1951 Right hand drive Split Window Beetle
- Thursday, 14 August 2008
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There was a time when Split Window Beetles were left on the outskirts of VW society, rejected in favour of newer models. With their outdated mechanicals, terrible rearward visibility and painfully slow rate of progress they were the preserve of the specialists only. A few would turn up at VW Action every year, but in nearly every case they were in the hands of restorers. Parts for them were scarce even then but, as so few people wanted them, prices weren’t ridiculous. Body panels have never been common – wings in particular were considered a disposable item by VW from the beginning, but they could be kept on the road and used, albeit only occasionally, for a modest outlay. These days, however, it’s a different story. It’s not that they’ve become common – far from it – it’s just that people are less reluctant to buy them now because it’s easier to source parts from all over the world. In tune with the laws of supply and demand though, that means parts have become more sought after and prices have risen dramatically, to the point that if you were to consider restoring a Split Window Beetle today you’d want to make damn sure it was pretty well complete before you started. A few missing trim parts such as tail lights, bumpers and a rear view mirror and you’re soon into the price of a complete late model Beetle for those alone.
So when Steve Cooper from Sutton Coldfield came across this particular Split languishing in the corner of the workshops of Pointbreak International in Boston, Lincolnshire, he knew it was the car for him. Steve’s been into VWs for 20-odd years, and has owned a succession of Beetles and Buses in that time, including a couple of Ovals, but he’d never before owned or driven a Split. “There was just something about it,” he told us. “It was stuck forlornly in the corner, flat tyres an’ all, but I wanted it straight away.”
For the full story check out the September 2008 issue of VolksWorld magazine. On sale on 08 August and then available through back issues.
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