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Tue Oct 21, 2014 12:50 pm

Thought we could try to unravel some of the Prototype mystery

Objectives
>Post all Prototype pics up
>Identify the different individual Prototypes (grouping the pics together)
>Attempt to reveal a little more about the 1948/1949 into 1950 story
>Gather anecdotes
>Pinpoint what happened to them
>Find one

Tue Oct 21, 2014 12:54 pm

Prominent Prototype Features

Vertical louvres
Bulbous headlight area
Flowery bumper ends shape
Chamfered bumper rib profile (inner end)
Low cab door top hinge placement (below beltline)
Single wiper (no wiper indents?)
External fuel filler
No footrest
Kdf-style central brake light
Very low taillights
No cab area central heater pipe

Tue Oct 21, 2014 1:02 pm

Two pictures I hadn't seen until today.
Thanks go to Bjoern Schewe for the pictures.

Left, Prototype 'A' (a Kombi - signwritten 'Klein-Bus'/Small Bus - single colour - white - chrome trim)
Right, Prototype 'B' (a Panel - signwritten 'Leiferwagen'/Delivery Car/Van - two tone paint - painted trim)

Where was this dealership?
Was it 1949?
How come they had two Prototypes on show?

We could initially identify them with a letter
Then look to arrange them in build order

Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:03 pm

Check out the interior of the open door on the panel bus.
And the wrinkles on the front seat fabric.

Wed Oct 22, 2014 3:23 am

Terrific pics ! the panel looks awesome in two tone. Judging from the windshield frame of the split Cab, it should be a Heb ? that still doesn't really tell the date. could be 49. I wonder about the white license plates on the buses ? maybe just factory stuff. should be black like on the beetle.
there are the little trees in the buckets, so it most probably isn't winter since they have leeaves on them. but the people are wearing warm coats and hats, so it either is fall 49 or spring 50

Wed Oct 22, 2014 5:15 am

Sonderschau - Special Show

Wed Oct 22, 2014 6:11 am

Ah, nice. Bjoern has his picture folder labelled Hartl Regensburg - which looks like it is a town in the south of Germany.

These pictures are from the 1950 brochures.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/lit/literature50busbooklet.php
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/lit/1950_lieferwagen.php

It shows a couple of Prototypes, but I'll pick on the two-tone Panel.
I'll call this one Prototype 'B1' (as there is a good chance it is Prototype B, pre-signwriting)

^Good pic for the prominent prototype features

^Same one?

^No footrest

^Two-tone

^External fuel filler

Stills from the film

^Recognisable holed decklid strengthening ribs (see Prototype D below)

Wed Oct 22, 2014 6:35 am

no escaping from the cargo area, and 2 hand operation on the left cargo door?

Wed Oct 22, 2014 6:53 am

* Low cab door top hinge placement

* from the gallery: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/771401.jpg

Wed Oct 22, 2014 6:58 am

Wed Oct 22, 2014 7:01 am

mandraks wrote:

I'll call this one Prototype D (Panel - single dark colour)
I think it's an early one. Features a lot on the road outside the Wolfsburg factory

Wed Oct 22, 2014 7:05 am

Wed Oct 22, 2014 7:08 am

Capriacci wrote:

Prototype E, top (say a Kombi - two tone paint - no interior panels - dark colour through middle)
Prototype F, btm (say a Standard - two tone paint - interior panels - dark colour on top - chrome trim)

Press Day - Nordhoff's official 'production start-up' announcement, 12th November 1949

Who has more shots from this event? Post em up!

Wed Oct 22, 2014 7:17 am

RockStock wrote: mandraks wrote:

I'll call this one Prototype D (Panel - single dark colour)
I think it's an early one. Features a lot on the road outside the Wolfsburg factory

Capriacci wrote:
Yes, thanks, going with D. Early. ^Shocking door gap. Top pic.

^Decklid inner bracing detail. Minimal!

Wed Oct 22, 2014 7:24 am

Capriacci wrote:

Thanks. Going with Prototype F

Wed Oct 22, 2014 8:50 am

RockStock wrote: Capriacci wrote:

Thanks. Going with Prototype F

That beefed-up drip rail over the front door to the rear-most window is an interesting detail.

Present on the panel as well:

Wed Oct 22, 2014 8:57 am

from: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=109148&start=740

Wed Oct 22, 2014 8:58 am

from: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2840499 (with article translation)

Prototype F, (Standard - two tone paint - dark colour on top - chrome trim)?
*with visible pinstripes

*all Prototypes with low positioning tail lights

Wed Oct 22, 2014 9:23 am

Same licence plate = Same Prototype?

Wed Oct 22, 2014 9:28 am