1946 Beetle, KUV 346

[Tom Hill]

Hi all, new to the group!
I'm trying to find out the fate of my Grandfather's 1946/7 Beetle, KUV346. There is a pic on this site but I can't seem to upload the photo here (I'm not good at this sort of thing!)
We last heard it was going to a museum as it was the oldest in Bristol at the time (1960's)

Thanks and any info would be much appreciated!
Tom

[Zwitter UK]

Welcome!

Upload the picture here then copy and past the link:
https://imgbb.com/

Very keen to see it!

Best of luck.
_________________
Good day sir

[sgmalt46]

welcome to the samba. said car is in the gallery . go to the search bar above and type in KUV 346 in the gallery. it's a 47. I think you where misunderstood you are
looking for a pic not trying to upload one? Steve . I believe it is with Martin southwell now? edit: sorry for being computer stupid . don't know how
to ad pic to the thread other than to take a pic of a pic. Martin is in bath England. about 20 min from Bristol ! sure he would love to talk to you.

_________________
55 deluxe 23 window bus
64 crew cab
55 rag top beetle
66 beetle
71 square back (sold) ! good luck with it Henry!
46 beetle 552nd royal army service corps CCG

[finster]

aaand here's the photo ( not a photo of the photo! )

looks like martin southwell owns/owned it
_________________
"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut

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

[Tom Hill]

Thanks guys, I did try to email Martin but it wouldn't let as I'm a new member (!?)
Would be happy to see it and have a chat about it, my Dad has a few memories of it and we have an old photo somewhere.

[Martin Southwell]

Hi. What a surprise! Yes, it's me, Martin Southwell, who owns the car, and I've owned it since 1978, and it sits in my garage here at home in Melksham. Does nobody recall me coming to visit your family around 1980, in Staple Hill, when I was following up the history of the car? I still have photos that your family gave me at the time, including one of a young boy sitting on the bonnet. Would that be your father?

The log book says that Kenneth Edward Hill of 53, Hayward Rd, Staple Hill, became the new owner on the 8th January 1959, and again changed hands on 2nd May 1966, being sold to a Percy Cope, in Clifton, who was the person I bought it from. It's a long story in itself as to how I managed to find and buy it.

He (Percy) was an interpreter, working for Rolls Royce aero engines in Bristol, (Spoke something like 15 languages) and that was were Percy saw the car for sale on the notice board, for something like £15. It had evidently been involved in an accident, being hit both back and front, and he got it back on the road, using cut up metal advertising boards, and aircraft nuts & bolts. Was it your Grandfather who had the accident with the car?

He spent little or nothing on the car, but this kept it pretty original. He even took it to Le Mans in 1972, and I still have the sticker. As you rightly mention, he offered it to the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, and they were interested, but whatever the basis was, it meant that he wouldn't be able to drive it again, and so nothing happened.

I'll e-mail you, and we can swap stories, as there is plenty to be said about the car. The only thing I don't know, is the name of the RAF Squadron Leader from Bristol, who 1st bought the car in Hannover, Germany, in May 1947. Odd really that the car has always stayed around the Bristol area since being brought back to the UK in 1949. Speak soon.

[Martin Southwell]

Hello again. Here's that photo I mentioned above. On the back I've written 1959, so that is what somebody in your family would have told me, when they gave me the picture. Whoever was sitting on the bonnet, would have been about the same age as myself in 1959. Your father?

I still have the front wing that somebody is resting their feet on in the picture, on one of my garage walls, plus the original bonnet, which is very rare item today. No children would be permitted to sit on it these days!

[Tom Hill]

Hi Martin, great to speak to you!
Yes, all your info seems correct and that certainly is my Dad sat on the bonnet. He recalls first seeing the car in a red colour which was likely primer as it was soon resprayed black from it (original?) beige but I don't know about the later damage though.
Dad did say someone got in contact much later regarding its history but I guess beyond that it was 'just an old car' in his view and they never really took much interest in it after.
It was the museum thing that spurred me into searching for it as someone obviously appreciated its significance and therefore there was a chance it might have survived (I was right!)
Do you have any recent photos of the car?
Cheers,
Tom

[Martin Southwell]

Hello again. We haven't actually spoken yet, but have been in contact by e-mail. The reason I'm putting any dialogue between ourselves on this web-site 1st, before we talk, is because there will be many others who will be intereted to see how things unfold. I know that I would be interested if it were somebody else's car, and the history that went with it, especially with such an early car.

Good to know that was your father sitting on the bonnet, and that he is still around - What's his name? Do you know the address where the picture was taken, as it doesn't seem to be the same property as 53, Hayward Rd when I look on Google? Below is a picture of your father again, this time on holiday. The back of the photo says, Carbis Bay, St Ives, Cornwall 1961. https://www.stives-cornwall.co.uk/discover/carbis-bay/ Like your father, I was also in Cornwall on a caravan holiday with my family in the Summer of 1961, but we got there in a Ford Popular.

Also worthy of note above, is the partly repaired/filled right hand wing, but more of that later.
Another photo supplied by your family 40+ years ago, is the one below. Do I remember correctly that it is of your mother, and her parents? i.e. Your maternal grandparents. The lack of room in the back of a Beetle is clearly demonstrated here, with ladies forced to display a bit of leg!

The leatherette coving on the seats and panels was still present when I got the car, which unfortunately also covered the dashboard. I say unfortunately, because the condensation from the windscreen ran down in between the two, and caused deep surface corrosion on the metal dash. Also seen in the picture is the steeering wheel, which is still the same today, with the unusual, but excellent, ribbed steering wheel cover, ensuring a good grip on the skinny steering wheel. Below is a picture of it, spruced up, awaiting the day the car actually gets back on the road, the last time being around 1972/3 I believe.

[sinclair]

Fantastic!

[Tom Hill]

That's my Grandmother on the right behind the window (Dad's mum)
and his grandparents (on his Dad's side).
My Dad (Steve Hill) just remembers the trip crammed in the back; must've been a hell of a relief when they got there!
Dad has never even seen these photos, thanks for posting.

[Tom Hill]

Spoke to Dad today about the car, he's actually very happy and surprised that the car survives and is in good, safe hands!
He remembers GD telling some stories about it, the time has brother threw a cigarette end out which blew in and burnt a hole in the rear seat (was still evident apparently!)
The unusual hubcaps were possibly from a Jaguar, when or why they were put on is anyone's guess but as they appear unmarked a full set at hand was probably easier than finding one or two spare VW ones.
Dad also recalls taking their mechanic and his family on holiday as part payment for some work done. Unsurprisingly, an old Beetle crammed with four adults, three kids and their luggage took its toll on the engine and the inevitable happened. Luckily Harry was there and off they pootled to Cornwall.

[Martin Southwell]

There seems to be a common theme arising from what you say, and that is overcrowding!. Firstly, your father is squeezed in amongst 4 adults, 3 of whom are visible in the picture, and as if that wasn't bad enough, you then say you went on holiday in the car, with 4 adults & 3 children, plus luggage. How was that possible? All long before the advent of seat belts. Cars really took a hammering back in those days.

You say the engine expired, but thanks to Percy (The owner after your grandfather), he kept the original engine, which must have either been repaired after it expired, or passed on 'as was', because I was delighted to find the car came with its orginal engine, and I had it rebuilt years ago.

In fact, the Beetle literally took a hammering on more than one occasion, as can be seen in the picture below. I recall somebody telling me (your Grandfather?) that he was crossing a small and narrow (stone?) bridge, when he met a car coming in the opposite direction, which, because the bridge wasn't wide enough for two cars, resulted in the damage seen. I assume the mid process wing repair seen in the picture with the caravan above, is as a result of this accident.

The picture was taken at Swineford, between Bristol & Bath, and the Chapel seen behind is made from corrugated iron sheets. Seems it still exists today:

The Congregational Chapel in Swineford opened its doors to public worship just at the turn of the 20th Century. It membership consisted of residents from both Swineford and Bitton and It is believed that it closed in the late 1950’s early 60’s. As at 2021 it is used as a pre-school nursery.

[René R.]

I am enjoying this thread. More, please!
_________________
Gone but not forgotten: 1950 Hoffman split (restored in 1966) - another 1950 Hoffman split (restored in 1996)

[Tom Hill]

Dad reckons the photo outside the church was during a fishing trip.
We used to regularly go to The Swan in Swinford (and the Crown in Kelston, the next village) so we know the church well.
The location of the car outside 53 Hayward Road is correct, the alleyway and porch of the house in the background is still there today.

[RichOakley]

As you would expect Martin, I'm very interested in this information. It's fantastic to add this extra information to the history file of KUV!

You say you know nothing of the first owner? How do you know he was a Squadron Leader in the RAF? Do you know what colour the car originally was (I think I know the answer to this already, but just checking!)

I may have possibly tracked down your car's original owner.
_________________
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

[vwhelmot]

Fantastic story

[FRK]

This is great!
_________________
64 Ghia
55 Kab
50 11G
50 11A
49 11
48 11
RVA Car Club

[Martin Southwell]

Just got back from a long weekend away, so will write more when I'm recovered, along with scans of interesting newspaper clips, etc. The car was grey originally, as can be seen in the original letter from Dr Wiersch. Note that the car sat around at the factory for 3 weeks before delivery, which seemed to have been common practice in those days. Plus, I still have the 51, British Army car delivered to 151, Vehicle Company, Lipstadt, mentioned in the details.

The second owner (who was in the motor trade) told me that he bought the car from a dealer friend, and that the original owner was also a friend of that dealer, but that he couldn't recall the 1st owner's name, but knew he was from Bristol, and had been a Squadron Leader in the RAF. I checked with the RAF, and RAF veteran associations, but to no avail. I was informed that Sq Leader was a common rank, and would have been held by many Bristolians.

The sealts were mentioned earlier, whereby a passenger had thrown his cigarette end out of the window, which promptly flew back in through the window, and ended up on the back seat, burning a hole in the fabric. That damage was still there when the seats were repaired and recovered a few years ago. Thanks to Rod Sleigh having the correct fabric remade, they were recovered a few years ago. Here's of one of the front seats. From what has been said previously, it's amazing that the seats have come up so well, despite so much previous abuse:

[mandraks]