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sled Samba Member

Joined: February 16, 2005 Posts: 6247
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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 9:45 am Post subject: Otto Mathe and his "Fetzenflieger" race car |
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Hello,
I am looking for any and all information about this little race car built and raced by Otto Mathe.
I am looking for any and all information. Things like wheel base, track width, frame construction photos, etc.
I know it was built with kubelwagen suspension components and a 4 cam porsche engine. How wide is a kubelwagen beam and torsion housing? Is it the same as later production beetles?
Thanks for any help!
Jake _________________ drive your split.
Last edited by sled on Thu Mar 19, 2009 8:26 am; edited 1 time in total |
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sled Samba Member

Joined: February 16, 2005 Posts: 6247
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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 9:56 am Post subject: |
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some more photos
These photos courtesy Björn Schewe
[/img] _________________ drive your split. |
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loenicz Samba Member

Joined: February 06, 2008 Posts: 24 Location: Germany
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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 11:20 am Post subject: Re: Otto Mathe Fetzen Flieger race car info needed. |
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Hello ,
here are some pics from my visit in Hamburg 2008...
Bye Jörg |
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73 KAFER Samba Member

Joined: September 02, 2007 Posts: 1385 Location: St. Marys, Pa.
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sled Samba Member

Joined: February 16, 2005 Posts: 6247
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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 11:50 am Post subject: |
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WOW thank you so much Jörg, those pictures show a few more details than Ive seen yet.
Are we looking at some sort of an anti-sway bar in this picture? The red bar underneath the body looks like it is attatched to the torsion arms
_________________ drive your split. |
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jooles Samba Member

Joined: August 29, 2008 Posts: 235 Location: Bulgaria / France
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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 12:45 pm Post subject: |
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What are those spiky things on the spare wheel on the trailer? It looks like the car itself has it on the pic with the beetle and the Berlin Rome car (not sure it's the Berlin-Rome one :p)
Ju |
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sled Samba Member

Joined: February 16, 2005 Posts: 6247
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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 12:59 pm Post subject: |
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I have read that the car was raced on the sand. I dont know if that meant on beaches, or inland sand dunes, or what.. _________________ drive your split. |
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usariemen Samba Member

Joined: August 28, 2004 Posts: 1745 Location: Germany
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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 5:21 pm Post subject: |
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sled wrote: |
I have read that the car was raced on the sand. I dont know if that meant on beaches, or inland sand dunes, or what.. |
No dunes or beaches. They had racing grounds back then wich had a sandy, earthy ground. And there where so called sandtrack races held.
Also on ice races on frozen lakes the guy was very successful. For those
he had tires with long metal spikes.
By the way. I have been today at the exibition in Hamburg where the car is on display. Actually they took the engine out for some service.
The frame might have been basically from a Kübel but was modified a lot.
Just like everything on that car is very stragely selfconstructed. Sometimes in a genial way and sometimes very weird.
For example the way the shifting rods go to the far rear end to reach the gearbox is amazing. The rest of the exibition is very worth to be visited also.
_________________ Master of my domain! |
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sled Samba Member

Joined: February 16, 2005 Posts: 6247
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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 5:26 pm Post subject: |
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WOW, thank you so much usariemen. These pictures are wonderful.
I dont suppose you happened to take any measurments?  _________________ drive your split. |
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57Drag Samba Member

Joined: July 27, 2003 Posts: 994 Location: Lawtey,Florida
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sled Samba Member

Joined: February 16, 2005 Posts: 6247
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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 10:15 pm Post subject: |
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Im sure the stock spring rate was too stiff with the vehicle being as light as it was (around 960 lbs dry without the wings)
The rear spring rate seems to be handled by the much longer spring plates, which have much more leverage on the torsion bars. Im sure it rides halfway decent for a race car. _________________ drive your split. |
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mightymouse Samba Member

Joined: May 26, 2004 Posts: 4220 Location: las vegas
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Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 10:19 pm Post subject: |
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57Drag wrote: |
Looks like they used old school pull the leaves to change the spring weight? |
Sorta. They welded them together then spaded them. To change spring rate no doubt, but interesting how they must have connected to the control arm. That id like to see.
Notice how The stack changes width in places, and looks like a different material than factory all together.
Looking at it closer, looks like the stack is factory size at the ends.. now i see
. _________________ Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.
Thomas Jefferson
Note to EVERYONE.
Know your ZDDP levels or you WILL lose a cam and lifters. |
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57Drag Samba Member

Joined: July 27, 2003 Posts: 994 Location: Lawtey,Florida
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jooles Samba Member

Joined: August 29, 2008 Posts: 235 Location: Bulgaria / France
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Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 3:18 pm Post subject: |
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Ok, thanks for the infos and for the pics!!! Very instructive!
Julien |
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sled Samba Member

Joined: February 16, 2005 Posts: 6247
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Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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bump
anyone happen to know anything else about this race car?
wheelbase measurement? _________________ drive your split. |
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Björn Schewe Samba Member
Joined: April 21, 2004 Posts: 633
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Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 1:31 am Post subject: |
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There is a very nice book of Otto Mathé on the marked with a lot of informations about the Fetzenflieger, the Berlin-Rome-Car and other interesting things of his life. Gabriele Geutebrück / Johann Kofler “Sein Herz schlug für Porsche” ISBN 3-85093-134-X |
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sled Samba Member

Joined: February 16, 2005 Posts: 6247
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Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 11:00 am Post subject: |
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Thanks Björn, I dont know how I didnt find that book in some of my searching. Oh well, Ive got a copy on order! Now I just need to remember the three years of German I took in highschool  _________________ drive your split. |
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Kilroy Samba Member

Joined: August 29, 2007 Posts: 311 Location: San Diego, CA
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Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 11:34 am Post subject: |
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Man, it would be a real kick to drive that little car!  _________________ Ruby Red '66 Sedan with Puebla built 1600DP. |
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TangoCharly Samba Member
Joined: March 02, 2009 Posts: 10
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 5:59 am Post subject: |
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sled wrote: |
Im sure the stock spring rate was too stiff with the vehicle being as light as it was (around 960 lbs dry without the wings)
The rear spring rate seems to be handled by the much longer spring plates, which have much more leverage on the torsion bars. Im sure it rides halfway decent for a race car. |
this car was and is very fast and good on the ground. it won the austrian championship in 1953, 54 , 55 and 1956. it was also unbeatable on sand and on ice!!!
I have seen the car on the Nurburgring 2 years ago overtaking a porsche 911 RSR. |
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sled Samba Member

Joined: February 16, 2005 Posts: 6247
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Posted: Mon Mar 02, 2009 8:53 am Post subject: |
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wow! another picture in use. Thank you.
do you have any more photos or informatio you can share Charly? _________________ drive your split. |
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