1955 Volkswagen Driver's Education Training Car
SOLD!
Anyone that really knows the man behind Oldbug.com knows that I like the real strange stuff when it comes to VWs.
And when this car showed up in the in-box I absolutely flipped out. I had rumours of it's existance and been teased with stories
but to actually see the photos...it was a mind twist to be sure.
The Beetle itself is impressive in it's own right...an extremely solid well preserved original that has received
some proper attention and some sympathetic restoration in spots to create a really tasteful package.
The wow factor comes the moment you open the door...this is not something you see very often!
Dual control drivers education cars have been around for quite some time and these period photos of a 50's
Chevy show the graphics and some of the history.
Basically these were normal cars with an extra steering wheel and set of pedals that the instructor could use in the event of an emergency.
About 25 years ago or so I ran across one of the special pedal assembly attachments at a VW swap meet
here in California at a traders stand. I stared at it and marvelled at it and regretfully passed on it
but from that point forward I knew that there just had to be a dual control Beetle out there somewhere!
The owner of this car may have come across this same assembly now years later and did what I always dreamed of doing.
Put it in a car and make it work. So...truth be told, this car was not an actual training car when new, but
if I didnt tell you that you would never guess it wasnt. The pedal assembly is genuine and designed specifically for Beetle use
and the lay-out and everything is just as it would be and the execution is so incredibly convincing and well done.
The car mechanically has been freshly rebuilt and is very well sorted.
This is a two owner California car since new.
The car was parked in 1983 and was in the current owner's sights for well over a decade
until the original owner passed away.
The original numbers matching 36 horse engine was professionally rebuilt and properly detailed and runs great.
The brakes have all been gone through as well and it is a very good runner and driver.
This "in process" shot shows the engine with all the freshly powder coated engine tins mocked up
as well as the rebuilt genrator and such...really nicely done.
The original wheels were repainted and detailed.
The car is in it's original color, the exterior paint was resprayed in about 1979 and the wear and light patina
is very convincing as original.
Paint under the hood and such is original and untouched.
Very straight and solid example.
Cant get much better than this for something original and unrestored...so solid and pretty darn clean as well.
This view of the front beam shows the right hand steering box in place (yes...one on both sides!)
A short tie-rod joins the two and stock short rods go to the wheels.
The brake lines and shocks are new as you can see.
The chassis is all original and super solid and never welded...dry and untouched.
Not dolled up to look pretty...this is untouched and left as is so you can see that it is an honest solid car.
The muffler is new, the engine is super clean underneath.
The rear apron appears to have been replaced but all other sheet metal is thought to be original to the car.
The Drivers Education logos on the doors are so artfully applied and faded that you would never guess then to be recently applied.
The logo is spot on perfect to match the period photos shown above that date back to 1955.
Awesome!
Check out the Student Driver safety flag on the front fender as well!
And peeking through the window to see the two wheels...how cool is this??
The interior has been completely redone in the correct style materials.
Black piping offsets the brick red seats and panels.
Mohair headliner is all new as is the German wool square weave carpets as original.
Here in this shot you can see how the pedal assembly attaches.
This is a genuine German accessory item by the way...built for the VW , not adapted from something else.
And yes...you can drive the car from either side!!
Nice door sill plates trim things off, the early style ribbed doors are another nice
attribute that sets apart the "early" Ovals.
Headliner is very well done and firmly fitted.
I like the period venetian blinds in the rear window as well.
Check out the square bolster pillows in the back seat.
The paint has some patina to it, a fair bot of chips and scratches, yet it shines well and has a great look to it.
I like the mild patina as you can feel the car's history so much better...it really is like an artifact fresh out of history.
Under the front hood is clean and tidy...the whole car is very well detailed.
The details on the inside that are so incredibly appealing are the small touches like the "10 and 2" markings on the wheel
and the "Safety First" writing on the horn button. The mileage counter and clock look perfect to the period as well.
On the instructor's side, the fan and dash markings are also something you can totally visualize being in place in 1955.
Check out the amazing dual rear view mirror and visor set up...this is a genuine original accessory by the way...
one of those "rarest of the rare" items...here, in place...in a car that makes sense to have it fitted.
Very clean car in all the corners...great care and countless hours went into cleaning away the grime of time.
The reflective tape on the rear bumper also looks perfectly "right" for the car as does the "Wagen 3" sign off the bumper.
Fantastic!!
Great car inside and out...truly one of the coolest Ovals I think I have seen.
I want it bad...really I do...but there is no room at the inn for me at the moment!
This would be a fantastic addition to any collection.
A perfect museum piece, a great conversation starter at a VW dealership
or a total crowd pleaser at any VW event anywhere in the world.
Too Cool.
No... make that "Two Cool"
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity here for a Beetle that is so incredibly unique.
Its a good one top to bottom with a known history, and the Drivers Training theme is one of the
best executed such endeavor that I have ever seen.
Truly impressive in all respects...hats off to the builder and extreme jealousy to the lucky buyer.
This car rocks!!
SOLD!
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