Two rare and historically important folios of Volkswagen 'Beetle' blueprints from the Volkswagenwerk, Germany, 1940-1945,
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Two rare and historically important folios of Volkswagen 'Beetle' blueprints from the Volkswagenwerk, Germany, 1940-1945,
each large format period bound folio, one bearing the name Col.C.R.Radclyffe to cover, containing 18 different folded period copies of blueprints in blue and beige tint, of various sizes in numbered sleeves, of engineering scale drawings detailing bodywork, engine and various aspects and major components of the 'Type 1' "People's Car" and comprising:

1. Engine vertical sections
2. Engine horizontal section
3. Engine horizontal section through distributor and fuel pump
4. Fuel pump
5. Carburettor
6. Engine (installing)
7. Gear box
8. Rear axle, vertical section
9. Rear axle, horizontal section
10. Differential
11. Front axle
12. Steering gear
13. Brake
14. Wheel
15. Frame
16. Foot lever system
17. Hand level system
18. Body (mounting)

Each print also including drawing number, designer, draughtsman, and other engineering details and relevant information in German, some including the name of Dr Ferdinand Porsche, each print further stamp-dated 31st July 1946 to reverse for Radclyffe's set and 20th August 1946 for the other set.
(2)
Sold for £13,750 inc. premium

Footnotes

  • Colonel Charles Radclyffe, along with Major Ivan Hirst and Colonel Michael McEvoy were deployed by the British Military to commandeer and oversee operations at the Volkswagenwerk KdF factory in Wolsfsburg after the end of World War II. According to information supplied by the vendor they discovered these copies of blueprints for the car, the originals believed to have been destroyed by Allied bombing of the factory, and Hirst, Radclyffe and McEvoy each owned one set of the blueprint copies, Radclyffe's set being offered here along with another unnamed set.

    Major Hirst is credited by motor historians and enthusiasts as being instrumental in reviving the post-War production of the car that become known as the 'Beetle', which may never have happened if it wasn't for the discovery of these blueprints, and Radclyffe's name also being associated with another post-War model to emerge from the factory, the 'Radclyffe Roadster'.

Category: Motoring / Automobilia

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