Darn. Second try.
Well, Tuckerfan, this is a Lost Automobile. It’s very hard to prove it exists. Even the Mercedes engineers didn’t remember it. But I can try. I THINK I have a cite for the existance of the car in this $400 history of Porsche my father owns, but it’s not available right now. Very nice book. So… let’s see what the web says.
Key elements: A: Split front bumper. B: Split front windshield. C: Traditional hood. D: Suicide Doors.
This is that car. The one-off proof of concept. This is the reason Dr. Porsche quit.
http://www.ltv-vwc.org.uk/wheelspin/Ws_dec_2002/Beetle-early-history.htm
Here are some Volkswagen prototypes.
Notice the Type 32. Full hood. Shorter, probably rear-engined. Notice the full front bumper, and the lack of a split windshield, showing better glassmaking techniques. Mind you, it does have suicide doors. Notice the VW3. Same hoodline as our mysterious friend, but rounder, and again, full glass windshield. It also has a more integrated fender line, and the horn is internal. (See the horn on the original?) Also… what’s that thing in the center? Radiator gauge? On the original.
I can’t find anything on the web that cites the prototype being constructed. But there it is. You can see the family resemblance. You can see the more primitive features. You can see the point in time when it had to be made.
Additional notes: The eyebrow effect is a florescent bulb above it and a weird bend in the roof.
Yes, ‘before 1928’. Probably '27, no earlier. Sory, few years off of '23.
That’s not a found photo, either, it’s one my father took. We’ve got TONS of museum photos. I’ll throw a few more up on photobucket sometime later. http://www.stgt.com/extern/mercedmue.htm
This is the Museum’s webpage.
Notice the cars in it. Notice the dirt on the tires and in the fenders of the ProtoVolks, and the sad sag in the front fenders. This is, for the obsessive germans, a neglected vehicle.
American webpage! http://www.mbusa.com/brand/container.jsp?/heritage/museum.jsp&menu=3
Okay, looking through the CD I burnt some photos on. Some really nice classic steam traction engines…
Hm. Here’s the museum. Six racing Bugattis… An early Maybach… 300SLR… I really have to toss all these on Photobucket. A friend sitting IN a steamer. THE Silver Ghost. The Silver Arrows.
Weird. I know we have a photo of that swoopy transporter somewhere. You know, the one for the 300s?
Well, enjoy! http://photobucket.com/albums/v449/LaPucelle/
No picture of it online but I recently saw an episode of “My Classic Car” that featured a restored Model A woodie sedan delivery with a matching woodie teardrop trailer.
