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Rome Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2004 Posts: 9654 Location: Pearl River, NY
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Posted: Sat Jun 20, 2015 1:43 pm Post subject: Early 411 2-door Sedan in EFA Museum, Bavaria |
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Last week I was in Bavaria, Germany on business. On the weekend I drove to the EFA car museum in the village of Amerang, about 40 miles east of Munich near the Chiemsee. The fully-original appearing 411 is deep sea green with beige cloth interior. Since it does not have a day/night mirror nor mid-body side chrome trim (at least not at all on the driver's side) indicates a base 411 instead of a 411L. Unfortunately the information plaque did not list any specifics about this particular car, only about the entire model production range. Seems to be missing the factory polished alu wheel trim rings .
Yellow car in background is an NSU Ro80 with the Wankel rotary engine.
Here are links to this very well done museum which I highly recommend to spend a few hours; it also has a huge model train setup-
http://www.automuseums.info/germany/efa-museum-german-automobile-history
http://www.efa-automuseum.de/home/ |
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Mike Fisher Samba Member
Joined: January 30, 2006 Posts: 17970 Location: Eugene, OR
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Rome Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2004 Posts: 9654 Location: Pearl River, NY
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Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2015 12:46 am Post subject: |
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Absolutely. The cars range the entire spectrum from basic to extravagant and rare over the decades- from a '20's Hanomag Kommissbrot to a Mercedes-Benz SS, a '30's BMW Dixi to am M-B 540K and a Horch Woodie wagon , from little known '50's microcars such as a Kleinschnittger to a M-B 300SL gullwing; and a '60's Glas V8 coupe.
Other ACVWs were a sea blue ~'64 notchback 1500 S, a brownish-bronze colored late Karmann Cabrio with 5.5" ATS wheels, a mouse grey ~'51 standard Beetle, a '70 silver Karmann Ghia cabrio, and a dark grey Kuebelwagen. |
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kgarchivinusa Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2007 Posts: 172 Location: Wolfsburg, Germany
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Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2015 8:09 am Post subject: |
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Cool pictures, thanks for sharing.
It looks like a Luxus version with some missing parts. The "L" version came always with the rubber stripe on the bumpers and the side marker lights.
Greetings Lutz _________________ 1958 Ghia Coupe aerosilver/graywhite
1966 Ghia Coupe lotoswhite/black pigalle
1968 sunroof bug savannah beige
1968 VW 411 4-door royal red
1968 VW 411 L 4-door cobaltblue
1988 Porsche 924S Targa alpinweiss
(O = i = O) Karmann Ghia rassig und charmant [hot-blooded and charming] [O o\ i /o O] |
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Rome Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2004 Posts: 9654 Location: Pearl River, NY
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Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 3:04 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for clarifying, Lutz. The mid-body side trim was my guessing point that it might be an "L". I first checked theSamba archives for 1968 and 1969 411 brochures but did not come to a definite conclusion. Actually I did not even know that a 2-door was offered in those years.
When I was taking the photos I remembered that you have a very early 411 as well. Have you not yet been to this museum? I realize WOB is nearly at the other end of the country; I lived there for 3 years myself in '80 thru '83. |
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Lahti411 Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2005 Posts: 223 Location: Lahti, Finland
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Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 3:30 am Post subject: |
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Did you guys know that there was a "luxury" package available as an optional extra? The luxury trim package included the same exterior chrome trim as the L-versions.
There were also some extras you couldn't buy for the basic models like the adjustable head rests for example. And i believe the basic models always had rubber matting and the carpets weren't available for them even if you were willing to pay extra.
But ofcourse in a 40 years old car there might be lots of changed parts even if they looked like they were factory standard. I have adde lots of original extras to my 1972 Variant and only someone who really knew these cars could say those are not original _________________ My cars: 1972 VW 411 Variant; 1973 VW 412 4d sedan |
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raygreenwood Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2008 Posts: 21520 Location: Oklahoma City
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Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 3:49 am Post subject: |
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The packages appeared to be very mixed over here in the US...probably meaning the dealers (like they are now)....were willing to sell you anything they can on top of the baseline package you bought....and simply install it on site. Ray |
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Lahti411 Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2005 Posts: 223 Location: Lahti, Finland
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Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 4:07 am Post subject: |
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I beleive the U.S. cars were always the "L"-spec with chrome trim and wider front seat back rests etc. In the U.S. market they just weren't marked that way but only as VW 411 or 412. Even the wagon versions didin't have the "Variant" script in their tail gate. _________________ My cars: 1972 VW 411 Variant; 1973 VW 412 4d sedan |
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raygreenwood Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2008 Posts: 21520 Location: Oklahoma City
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Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 4:17 am Post subject: |
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Lahti411 wrote: |
I beleive the U.S. cars were always the "L"-spec with chrome trim and wider front seat back rests etc. In the U.S. market they just weren't marked that way but only as VW 411 or 412. Even the wagon versions didin't have the "Variant" script in their tail gate. |
Thats probably spot on correct. I just have never seen a 411 or 412 here in the US with different seats or without chrome trim or without adjustable head rests or complete trunk lining.
Actually I have seen one.....it was a late 69 or early 70...two door with four speed. I bought it as a package deal in the late 80s with a 1500s type 3 and a 1969 fastback. They were all three total rusted out had been sitting in a field near a stream since the mid 70s.
I harvested parts. The type 4 had the 40mm slave system but the earlier 1st gear wynchro system.....and no chrome....and low back seats. Ray |
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Rome Samba Member
Joined: June 02, 2004 Posts: 9654 Location: Pearl River, NY
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Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 9:58 am Post subject: |
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Looking at my first photo you can actually read the info plaque listing the car as a 411 L. With the rear seat backrest center armrest clearly visible, that coincides with the info that Lutz presented above.
Lutz- I can imagine that those early headlamp surround chrome trim rings are nearly "unobtainable"?
The fact that the mid-body chrome side trim did not utilize drilled holes for the retaining clips led me to believe that the trim might've been self-adhesive, something quite new in the auto industry at the time. I doubt very much that the holes would've been filled in prior to a possible repaint, since the car appears very original otherwise. |
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kgarchivinusa Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2007 Posts: 172 Location: Wolfsburg, Germany
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Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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In September 68 the option list was very limited
M 050 Control light 2 way brake system
M 089 Safety windscreen
M 093 Pop out (only 2-door)
M 095 Radio "Wolfsburg"
M 097 Radio "Emden"
M 102 rear window defroster
M 172 Radial tires
M 174 White wall textil tires
M 237 outside trim
M 244 rear window tainted (sun protection) (not with M 102)
M 560 sun roof
M 561 vent windows in the front doors
M 562 reclining seats
M 563 backseat with middle armrest
The original "belt" trim was installed with the clip 113 853 585 C (36 pc)
Hope everything is correct translated _________________ 1958 Ghia Coupe aerosilver/graywhite
1966 Ghia Coupe lotoswhite/black pigalle
1968 sunroof bug savannah beige
1968 VW 411 4-door royal red
1968 VW 411 L 4-door cobaltblue
1988 Porsche 924S Targa alpinweiss
(O = i = O) Karmann Ghia rassig und charmant [hot-blooded and charming] [O o\ i /o O] |
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