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RockStock
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 Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2025 10:59 am Post subject: Re: Barndoor Assembly Line Pics |
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1953
| Brian_1952 wrote: |
It appears it is just somebody’s hat sitting on top of the bus |
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finster
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| Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2025 9:27 am Post subject: Re: Barndoor Assembly Line Pics |
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^ the above photo is at the belgian D'Ieteren factory.
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EverettB 
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EverettB
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| Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2025 9:16 am Post subject: Re: Barndoor Assembly Line Pics |
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I agree it's probably 1954 since the engine has a round regulator and a 54-up distributor and air cleaner.
Note it doesn't have a "strap" air cleaner.
I believe 1954-up Buses could have come with either style.
Also the spare tire tray is not installed... That is strange since I don't think it can be installed with the fuel tank in place?
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wagen19
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| Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2025 7:18 am Post subject: Re: Barndoor Assembly Line Pics |
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| TornadoRed06 wrote: |
| finster wrote: |
photos by Willy Lehmacher, early 1953
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As above mentioned, W. Lehmacher went on to Wolfsburg to take pictures of Varta supplies, indeed there's a Varta battery fitted into this Bus, but what is that, as it looks different from the ones on the pallet of batteries at the assembly line?
Kind of supply case or annything? |
Thinking about the date of the pic, car:
Generator looks 160 W, so engine should be 30 hp, 1192 ccm, from Dec 21, 53 onwards, so early model 54 imo.
Battery: I´m missing the cover and strap. (pic reworked a bit?) Was it affixed later? The bunch of batteries showed, not on all sides is the logo. Maybe and as far as I know, there is only one logo on batteries. (Logo in bus not visable cause to the outside?) It looks, there can be a paper with "Varta" script beside the battery, for the show only, advertising in the foto. |
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TornadoRed06
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| Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2025 3:22 pm Post subject: Re: Barndoor Assembly Line Pics |
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| finster wrote: |
photos by Willy Lehmacher, early 1953
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As above mentioned, W. Lehmacher went on to Wolfsburg to take pictures of Varta supplies, indeed there's a Varta battery fitted into this Bus, but what is that, as it looks different from the ones on the pallet of batteries at the assembly line?
Kind of supply case or annything? |
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RockStock
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| Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2025 2:53 pm Post subject: Re: Barndoor Assembly Line Pics |
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1953 Panel
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finster
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| Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2024 9:23 am Post subject: Re: Barndoor Assembly Line Pics |
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| EverettB wrote: |
| finster wrote: |
could be, but you would assume export models - especially those going to america - would get the full paint treatment. home models would be lowest quality... |
Was it typical for VW or others car to "shortchange" the home market? |
rolls royce used to do this - cars/parts had three grades - ok, better, best. all the best parts went into cars for the saudis. middle grade went to usa and the home market got the passable ones.
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Who.Me?
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| Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2024 9:06 am Post subject: Re: Barndoor Assembly Line Pics |
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| finster wrote: |
| EverettB wrote: |
Your theory sound good to me.
I wonder if it was also a destination thing, |
could be, but you would assume export models - especially those going to america - would get the full paint treatment. home models would be lowest quality... |
Could it reflect the climate of the destination? (To reduce potential corrosion?)
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EverettB
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| Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2024 7:29 am Post subject: Re: Barndoor Assembly Line Pics |
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| finster wrote: |
| EverettB wrote: |
Your theory sound good to me.
I wonder if it was also a destination thing, |
could be, but you would assume export models - especially those going to america - would get the full paint treatment. home models would be lowest quality... |
Was it typical for VW or others car to "shortchange" the home market?
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finster
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| Posted: Thu Oct 03, 2024 1:07 am Post subject: Re: Barndoor Assembly Line Pics |
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| EverettB wrote: |
Your theory sound good to me.
I wonder if it was also a destination thing, |
could be, but you would assume export models - especially those going to america - would get the full paint treatment. home models would be lowest quality...
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EverettB
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| Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2024 8:26 pm Post subject: Re: Barndoor Assembly Line Pics |
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Your theory sound good to me.
I wonder if it was also a destination thing, similar to how we've seen people discuss whether later (split-case too?) transmissions were painted from the factory or not. Some are black, some are just coated, even from the same year vehicles.
My '54 Truck compartment was full primer but it was delivered to Los Angeles so maybe they thought it didn't need the extra paint back there.
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djfordmanjack
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| Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2024 6:10 am Post subject: Re: Barndoor Assembly Line Pics |
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One possible conclusion would be that each bus was designated a certain amount of paint ( ie. litres) which got filled in the paint guns. If some painter applied less paint on the body, there might have been leftovers that got sprayed in the wheel wells or engine compartment. It is also possible that VW went back and forth in saving paint vs having complaints about surface rusted or dull primered tin.
The pics are fantastic !
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EverettB
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RockStock
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| Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2024 12:38 am Post subject: Re: Barndoor Assembly Line Pics |
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| EverettB wrote: |
Now that I look again, that Kombi appears to have the whole engine compartment painted Dove Blue. Interesting as I think most of them were primer with some dusting and edges painted but I think that was sort of random too. |
Random
Engine Bay Paint thread
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=204025
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EverettB
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| Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2024 6:53 pm Post subject: Re: Barndoor Assembly Line Pics |
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| Lind wrote: |
| EverettB wrote: |
| finster wrote: |
photos by Willy Lehmacher, early 1953
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Cool pic, check out the clipped air cleaner instead of a strap.
These photos are from Early 1953?
I wonder if it's Early 1954 instead?
Kombis didn't get a rear bumper until 12/1953 |
When did flat taillights end?
Is the strap air cleaner both Mann and Knecht or just one of those brands?
Definitely after October 1953, as the singlcab had late gates which happened at chassis number 20-066116 |
Good question on the taillights as I couldn't quickly find the date or VIN #
Strap air cleaners are all Knecht AFAIK
53
54
I'm pretty sure Barndoors could have either though but not sure if that was 53-up or not.
The air cleaner above looks like what is considered a 54-58 Mann Beetle air cleaner but that could have started in late 1953 too
Now that I look again, that Kombi appears to have the whole engine compartment painted Dove Blue. Interesting as I think most of them were primer with some dusting and edges painted but I think that was sort of random too.
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Lind
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| Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2024 10:00 am Post subject: Re: Barndoor Assembly Line Pics |
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| EverettB wrote: |
| finster wrote: |
photos by Willy Lehmacher, early 1953
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Cool pic, check out the clipped air cleaner instead of a strap.
These photos are from Early 1953?
I wonder if it's Early 1954 instead?
Kombis didn't get a rear bumper until 12/1953 |
When did flat taillights end?
Is the strap air cleaner both Mann and Knecht or just one of those brands?
Definitely after October 1953, as the singlcab had late gates which happened at chassis number 20-066116
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RockStock
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| Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2024 12:50 am Post subject: Re: Barndoor Assembly Line Pics |
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FB photo caption:
| Quote: |
Willy Lehmacher was often on the road in the 1950s. On behalf of Hagen companies such as VARTA, he visited trade fairs, production plants and shops. In the spring of 1953, Lehmacher visited the Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg. There he made several films about the production of motor vehicles. We present a selection of the negative films. He paid particular attention to the installation of VARTA starter batteries in the vehicles.
The images now available in the Hagen City Archives provide an insight into the then booming automobile industry in the “economic miracle” of the Federal Republic of Germany. The photographs show the assembly of the first series of VW “Beetles” in the model series built from March 1953 with an oval rear window instead of the “pretzel window” that had been common until then. In front of the assembly and production plant, there are large parking lots with different versions of the “Beetle” with fabric roofs and in different paint finishes.
But another legendary VW model appears in the photographs: the T 1 transporter, nicknamed "Bulli". Here, too, Lehmacher photographed every stage of assembly and acceptance. The "Bulli" model series with flatbeds and as a bus, introduced up to 1953, can also be seen.
Text and research: Dr. Ralf Blank, September 2024; Photographs Willy Lehmacher © Hagen City Archives |
Must be loads more BD assembly line pictures to be unearthed from Willy Lehmacher…
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EverettB
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