Volkswagen - Split window - 1950

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Authentic 1950 Volkswagen 'Split Window' (Brezel) Saloon, originally registered in Porto, Portugal
• Documented Matching Numbers status verified by official factory Data Card and Volkswagen Certificate
• Sympathetically restored over a four-year period and finished in factory-correct L11 Pastel Green (Pastellgrün) by Glasurit
• Highly bespoke period-correct cloth interior handcrafted from original 1950 split-window donor fabrics
• Retains rare early-production features including 1,130 cc engine with early oil filler neck, 6-volt electrical system, genuine 'Split' logo headlights, driver-side sun visor, and original wooden fuel dipstick

HISTORY & OVERVIEW:

The Volkswagen Type 1, universally known as the 'Beetle' or 'Käfer', is one of the most significant and recognizable automotive designs in history, originally conceived by Ferdinand Porsche. Post-war civilian production began under British military supervision at the Wolfsburg plant, with early models featuring the iconic divided rear window, known colloquially in Germany as the 'Brezelkäfer' (Pretzel Beetle) and elsewhere as the 'Split Window'. These early post-war saloons are celebrated among collectors for their purity of line, mechanical simplicity, and historical importance. This particular example was first registered in Porto, Portugal, in 1950, where it remained unmolested under its original custodian for decades before being imported to Spain by its current owner. The vehicle’s technical specification, production date, and numbers-matching status are formally documented via an official factory Data Card and Volkswagen Certificate.

EXTERIOR:

The steel bodywork was subjected to a four-year restoration that utilized a specialized, gentle chemical stripping process to eradicate corrosion while preserving original sheet metal integrity. The coachwork was finished in factory-specified L11 Pastel Green (Pastellgrün) by Glasurit, matching its Data Card records. Exterior period-correct details include genuine 'Split' headlamp lenses with the early Volkswagen logo, factory rear taillight screws and hardware, and model-specific 1950 genuine wheel hubcaps.

INTERIOR:

The cabin has been trimmed using genuine period-correct cloth sections sourced exclusively from two original 1950 Split Window donor vehicles, assembled by a specialist trimmer in Argentina and installed in Spain. Factory-correct details include the period-specific driver-only individual sun visor and the rare original wooden fuel dipstick used for manual fuel level checks. Because the original ignition and door keys were lost during storage, the ignition cylinder was bypassed for mechanical testing, and a replacement key set is needed.

MECHANICS:

The vehicle is powered by its overhauled, numbers-matching 1,130 cc 24 bhp four-cylinder engine, retaining the correct early-production oil filler neck design. Power is delivered through the original factory manual gearbox. The vehicle maintains its authentic 6-volt electrical system and factory hydraulic braking architecture. While the starter motor functions properly and the engine turns over smoothly, the vehicle has been dry-stored since restoration without road use and will require standard recommissioning and routine servicing prior to road use.

DOCUMENTS:

The vehicle is accompanied by the official Volkswagen factory Data Card and definitive Volkswagen Certificate, verifying original production specifications and matching numbers status.

The vehicle can be viewed and collected. Bids do not include transportation or export costs, unless otherwise stated. Transport arrangements, transfer of ownership, and any applicable export or registration documentation fees are the buyer's responsibility.