Australian and NZ delivered barn doors.

Ian 68

Hi all,

I'm interested in the history of Bd's that came to NZ and Aus in 54.

I believe that my March 54 was one of the very 1st buses into NZ, I'm told 5 were brought over by a dealer and sold. 2 x 11w 2 x dlx and 1 panel van.

I know from a mate in the UK the " sister " bus of my 11w is now in the UK ( mines in Aus ) and they are 5 digits apart on the chassis number.

We have a bus here in Aus, delivered here to Melbourne, over 350 numbers away on chassis number but also a March 54.

Looking at the last chassis numbers from Feb 54 to March 54 its in the region of 3713 odd...did they really build that many in a month ????

Anyone have any info on how many were actually built, how many came here to NZ and Aus and when, where they went etc etc ...I learnt something last night about my bus, by all accounts up until around mid March 54 they used 53 parts up, my bus has a little angled gusset welded from the frame horns / cradle up to the torsion housing....by all accounts this is a 53 style feature ?? Later 54 buses dont have it ??

Thanks for your help in advance.
Best
Ian

otahuhu · Samba Member Joined: July 15, 2007 Posts: 561

Hi Ian, I cant vouch for the Bdoors but my NZ new feb5 54 assembled beetle was imported fully assembled by Jowet Motors Auckland, this is verified on the birth cert. Definitely worth getting the birth cert if you want to figure this out.

Have you looked at your glass? if your bus was assembled here it would have NZ saftey glass...

Something I have noticed lately is that there are quite a few early(for nz) dated parts around ie feb/march, Ive been speculating that maybe the ckd kits were bought around that time then shipped here and assembled later in the year, which explains why there seem to be disproportionate number of early dated parts, just as guess but seems to make sense.

There is a list Ive seen here on the Samba the gives the totals of buses per country per year… Cheers…A

Ian 68 · Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 4:14 am Post subject:

RockStock · Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 4:23 am Post subject:

BD Sales info
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=162121&start=20

VW Birth Certificate
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=398
_________________
-StockRocks-

nzvwfan · Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 5:03 am Post subject:

I find it hard to believe only 18 where sold in NZ as there are 3 barndoors in my area which is the lest populated place in NZ

otahuhu · Samba Member Joined: July 15, 2007 Posts: 561

Ian 68 · Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 1:15 pm Post subject:

More great info, thanks Gents.

Hard to believe Aus got 700 + transporters in 54, thats a lot of buses. My best guess is no more than about 40 odd genuine Aus delivered left here..if it's even that many, maybe closer to 30 in reality.

700 + does seem a lot given our location and the fact that the earliest known is March 54...ships would have taken a considerable time to reach port here, still it says 700 so I guess thats right ????

Wolfsburg Classics · Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 7:06 pm Post subject:

Ian

There was more than the 5 Buses in the first delivery of NZ buses, if it was a first delivery bus, would be a March 54 for sure, and would have SEKURIT glass, German upholstery, and the door tops will have three digits stamped into the frame top that should match the last three digits of the body number, stamped behind the drivers side front of seat.

No body number and "S" NZ glass, different upholstery etc means it was assembled here from a CKD kit, and paint colour would be a NZ paint as well.....

Love to know the chassis number as I have a list here of the first delivery.....

Ian 68 · Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 8:14 pm Post subject:

Wolfsburg Classics · Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 8:35 pm Post subject:

Ian

Yes that old "DB" Bus chassis number 20-0 78XXX is a 'first delivery' bus, would have been one of the initial order of CBU buses delivered to Jowett Motors ex Germany.

Not too many of the first shipment left now.

Ian 68 · Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 8:38 pm Post subject:

Wolfsburg Classics · Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 8:42 pm Post subject:

Ian

No problem, happy to piece the jigsaw together....no point doing the research if you ain't prepared to share it.

DB was the initials of the old owner in my registry......

And CBU means completely built up, arrived as from the factory... vs CKD, completely knocked down like the locally assembled ones were....like LEGO in a wooden crate.

Ian 68 · Posted: Wed May 28, 2014 8:52 pm Post subject:

otahuhu · Samba Member Joined: July 15, 2007 Posts: 561

Ian, I am sure Tony will fill in the details but... the dealer was Jowet motors, Jowet motors became VW motors NZ later in the year when they had accreditation/stock/parts etc. There is a book called…50 Years of Volkswagens in New Zealand by Philip Coyle. Its available online, and definitly worth a read and has some great early photos of Bdoors being assembled etc.
Is the DB Dominion Breweries? maybe Tony can tell you?