It left the factory on December 9, 1952. It therefore never needed major repairs because, over the years, it was maintained regularly. This car is a transitional Beetle from the German brand. It has two windows at the back, windproof glass, and indicators next to the doors. It has a 4-cylinder boxer engine, 30 hp, 1,131 cc, air-cooled, Solex carburettor, four-speed manual transmission, four-wheel independent suspension with torsion bars and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. This is a rare “Oval Dash Split-Window”, Zwitter or “interim” model. Pre-1968 VWs arouse the interest of collectors due to the purity of their design. They were built with quality materials and maintained the charm of the first cars: metal panels, chrome bumpers, simple controls, low backrests, and six-volt electrical systems. In 1968, the VW Beetle was redesigned to adapt to new safety standards, including high backrests, padded dashboards, and rubber bumpers. For the purist, the Beetle has lost much of its charm. Even with a high production car, a rare variant often attracts collectors. Part of a five-month changeover of Beetles built from 1 October 1952 to 10 March 1953, the 'Zwitter' (short term for German Zwitter Kafer, or hybrid Beetle) was built with the old split-window bodywork, the new dashboard of new cars with an oval rear window and many Zwitter-exclusive parts, such as a unique dome light and other interior trim. Split-window Beetles were produced from 1948 until the end of 1952 and are considered to possess the purist essence of the original design. During the summer of 1952, Wolfsburg changed production lines from the split window to the oval window. The Zwitter was fitted with a split window, but chrome trim was used instead of aluminium. They also received ventilation windows in the doors and a dashboard presaging that of cars with oval windows. Less obvious differences were the interior lights, a start button, chrome trim, bumpers, headlights, taillights, and air filter.
Datasheet Year: 1953 Brand: VW Model: Type 1 Zwitter Country: Germany Number plate: HH-19-12 Engine: cc Gearbox: 4