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Tue Nov 07, 2006 5:49 am

Which markets got the small "Made In Western Germany" tags that sit in the brake fluid well area?

I thought it was only cars exported or CKD, and I certainly didn't see any on OG ovals when I lived in Germany for years.

Anyone know what they were fitted to and why?

I know the 55 and older cars had "Made In Germany" - the "Western" bit came later until 57?

Did vans come with these too?

Tue Nov 07, 2006 11:23 am

My March 56 has the Made in Western Germany tag.

Tue Nov 07, 2006 11:44 am

The only part of this question I can answer is that Canada and the United States got strictly German A/C dubs.
Even when Mexico was cranking them out, VW did not want to take any chances with their biggest market, so only German cars were imported.
Perhaps the tags were their way of being sure the Canadian/US consumers were aware of this?

Tue Nov 07, 2006 7:11 pm

i have a 56 as well, and it has this plate.

Tue Nov 07, 2006 7:11 pm

Neither my '56 or my '58 have this badge, but they are both from Germany.

Tue Nov 07, 2006 11:41 pm

I thought the "Made in Western Germany" tag was for cars made after the Berlin Wall was erected in 61 (since there was no 'Germany' and 'West Germany' prior to and after The Wall).

:?:

Wed Nov 08, 2006 1:42 am

Riff Raff wrote: The only part of this question I can answer is that Canada and the United States got strictly German A/C dubs.
Even when Mexico was cranking them out, VW did not want to take any chances with their biggest market, so only German cars were imported.
Perhaps the tags were their way of being sure the Canadian/US consumers were aware of this?

Good point.

However - I got a replacement tag at the weekend and the seller got it off an abandoned car in Portugal - a long dried up source of rustfree early VW parts.

So the list so far is:

US
Canada
Portugal
Australia

Wed Nov 08, 2006 2:16 am

V0LKSWAGENSRULE wrote: I thought the "Made in Western Germany" tag was for cars made after the Berlin Wall was erected in 61 (since there was no 'Germany' and 'West Germany' prior to and after The Wall).

:?:

Not at all. Many products made in Western Germany, not just VWs, had Made in Western Germany pressed into them. Talk to the vintage VW toy collectors.

Western Germany and West Germany references go back to the late 40s on all sorts.

Wed Nov 08, 2006 2:16 am

According to Bob Wilson's Authenticity book, Bugs between 1955 and 1959
got the 'Made in WESTERN GERMANY' plaques.

My July '57 oval has one. The birth certificate i got from Wolfsburg states that it was exported to Austria.

Wed Nov 08, 2006 2:21 am

M.I.B wrote:
So the list so far is:

US
Canada
Portugal
Australia

Add Austria thanks to Druid.

Any Kiwi or South African CKD oval owners out there?

Wed Nov 08, 2006 2:30 am

I'll have to check my UK '59 when I get home, I know I have either 'Made in Western Germany' or 'Made in Germany' I can't remember which! :oops: :)

Wed Nov 08, 2006 9:24 am

SteveW wrote: I'll have to check my UK '59 when I get home, I know I have either 'Made in Western Germany' or 'Made in Germany' I can't remember which! :oops: :)

Just checked and it has a 'Made in Western Germany' tag :)

Wed Nov 08, 2006 9:25 am

SteveW wrote: SteveW wrote: I'll have to check my UK '59 when I get home, I know I have either 'Made in Western Germany' or 'Made in Germany' I can't remember which! :oops: :)

Just checked and it has a 'Made in Western Germany' tag :)

One of the last ones then. Do you know the origin of the car from the factory? Straight to UK?

Pretty sure I haven't dseen any UK ovals with these on.

Wed Nov 08, 2006 9:42 am

M.I.B wrote: SteveW wrote: SteveW wrote: I'll have to check my UK '59 when I get home, I know I have either 'Made in Western Germany' or 'Made in Germany' I can't remember which! :oops: :)

Just checked and it has a 'Made in Western Germany' tag :)

One of the last ones then. Do you know the origin of the car from the factory? Straight to UK?

Pretty sure I haven't seen any UK ovals with these on.

I don't really know that much as I haven't sent off for the birth certificate yet but it was registered on the 01/01/59 in the UK so AFAIK it is a full UK car. It was made in Oct 58 if I remember rightly, making it a 59 model year. Its a shame one of the previous owners sold the original number plate as I could of traced the history a bit more. It was given an 'A' plate after the reg was sold :roll: so I've recently re-registered it for a correct age related plate.

Wed Nov 08, 2006 11:26 am

The original body number will still be stamped in it (brake fluid reservoir area) and the original VIN will (should) still be stamped on the tunnel under the back seat.

Wed Nov 08, 2006 3:55 pm

M.I.B wrote: V0LKSWAGENSRULE wrote: I thought the "Made in Western Germany" tag was for cars made after the Berlin Wall was erected in 61 (since there was no 'Germany' and 'West Germany' prior to and after The Wall).

:?:

Not at all. Many products made in Western Germany, not just VWs, had Made in Western Germany pressed into them. Talk to the vintage VW toy collectors.

Western Germany and West Germany references go back to the late 40s on all sorts.

druid57 wrote: According to Bob Wilson's Authenticity book, Bugs between 1955 and 1959
got the 'Made in WESTERN GERMANY' plaques.

My July '57 oval has one. The birth certificate i got from Wolfsburg states that it was exported to Austria.

Cool. Thanks for clearing that up for me :)

Wed Nov 08, 2006 4:29 pm

my 58 sedan has it.

Wed Nov 08, 2006 5:41 pm

beetleboy58 wrote: my 58 sedan has it.

Which version? Germany or Western Germany?

Wed Nov 08, 2006 11:13 pm

Just checked my '56 convertible. It has a "Made in Germany" plate on it.

Wed Nov 08, 2006 11:14 pm

Alan Willis wrote: Neither my '56 or my '58 have this badge, but they are both from Germany.

The '56 should have one. Someone probably removed it.