[Trisha]

A few pics I knicked from Mrs Grumpy's electric telephone 'smorn that might, or might not, provide inspiration for future Airfix and Arii builds.

 

[chappyman66]

Variegated wheels?

 

[Trisha]

A meaningful life without variegated wheels? Unfathomable questions just never end, eh?

 

[Trisha]

Difficult to believe, I know, but an old chum connected himself to the electric telephone apparatus yesterday to inform me that there's more to life than Beetles and Porsches, apparently. I was incredulous, of course and wondered what he meant.

After rational debate he confessed that he was deficient in Frank Cooper's Oxford Marmalade, and in need of an Oxonian holiday. An easy fix for another fool brought back from the brink...

 

[Trisha]

The first of the 1937 prototypes seems to be taking shape slowly. Thanks, Michael. A superb piece of modelling craftsmanship.

 

[Trisha]

I recall many years ago when Bill Boddy wrote the book below, the critics hammered him for alleged inaccuracies. He'd written an affectionate, if brief, account of 'gnomes' in the Black Forest building Beetles.

The critics scoffed because 'everyone' knows that Beetles were made in Wolfsburg, several miles away. The original prototypes were actually made in Stuttgart, so the Bod had been right all along, but he never received even a hint of an apology from the Ignoranti.

 

[PatB]

I recall many years ago when Bill Boddy wrote the book below, the critics hammered him for alleged inaccuracies. He'd written an affectionate, if brief, account of 'gnomes' in the Black Forest building Beetles.

The critics scoffed because 'everyone' knows that Beetles were made in Wolfsburg, several miles away. The original prototypes were actually made in Stuttgart, so the Bod had been right all along, but he never received even a hint of an apology from the Ignoranti. View attachment 336045

I find it pleasing that the Beetle on the cover remains taxed, however long it's been since the photo was taken.

 

[Trisha]

I agree, Pat. A nice feature from long ago. My old Beetle still carries its March, 1973, tax disc on the windscreen, but I can't currently gain access to it for a photo.

 

[Trisha]

A comparison between the 1937 prototype and and an early pre War production Cabriolet.

 

[chappyman66]

I am glad to see the headlights moved back and faired in....but I also have to say that I sort of like the dorsal treatment on the prototype....

 

[Trisha]

I love everything about the prototype, Paul, but especially the prominent body swage lines. The bodies were, of course, welded together from large pieces, and the swage lines left intact as a sop to Komenda's clever styling.

 

[Trisha]

Not difficult to understand the Beetle's insect appellation from these early hand-built prototypes.

 

[Trisha]

"Und ven Ich hevv finished buildink diss damned auto, Ich hevv a new pill Ich hevv devlopt to cure constipation und vipe diss terribly pained expression awf my miserable fizzog."

 

[Trisha]

"Let them eat hake," he said, "Just like Ferdy Anton Piech..."

 

[Trisha]

From prototype to fire-breathing dragon, the Beetle's versatility was not in doubt since its inception. But will the current Porsche concepts and ideas be enough to stave off the bicycle as the principal mode of transport of the future?

 

[HiFi]

❤ that drawing, Laurence 👍

 

[KensRedZed]

Speaking of bikes. I recently found an ad for the bike I had in the early 70's. I usually leaned back on the seat, popped a wheelie, and rode around on the back tire as much as humanly possible. The memories created by this ad made me laugh. Those were the days.

 

[GDSLOT]

Speaking of bikes. I recently found an ad for the bike I had in the early 70's. I usually leaned back on the seat, popped a wheelie, and rode around on the back tire as much as humanly possible. The memories created by this ad made me laugh. Those were the days.
View attachment 336188

Ah! Hate this bike since I remember, had an accident with a lamppost when I was about nine or so, getting hit in the 🥚🥚 due to abscence of hand brakes ( it had only an odd reverse pedal brake) 😅

 

[KensRedZed]

The wedge was well known for its 3-speed transmission that prevented the peddles from being used a brake. The peddles just free-wheeled backwards. Note the shifter between the seat and handle bars, and both hand brakes.

You must have had a different bike (that you hated).

 

[Frogeye]

Wedge sounds a bit like this one? I still have mine.