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bluebeetle1968
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2013
Posts: 69
Location: Swindon, UK
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 Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2018 11:40 pm Post subject: RHD - Splits\Zwitters |
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Just a quick question....
I am based in the UK where VW Beetle imports didn't happen until Oval Beetles were in production....
So I was wondering if there are any original Right Hand Drive Splits or Zwitters out there....
As I really don't fancy driving a LHD car on RHD roads!
If they do exist from some other RHD market - are there many left?
I have had an eye out for years and never seen one....
It would break me to buy something as rare as a Zwitter and then chop it up to put a RHD dash etc. into a LHD car....
Thanks.
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Jan 1968 1500cc - The family project! Celebrating 30 years off the road....
June 1957 "Big Window" Oval Beetle! Yes it does really exist.... |
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favguy
Samba Member
Joined: January 25, 2012
Posts: 235
Location: England
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2018 2:35 am Post subject: Re: RHD - Splits\Zwitters |
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To my knowledge there were no RHD Splits or Zwitters. First RHD cars were 1953 Ovals.
You might find one that's been converted, but this would have a dramatic effect on it's value. Likewise if you were to convert to RHD I'd expect the car to be very difficult to sell on at a future date and it's value would probably have to allow for the cost of correct reversion to its original state.
As to driving a LHD beetle on UK roads, it's really not bad at all, especially as you're unlikely to be using a car of this era (I'd hope!) for anything beyond occasional use. |
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finster
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Joined: May 26, 2012
Posts: 7929
Location: north o' the border
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2018 3:51 am Post subject: Re: RHD - Splits\Zwitters |
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| agree with favguy - the main problem with lhd on uk roads is for overtaking on single carriageways and I find at the speeds I'm doing this situation rarely crops up. the main risk is modern car drivers getting too close and assuming you can accelerate or stop as rapidly as they can or them not seeing your brake lights/semaphores. |
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Simon3
Samba Member
Joined: February 27, 2004
Posts: 84
Location: Solihull, UK
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2018 4:38 am Post subject: Re: RHD - Splits\Zwitters |
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Sorry to disagree, but yes there were RHD splits.
My friend had one which was on the front cover of Volksworld - a few year's ago now!
This car was bare metaled as part of its restoration and was defiantly a Genuine factory RHD.
It came from one of the African countries where it was a CKD car.
I think this was the same for Ireland, who also build split beetles. |
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finster
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Joined: May 26, 2012
Posts: 7929
Location: north o' the border
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bluebeetle1968
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2013
Posts: 69
Location: Swindon, UK
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2018 6:18 am Post subject: Re: RHD - Splits\Zwitters |
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So more rare than rare then....
Well at least they do exist - although chances of me finding one are near impossible from the info above....
Maybe I could find one at the same time as winning the lottery?.....
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Jan 1968 1500cc - The family project! Celebrating 30 years off the road....
June 1957 "Big Window" Oval Beetle! Yes it does really exist.... |
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chthemonkey
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Joined: July 30, 2008
Posts: 105
Location: united kingdom
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2018 10:32 am Post subject: Re: RHD - Splits\Zwitters |
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| they are about i have the white 1951 rhd one that was in volksworld 2008 the last rhd split beetle i saw for sale sold on ebay years ago in the uk it was a 1952 rhd think it sold for 12k as a project. since then i havent looked to see if any more have come to the market |
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chris67bug
Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2011
Posts: 40
Location: Belfast
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| Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2018 3:55 pm Post subject: Re: RHD - Splits\Zwitters |
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| Yes very rare indeed, 3 rhd splits were special orders for uk prior to official imports beginning in '53. Made in rep of ireland from 1950 (as ckd) but very few left. Also barndoors but all of those are gone. Split bugs made also in south africa in ckd i think |
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chthemonkey
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2008
Posts: 105
Location: united kingdom
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| Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2018 12:00 am Post subject: Re: RHD - Splits\Zwitters |
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yes mines a south African one thats a old photo its at standard hight
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bluebeetle1968
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2013
Posts: 69
Location: Swindon, UK
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| Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2018 2:21 am Post subject: Re: RHD - Splits\Zwitters |
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Does anyone know of production figures for what would have come out of SA?
My big window oval was originally shipped to Zambia, then imported into the UK!
So I guess it's just like looking for a needle in a haystack - you might find it eventually....
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Jan 1968 1500cc - The family project! Celebrating 30 years off the road....
June 1957 "Big Window" Oval Beetle! Yes it does really exist.... |
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finster
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Joined: May 26, 2012
Posts: 7929
Location: north o' the border
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RichOakley
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Joined: August 30, 2004
Posts: 1108
Location: Midlands, UK
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| Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2018 3:09 pm Post subject: Re: RHD - Splits\Zwitters |
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700+ RHD Splits were built in South Africa.
3000-odd RHD Splits were assembled in Ireland.
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1947 Beetle
1956 RHD Karmann Cabrio
1956 RHD Beetle
1957 RHD Pitt-Moto Type 2 Camper
1959 RHD Beetle
1966 RHD Type 3 Fastback
1976 RHD Sun Beetle |
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bluebeetle1968
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2013
Posts: 69
Location: Swindon, UK
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| Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2018 7:01 am Post subject: Re: RHD - Splits\Zwitters |
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Thanks for the info Rich!
The burning question is just then a matter of how many are left out there......
_________________
Jan 1968 1500cc - The family project! Celebrating 30 years off the road....
June 1957 "Big Window" Oval Beetle! Yes it does really exist.... |
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Jdt1976
Samba Member
Joined: March 23, 2014
Posts: 25
Location: South Africa
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| Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2018 9:53 am Post subject: Re: RHD - Splits\Zwitters |
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| bluebeetle1968 wrote: |
Thanks for the info Rich!
The burning question is just then a matter of how many are left out there...... |
Good question, would like to know the answer to that.
I am from SA and think about +- 20 survived here. Many have been exported so would be interesting to know how many is in other countries. |
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hoffvw
Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2001
Posts: 161
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| Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2018 11:16 am Post subject: Re: RHD - Splits\Zwitters |
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Fodder for the discussion. The top two pics are ones that I took in the mid-nineties, the rest from VW Trends in '99:
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kevsplitty
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Joined: July 22, 2005
Posts: 153
Location: East Coast United Kingdom
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| Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2018 1:40 pm Post subject: Re: RHD - Splits\Zwitters |
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My dad had a uk RHD split 1952 Registration MRT 308. Was a special order, one of 3 built for the uk market with MRT being the first. It's currently in a private collection in N. Ireland
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UK 62 RHD 15 Window Deluxe
UK 65 RHD single cab
UK 56 RHD Oval bug |
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kevsplitty
Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2005
Posts: 153
Location: East Coast United Kingdom
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| Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2018 1:58 pm Post subject: Re: RHD - Splits\Zwitters |
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UK 62 RHD 15 Window Deluxe
UK 65 RHD single cab
UK 56 RHD Oval bug |
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rod_vw
Samba Member
Joined: December 20, 2006
Posts: 416
Location: Shropshire, UK
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| Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2018 9:27 am Post subject: Re: RHD - Splits\Zwitters |
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When was that picture taken Kev?
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Rod,
Please visit http://www.historicvws.org.uk
https://www.facebook.com/historicvwclub/
1946 Beetle (Back on the road after over 50 years! Last major outing - Hessisch Oldendorf 2022)
2016 T6 Selfbuild Camper and a LWB MAN TGE in build. |
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rod_vw
Samba Member
Joined: December 20, 2006
Posts: 416
Location: Shropshire, UK
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| Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2018 9:33 am Post subject: Re: RHD - Splits\Zwitters |
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Get yourself a left-hooker Dave it just makes things that little bit more 'exciting' on our motorways!
I speak from the experience of driving the '46.
After all it will be easier when you take it over to Hessisch or Bad Camberg  .
_________________
Rod,
Please visit http://www.historicvws.org.uk
https://www.facebook.com/historicvwclub/
1946 Beetle (Back on the road after over 50 years! Last major outing - Hessisch Oldendorf 2022)
2016 T6 Selfbuild Camper and a LWB MAN TGE in build. |
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kevsplitty
Samba Member
Joined: July 22, 2005
Posts: 153
Location: East Coast United Kingdom
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| Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2018 1:29 pm Post subject: Re: RHD - Splits\Zwitters |
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| rod_vw wrote: |
| When was that picture taken Kev? |
Not sure Rod i'll ask dad. As it's black & white & I was born in 67 & was very young ,think i'd say around 68/69 but don't quote me 
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UK 62 RHD 15 Window Deluxe
UK 65 RHD single cab
UK 56 RHD Oval bug |
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