Tell me about four door beetles

Texas 66 · Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 8:57 pm Post subject: Tell me about four door beetles

If this subject has been covered already, please just post a link and make the appropriate complaint about newbies...

I am interested in the story of the four door sedan beetles (a picture here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=282950 ). I have not seen any substantave information about them. When were they produced? In what quantity? How many are known about today? I always wondered why Volkswagen never produced a four door beetle, and then learned they (or someone) did. It is a very nice looking car, from what I have seen in pictures. Does anyone have more pictures (I found about five in the Samba gallery)?

I posted this in the split forum because there seem to be a much more favorable ratio of knowledgeable people to noise makers here than on forums for later cars. Thanks.

RareAir · Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2006 11:19 pm Post subject:

Rometch built the 4-door Taxi's with Volkswagen's permission. I believe only 5 are known to currently exist. Chris Morley's is the only one in the US and was found in Belgium. The Lotterman collection in Bad Camberg, Germany has two others.
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1947 Typ 11a
1954 Typ 117
1956 Typ 151
1959 Typ 117
1959 Typ 265
1961 356B
1966 Typ 151
1966 Typ 241

Oldnslow · Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 8:36 am Post subject:

This should really get you going. This is a sunroof (wonder if it is a 4 or 5 fold?) Zwitter model. I have no idea where the picture came from but would love to own it.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

coad · Samba Scapegoat Joined: September 12, 2002 Posts: 7552

OK, I'll bite. What is Morley asking for his?

erioco · Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 9:23 am Post subject: 4 door sunroof

I'll bet it is a 3 fold clip, look how sits viz a viz the rear window , but made up of an extended 2 fold set of bows and mechanics - see the rounded rear corners on the mechanism ie 3 bows, one added.

The 3 fold clip takes 2 fold bows and mechanisms no sweat, at least the early 56/7 ones. I had a 2 fold mechanism that was dated early '55, had all the 3 fold mechanics ie 8 screws underneath etc except the loose top part which was rounded on the front.

Yes it would be great to get a history on this one.

Eric
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Radclyffe Roadster Replica proj based on an April 47 chassis

Texas 66 · Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 9:47 am Post subject:

johnshenry · Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 9:57 am Post subject:

The front doors have been shortened and the rear doors are made from doors from the opposite side and flipped around and cut shorter at the hinge end. At least that is my understanding...
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John Henry

'57 Deluxe
'56 Single Cab

erioco · Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 10:17 am Post subject: 4 door

I would say that the sunroof and the engine arepost 55 additions, or at least the mechanism on the sun roof is post 55. You are right, the single was on all splits and early ovals. The twin exhausts come in in mid 55, or for the 56 model year.

Zwitter is a German combo or shortening from Zwischen : between.

The car could be a one off copy of the Rometsch taxi,Or the whole car could be a 3 fold zwitter done by rometsch, and updated over time for the engine and the bows and mechanics of the sunroof.

Eric
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Radclyffe Roadster Replica proj based on an April 47 chassis

Texas 66 · Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 10:13 pm Post subject:

Please tell me someone did not actually do this (about half way down the page):

http://www.flat4.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=67801&sid=8ea5cbd8127a7b217aa9b035aa39ce81

KantDriveFast · Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 10:18 pm Post subject:

Yikes...doesn't look photoshopped to me....sad Sad

vdubinit · Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2006 10:21 pm Post subject:

thats awesome
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Hebster52 · Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 1:07 am Post subject:

Kubel Nick · Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 6:33 am Post subject:

ya, that's photoshopped. I have picts of the car not photoshopped. Also I think there are 2 vintage makers of 4 door Beetles. One of them is in stock chassis length, the other (Rometsch) lengthened a little bit.

A different view of that beater

I wonder what this story is. This look stock length. I heard a shop or 2 in Mexico made conversions at one time or another also??

Search "4door" in my gallery for more examples
http://www.runtrod.com/gallery/main.php

KantDriveFast · Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 8:28 am Post subject:

El Guero · Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2006 10:28 pm Post subject:

STOCK hell no layed out on skirts and earlies Wink

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53 0val · Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 3:53 pm Post subject:

coad · Samba Scapegoat Joined: September 12, 2002 Posts: 7552

eddiemoney · Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:21 pm Post subject:

ok so i dug this thread up instead of starting a new one.

is that rear fender tweaked to have a smaller curve radis than a stock bug?

or is it just an optical illusion?

and i read earlier in this thread that the chassis is stock then someone said it is stretched. well which is it?

thanks
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Will

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David · Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 6:21 pm Post subject:

eddiemoney · Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 7:45 pm Post subject:

that didnt answer anything
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Will

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