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Mon Jul 19, 2004 3:56 pm

I have an April, '51 car. Can anyone tell me the exact date and/or chassis # the Wolfsburg crest started? Thanks, J.G.

Mon Jul 19, 2004 4:09 pm

i believe the hood crest started in 1949? maybe late 1949.

Mon Jul 19, 2004 4:11 pm

jfpvw wrote: i believe the hood crest started in 1949? maybe late 1949.

Not true. It was in 51 sometime, not exactly sure when.

Mon Jul 19, 2004 4:13 pm

ok, i thought i remember reading that somewhere, but i stand corrected. thanks for the correction kevin.

Mon Jul 19, 2004 4:16 pm

4/12/51.

Mon Jul 19, 2004 4:17 pm

Does the car have Crotch Coolers?

Mon Jul 19, 2004 4:21 pm

You say 4/12/51. My car is a 4/10/51, making this very important to me. Do you have a chassis #? Any elaboration greatly appreciated.Right on, Jim

Mon Jul 19, 2004 4:22 pm

No crotch coolers. ( German car).

Mon Jul 19, 2004 4:24 pm

I can get you something later tonight when I got home. I have a book with day-to-day changes but I'm at work right now. It shows changes by chassis number.

Mon Jul 19, 2004 4:25 pm

Jim Greenfield wrote: No crotch coolers. ( German car).

German cars didn't have crotch coolers? Are you sure? Is it a standard model?

Mon Jul 19, 2004 4:34 pm

I have two '51's. One is an April 10 car, not for export, it stayed in germany, but is a deluxe. It has no crotch coolers. I have extensively looked for any sign of work done but there is none. (It's in the shop now getting a resto). The original color is still down there. ( Bordeaux red). My other car is a Sept. 5th car, with crotch coolers, a deluxe, and sent to Sweden. Iv'e even stumped Lenny with this one! Trippy, huh? Any ideas?Anyway, it gets no window trim but it might get a crest, making it very rare week or two of production. Jim

Mon Jul 19, 2004 5:35 pm

Not sure if this will help, but found the following doing a Google search:

1951

Chassis #220472 to 313829. Chrome garnish molding added to windshield. Wolfsburg crest added to front hood above handle. Vent flaps added to front quarter panels on export models. Double-acting telescopic shocks replace rear lever shocks. Glove box door now standard on convertibles. One heavy valve spring replaces the two used before.

Rob

Mon Jul 19, 2004 7:07 pm

This is gospel right here....this is a from a book with piece by piece changes from 49 into the 60's. TRUST ME ON THIS. The chassis numbers are a bit out of order for some reason but the dates are all there. If you know the date of your car, I would go off of that!

I stand corrected...the trim was April 12th:

Here you go:

April 1, 1951 - Chassis 243-731 Wolfsburg crest added

April 10, 1951 - Front emblem made of deep drawn sheet metal (formerly made of aluminium)

April 12, 1951 - Chassis 244-668 - Windscreen with ornamental frame

April 13, 1951 - Chassis 241-638 - Ventilation flaps (crotch coolers) fitted

Good luck!

Mon Jul 19, 2004 9:50 pm

DAMN KEVIN!!!

You're like The Monk of The Samba.

Outstanding!!!

What book has this information?

Can you provide a title and publish date?

-Lemorris

Mon Jul 19, 2004 11:06 pm

Kevin you're right. An early 51 will not have crotch coolers. I passed on one because of this. 55bundt (ryan) brother Josh bought that early 51 from yustrn. It didnt have crotch coolers either. I want to say the crest apeared when crotch coolers started.
Also, there are 2 styles of crotch coolers, one with a inner cover (later) and one without (earlier) you can see right out of the screens from inside the car. Suprisingly my car has no rear inspection opening above the tranny either. mine must be a later PRE zwitter 52.

Tue Jul 20, 2004 6:28 am

lemorris wrote: DAMN KEVIN!!!

You're like The Monk of The Samba.

Outstanding!!!

What book has this information?

Can you provide a title and publish date?

-Lemorris

Thanks Bro. Thats how we do it at the JHC.

The book you want is called "Progressive Refinements". You can't get it at a bookstore. But copies come up on ebay from time-to-time. Usually about $30-$45. WORTH IT. Its was basically some dudes job to write down all of the changes at the factory day-to-day. Then they typed them up in a book, and wham there you have it. It has never been wrong for me. Good luck!

Tue Jul 20, 2004 8:16 am

What years does the book cover? Just earlies, or through the sixties and on? Sounds like a great book to have!

Tue Jul 20, 2004 8:29 am

I think very early 60's. I have to check when i get home.

Wed Jul 21, 2004 2:53 am

Thats some nice info you got there Kevin. Nice to see someone who not only owns VWs, but knows all about them and the history behind it..

Wed Jul 21, 2004 6:07 pm

2Splitwindows wrote: This is gospel right here....this is a from a book with piece by piece changes from 49 into the 60's. TRUST ME ON THIS. The chassis numbers are a bit out of order for some reason but the dates are all there. If you know the date of your car, I would go off of that!

I stand corrected...the trim was April 12th:

Here you go:

April 1, 1951 - Chassis 243-731 Wolfsburg crest added

April 10, 1951 - Front emblem made of deep drawn sheet metal (formerly made of aluminium)

April 12, 1951 - Chassis 244-668 - Windscreen with ornamental frame

April 13, 1951 - Chassis 241-638 - Ventilation flaps (crotch coolers) fitted

Good luck!

Kevin, what's the name of your book?