Beschreibung:

1949 VOLKSWAGEN TWO-DOOR SALOON European registered Chassis No. 1-383890 Engine No. 1-0665945 Grey with grey cloth trim Engine: 4-cylinders horizontally opposed, air-cooled, push-rod overhead valves, 1,130cc; Gearbox: 4-speed manual; Suspension/Transmission: front independent Porsche designed double trailing arms: integral rear-engine/gearbox transmission unit with independent coil-spring suspension. Left-hand drive. The Volkswagen or Peoples Car, is now universally known as the VW or 'Beetle' for its distinctive simplistic shape and has become one of the iconic motor cars of the twentieth century. Nevertheless its design and fabrication principles had roots back in the mid 1930s, when the desire for a cheap modern design which could be mass-manufactured, would mobilise the populace in similar fashion following the trend which had been set by Henry Ford with his 'Model T' creation almost thirty years earlier in America. In Europe however, despite small cars being available, they were not so much mass-produced, and many were still out of range in terms of price for low-income earners. This project started from a long-desired determination by Dr. Ferdinand Porsche whose innovative engineering and design projects had been initially nurtured through his progress in the European Automotive industry with Lohner, Austro-Daimler, Mercedes-Benz, Auto Union and NSU, with whom he had produced designs, but could not economically make an effective production-run during the Depression years. However with the advent of the National Socialist party taking power in Germany, in 1936 he was instructed to produce prototypes as part of the newly instituted "Kraft durch Freude" (Strength through Joy) programme. Once his design was adopted, further prototypes were built by Daimler-Benz in 1937, and the following year a special factory was set up funded by the KDF faction, at his works in Stuttgart Zuffenhausen and the new company was titled Gesellschaft zur Vorbeitung des Volkswagens. The final version which began fabrication there was dubbed the VW38 and was introduced using either 704cc or 984cc aircooled engines. All production prior to 1939 was for development of the prototypes, but the first version available to the public was made later that year, and especially to the military Wehrmacht, as the build up for war moved on apace and mobilisation was well under way. The ubiquitous and possibly infamous Kubelwagen being manufactured in large numbers became widely known. When the hostilities ceased, the factory came under British control and from 1945 production was increased 10-fold in just a year for the British Army. However, the British government in its wisdom, decided there was no real future for these machines in peacetime and in 1949 the factory was released back into German control. By this time the saloon versions were powered by an engine unit of just over 1,100cc which was capable of producing some 25bhp. This was the specification available on the cars then available to the public, and then produced in saloon versions only. It is of particular interest therefore that the car we offer here is from that early period in production as the factory resumed its National identity; it is the classic archetypal early series model with the distinctive rear engine cover-panel, small windows and factory-plain paint work and overall simple presentation. Described by the vendor as in excellent condition, this is now a rarely-found and desirable early production model, whose subsequent derivatives have seen continued production for nearly 70 years.