. Thanks Nick my point exactly

But you are not really being useful to the poster, now are you?

Perhaps he has a 4 door Romy that he has info on, does your comment really provide any information or help to the guy?

I never said VW sold splits with suicide doors. However, there are indeed, period correct cars that have suicide doors. You're right Kevin. I always assume two doors unless otherwise stated. If the car is a four door he should snatch it up. There's my advice :D

Agreed!

Thu Jan 26, 2006 12:28 pm

It is amazing how everybody knows so much. Of course Rometsch taxis had suicide doors. Only other car at the time was Type 1 based amublance made by the Meisen concern out of Berlin, circa 1950-51. they were equipted with suicide doors with a rotating front passenger seat to place a stretcher. There are 2 in the States.

Sat Jan 28, 2006 12:03 pm

erioco wrote: NB Citroen was working on their 2CV at the same time and just before the war they officially destroyed all earlier prototypes - at least 3 have made - one hidde4n in the false factory ceiling for a "time test on corosion" hidden by a factory engineer. 2 others were really old water cooled prototypes and were used by Michelin tire factory as factory mu8les until the fifties and survive in cut up form bodywise. I think the 3 more may be known, of the last prewar model, used by factory people to flee the Germans and abandoned/hidden in barns. You never know.
Eric

Citroen actually found two or three more prototypes about 8 years ago. Apparently they knocked down a wall of the factory for a revamp, and they where in a secret chamber. Legend has it, they where hidden there to stop the Nazi's getting hold of them.

Sun Jan 29, 2006 6:42 am

Interesting info on Citroen. hadn't heard about the three new ones in the wall. where did you get that info?I would wonder at the hiding them from the Germans, it takes a while to build a new wall and camoflage it so that it looks old?? I might go with the engineers that hid the body in the ceiling 'for testing' they could have done more in that wall as well. When Germany invaded it was pure chaos as the french army and defences collapsed aalmost instantly and Paris was the first aim of the Germans> It also depends on the model found, if the earlier ones than not the Germans, if the very last pre-war then maybe the Germans.??

Used to run citroens, mostly DS and 2 cvs, Really liked the 2 cv . I've been out of the Citroen info link for 15 years. When I worked in Europe I was in the clubs and really followed everything. Brought about 5 2 cvs back and still have parts for an earlyish one, but it needs work - no body though.[/quote]

Sun Jan 29, 2006 6:46 am

Another question on general help:

Why do I get double entry of postings? I write one and often get two?? Don't mean to do that, but can't figure out why and it seems to happen later, because when it first posts its only one original, and the next time I check the thread there are two??