Present Day Photos of KDFs, Kubels and Schwimmers

[KdF1]

It's a prototype feature. Built this way. Quite Odd. Took us quite a while to figure this out. We restored it as it was built to keep it's history intact. I had a large book of restoration photos I could have showed you that day. Most 44 KdF beetles had no semaphores by that time as they simply deleted them.
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Feb 1944 KdF Type 82e.
Nov 1947 CCG type 11

[Rome]

I don't know for certain, but here's my guess. The external, "free-standing" units (aka trafficators) were first used on Kuebelwagens per a production model at Wolfsburg. They were readily available generic units for the auto and truck industry, were mounted at the front quarter panel, or up on pipe supports such as the Kuebel on the previous page. That location fulfilled the requirement of being visible from vehicles behind, as well as those in front/opposing traffic. They could not be mounted on the A-pillar for visibility height because the windshield could be flipped down.

Remember, the vehicle's wiring harness had to accomodate the wires to the sem's. For the Beetle/KdF, using that same location probably enabled the same wiring harness to be utilized. and did not need that pipe support for height or body stiffness. A running production change sourced ready-made slimmer and recessed sem's in the quarter panel, needing a press tooling change to make the sem opening but being sleeker so that the turned-off sems are not exposed to small obstacles such as tree branches when the car was being driven. And less exposed to weather.

Finally, moving the sems to the B-pillar had the benefit of a more central vehicle position and also higher, for best visibility. But that required yet another press tooling change (B-pillar opening; and another to close off the opening on the front quarter), as well as lengthening the wires to those locations in the harness. That location probably proved sufficient or optimal for the increased postwar production, up until the sem's were outlawed in the auto industry as of either July 1 or July 31, 1960 production for all motor vehicles in Europe. Thats why no '61 Euro Beetle or Type 2 had them anymore- production of that model year started on August 1, the first day on which the new ban on sems went into effect.

[cyberdyne systems 101]

The semaphores on the KDF's, some on this thread are in the usual place on the upper B pillar, then we have some with an external unit mounted just before the doors, this latest one having them recessed into the front quarter panel. Anyone know why the differences?
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When I think of something to say - I'll be the first to know

56' Oval
71' Westy

[Rome]

This past Sunday at the Audrain Concours d'Elegance in Newport, Rhode Island: '44 KdF:

Well done, Alex from Long Island, New York!

Article: https://www.autoweek.com/photos/g68882013/gallery-2025-audrain-concours-delegance-photos/

[L21pearlgrey]

[finster]

yes, in manchester. sold now though. looked nice and gnarly, so many for sale now look suspiciously dead straight.

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"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut

nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect...

[L21pearlgrey]

[finster]

a kubelwagen that was for sale on facebook marketplace this week for £60k

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"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut

nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect...

[T2_681]

What is the original source of this info???
It would be probably the very first body from the end of war production with number 1xxxxx. Maybe a rebuilt older body?

[finster]

today I looked in my junk email file and found his reply -
Good question indeed.
It’s a 100% original number.
The bodies production line switched from Berlin(?) to Wolfsburg, Volkswagen factory, beginning of 1945.
This due the destruction of the original factory:
This resulted in a new body manufacture line , with new numbers, like this one.
So yes, for the ‘standard’ body number it’s incorrect, but this is a early Wolfsburg body, made by Volkswagen, which is correct for 1945.

so, is that correct?
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"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut

nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect...

[finster]

according to this thread a march 45 body number would be 48*** so maybe they've misread it or misquoted. I have sent them an email to query it so perhaps they will answer.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...p;start=20
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"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut

nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect...

[sinclair]

[wagen19]

[T2_681]

I noticed that as well.

[Martin Southwell]

How come the windscreen is almost vertical?

[T2_681]

Authentic late war...with beetle floor pans and body number higher than 100 000?

[finster]

a march 45 kubel (as stated in advert) currently on milweb for sale...

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"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut

nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect...

[finster]

recently found under a tarp in connecticut

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"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut

nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect...

[finster]

dec 43 schwimmer for sale on oldbug...$200,000

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"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut

nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect...

[B_vdd]