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Sat Oct 03, 2009 10:05 am

I would like to know what everyone is talking about when they refer to he 'Cornerstone' VW's?

I have a feeling they were from a parade, but does anyone care to explain it better?

Thanks
Jake

Sat Oct 03, 2009 10:44 am

the ceremony in which they laid the cornerstone for the factory to build the first cars.

Sat Oct 03, 2009 2:56 pm

I wrote an article about the 1938 Cornerstone Ceremony in the July 2009 issue of Hot VWs magazine.

Check It Out :!:

Sun Oct 04, 2009 9:06 am

BTW, I scanned the 1938 Cornerstone Ceremony article. Send me a PM and I can e-mail you a copy of the article :wink:

Sun Oct 04, 2009 11:22 am

They are refering to the prototypes that were present during the ceremony.

1 sedan and 1 cabriolet.

Sun Oct 04, 2009 12:29 pm

plus one car with a roll back sunroof.

fourboxers wrote: They are refering to the prototypes that were present during the ceremony.

1 sedan and 1 cabriolet.

Sun Oct 04, 2009 2:49 pm

all 3 in living colour:

2 in black, 1 in grey !

Sun Oct 04, 2009 4:11 pm

Actually the VW Convertible was a very dark red color . . . .

Mon Oct 05, 2009 6:03 am

Hacksaw-BoB wrote: Actually the VW Convertible was a very dark red color . . . .

Are you sure about that? The highlights on the vert and the sedan look identical.

Mon Oct 05, 2009 9:06 am

I agree that the Cabrio looks black and perhaps the colors of the photo are off as this was an introduction of Kodak Kodachrome color film of the time.

It has been documented many years ago with information from newspapers and attendees reporting the event of the KdF Cornerstone cars and their colors.

Mon Oct 05, 2009 5:08 pm

Time for someone to dig up an original story on the event!

Mike

Hacksaw-BoB wrote: I agree that the Cabrio looks black and perhaps the colors of the photo are off as this was an introduction of Kodak Kodachrome color film of the time.

It has been documented many years ago with information from newspapers and attendees reporting the event of the KdF Cornerstone cars and their colors.

Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:02 pm

From an aesthetics point of view it would make sense to have all three cars the same color -OR- to have each of them a different color. Having two black and one dark grey just doesn't look right unless they were trying to make a point that the grey car is the "base model" and the other two are more luxurious being a sunroof and a full convertible.

Looking at the photos it really looks like the sunroof and the vert are black, but it would be great to see refference of the vert being dark red.

Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:04 pm

Hacksaw-BoB wrote: .... perhaps the colors of the photo are off as this was an introduction of Kodak Kodachrome color film of the time.
Looking at the pic above, the film had no trouble reproducing red.
Sorry, but you're gonna have to do a lot more than just saying it's a red car.

Tue Oct 06, 2009 1:34 am

My Burgundy car looks black when it is dark or cloudy, but that's well lit. It looks like the Vert could be Black and the sunroof car Dark Blue as a guess.

Mike

Bruce wrote: Hacksaw-BoB wrote: .... perhaps the colors of the photo are off as this was an introduction of Kodak Kodachrome color film of the time.
Looking at the pic above, the film had no trouble reproducing red.
Sorry, but you're gonna have to do a lot more than just saying it's a red car.

Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:38 am

On my screen the sunroof looks to be a VERY dark red or burgandy. With it beside the vert it looks like a trick on the eye by appearing black.
I always thought it was black? Any other proof it's red?

Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:58 am

There are some big ass red flags reflecting everywhere in that pic.

Wed Oct 07, 2009 10:38 am

Yes, but those flags are bright red cloth. Here we are talking about a possible dark burgundy, highly polished paint finish. And those pictures are 70 years old!

Although both cars look black to me, you never know, I mean, we have been dissecting these old cars for most of this year, and a few surprises have come along - some great info has surfaced.

Wed Oct 07, 2009 12:20 pm

The colors of the old Kodachrome film appear to be off. The green plants and trees are too dark. What about the guy standing in back of the Cabrio wearing black. That black suit makes the Cabrio look like a very dark burgundy (red) :?:

Wed Oct 07, 2009 12:53 pm

VW did not even know what color to paint the factory's prototype re-creations. Everyone who was alive at the time, and who had worked on the actual cars...................... forgot. :?

Wed Oct 07, 2009 1:00 pm

Hacksaw-BoB wrote: The colors of the old Kodachrome film appear to be off. The green plants and trees are too dark. What about the guy standing in back of the Cabrio wearing black. That black suit makes the Cabrio look like a very dark burgundy (red) :?:

I can see your point, but, the problem is that the sedan looks like the exact same color as the vert. So either they were both black or both deep red?!