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Thu May 22, 2008 11:22 am

Does it exist?

Does anyone have any info or pics?

Thu May 22, 2008 11:29 pm

Of course they exist. Both RHD and sunroof options started before zwitters.

Fri May 23, 2008 9:02 am

There are more around than were ever made. :wink:

Fri May 23, 2008 9:13 am

53 0val wrote: There are more around than were ever made. :wink:

I had to think about that one for a minute...

Fri May 23, 2008 11:48 am

Sat May 24, 2008 1:05 pm

Bruce wrote: Of course they exist. Both RHD and sunroof options started before zwitters.

Ever seen one?

Even a pic of one?

Sat May 24, 2008 5:10 pm

55reasons wrote: Bruce wrote: Of course they exist. Both RHD and sunroof options started before zwitters.

Ever seen one?

Even a pic of one?

Ever seen any documentation that says they don't exist?

Sat May 24, 2008 5:18 pm

I"m thinking in the 80s a guy named Supanich (sp?) in Marin County had more than one that met that description, but like Bob, I'm not clear whether they started out that way.

Sat May 24, 2008 5:21 pm

Well, that's a tough one. I've got a book covering Australia and it only mentions 33 RHD Ovals that were sent there. I'd have to think that the RHD market was pretty new in 1953. Instead of the question being "Prove they don't exist" I'd ask the same question, show me some pics of real RHD Zwitters. I'm also curious about this question..... not converted, REAL 8)

Mon May 26, 2008 4:33 am

As far as Australian cars are concerned, I think the official import started with the oval in 1953, so officially no splits including zwitters were ever brought into the country. Any earlier cars were private imports and most were converted to RHD upon arrival. Also a sunroof is a rare option in Australia for some reason. Somehow I don't think you are likely to find such a beast in original form in OZ.

Mon May 26, 2008 7:02 am

Bruce wrote: 55reasons wrote: Bruce wrote: Of course they exist. Both RHD and sunroof options started before zwitters.

Ever seen one?

Even a pic of one?

Ever seen any documentation that says they don't exist?

I'm not getting your rationality here.

I thought it was a pretty straight forward question.

Again, if you're so sure they exist I'm sure you have seen one?

Eh?

Mon May 26, 2008 11:13 pm

55reasons wrote: Bruce wrote: 55reasons wrote: Bruce wrote: Of course they exist. Both RHD and sunroof options started before zwitters.

Ever seen one?

Even a pic of one?

Ever seen any documentation that says they don't exist?

I'm not getting your rationality here.

I thought it was a pretty straight forward question.

Again, if you're so sure they exist I'm sure you have seen one?

Eh?
I don't get your logic. What makes you think VW decided not to offer the sunroof option in RHD cars built between Oct 52 and Mar 53?

Tue May 27, 2008 4:40 am

Undis wrote: As far as Australian cars are concerned, I think the official import started with the oval in 1953, so officially no splits including zwitters were ever brought into the country. Any earlier cars were private imports and most were converted to RHD upon arrival. Also a sunroof is a rare option in Australia for some reason. Somehow I don't think you are likely to find such a beast in original form in OZ.

All true, however I thought the first imports were '54. I know of one '53 RHD 3-fold here in Australia, but it ain't a zwitter :( Splits are few and far between in Australia.

What about the UK market? Much more likely to find one there I would have thought.

Wed May 28, 2008 9:16 am

Bruce wrote: 55reasons wrote: Bruce wrote: 55reasons wrote: Bruce wrote: Of course they exist. Both RHD and sunroof options started before zwitters.

Ever seen one?

Even a pic of one?

Ever seen any documentation that says they don't exist?

I'm not getting your rationality here.

I thought it was a pretty straight forward question.

Again, if you're so sure they exist I'm sure you have seen one?

Eh?
I don't get your logic. What makes you think VW decided not to offer the sunroof option in RHD cars built between Oct 52 and Mar 53?

O.K. You win.

Now that I have been informed that they are so logical and common, could you "pretty please" point me to a photo of one?

Wed May 28, 2008 10:51 am

Another likely source is the Irish Republic. RHD Split VWs were built in the Republic as Knock Down Kits.

Wed May 28, 2008 2:37 pm

John Moxon wrote: Another likely source is the Irish Republic. RHD Split VWs were built in the Republic as Knock Down Kits.

Thanks! I'll look in to it!

Thu May 29, 2008 8:59 am

First official imports to New Zealand were in 1954. Prior to this they were private & no zwitters.
The first few shipments were RHD German assembled and I believe there may have been two 3 folds in those shipments of which one still exists.There is also a later (1968 from the UK) private import 54 RHD 3 fold German assembled which we have just finished restoring.

By 1955 production then moved to CKD with a mix of local Australian & German parts.

My personal theory is that sunroofs were not supplied CKD as there are virtually no sunroof models in NZ & it appears in Australia - unless they are German assembled either special order or private imports. (This option would probably have presented some production problems CKD as there would be so few being produced).

Wed Jun 04, 2008 1:02 pm

Ivan Fuller wrote: First official imports to New Zealand were in 1954. Prior to this they were private & no zwitters.
The first few shipments were RHD German assembled and I believe there may have been two 3 folds in those shipments of which one still exists.There is also a later (1968 from the UK) private import 54 RHD 3 fold German assembled which we have just finished restoring.

So, (and I'm not being a total dumbass), is your statement above saying that there were no zwitters imported, but you have just restored a 54 Zwitter that was imported in 68? Or is it just a 3 fold Oval? <-- (yes I know the years of the Zwitter before you comment on that. lol) But I have to throw things in like that cause I have a New Zealand CKD car that was painted a color not "in the books" when it was assembled.

I have been trolling the forums around the world since I posted this and have not been provided yet with a pic or POC for a RHD 3 fold Zwitter.

I got pretty close in Ireland, but no cigar. (thanks John!)

Bruce? Any wise ass assumptions for me? :lol: j/k :wink:

Wed Jun 04, 2008 1:17 pm

i have seen one and may have some old pics (before digital) that i will try and scan. the owner at the time tried to buy my distributor off of my 53 oval at the show we were at. now whether it is original or not is a completely different question. :D

Wed Jun 04, 2008 1:21 pm

53 Oval and I just traded some books on NZ and AU VW history and I would say that 53 RHD Ovals are very rare in both of these countries, add the ragtop feature and you're even more rare, add the split window and I just don't know....

Again, show me some pics and documentation and I'll believe it....