1938 VW Type 38 Prototype

[Chromecop]

This is one of the prototypes that was built pre WW2. There were 44 built in 1938 and this particular one was on display in 1938-39 when AH held a speech to the people in Berlin. found a coloured picture on the net showing that scene and decided to build a 1/24 scale replica of that car using a Gunze 1956 VW as basis.

To make this 1956 VW looking as close as possible to a Typ 38 prototyp I had to:

Scratchbuild the split rear window, the taillights, the dashboard, the inner door-panels and parts of the front axle/suspension

Find another steeringwheel, wheels and hubcaps

Rebuild the muffler and put a mid-mounted single pipe

Remove the two small "grille-ovals" and all chromelists

Make a special order for the paint (Wehrmacht grau)

And, here's a link to the whole album showing pictures in progress:

http://s162.photobucket.com/albums/t274/chromecop/VW%20typ%2038%20prototyp/

[HotRodaSaurus]

Hi, and thanks for showing this. It's nice to see a model of this era VW, as many VW enthusiasts seem to 'Brush it under the carpet' as we sometimes say in England, being slightly ashamed because of the Hitler connection.

I have seen a couple of pre war and wartime Beetles, a version appears at the War & Piece show(held in July in the UK, check the website, there was a pic there) and another in a German private collection.

Having travelled in the real thing, I often wonder how this awfull looking noisy contraption became the most successful car ever made. I also owned a van(bus) and found it all but usless as a van due to the engine placement, a camper ok but a van!!!!

John

[Guest]

Nice work. The history of the VW Bug is quite interesting.

[MicroNitro]

very cool, they have a 49 bug at the vw museum in Detroit that is very close to the model you built.

[Foxer]

Nicely done, can't have enough split windows.

[David G.]

Well done! I enjoy seeing forgotten, unique or unusual cars modeled, and I think this particular one falls into all three catagories! Thanks for sharing it with us.

[Chuck Most]

I love split window bugs, this one is very cool, and the history is unique, as well.

[Greg Cullinan]

They sure don't change much over the years. Your build looks fantastic as this is one of themore manly looking bugs I've seen.