British Army VW Beetle (1950s)

Hi all,

A great piece of history, that few know about.

Thanks
Tony Burgess

Hello can you repost the pics of the restored 1952 VW Beetle?  I am trying to restore a 1952 CCG VW myself.
I have tried to upload a pic of mine but it will not let me.

Stephen Lock wrote:

This is something Hardrations can perhaps address, as his memory is far better than mine in such matters.... :-)

I don't recall VWs being used for military purposes with Canadian troops at all.  Not sure what we sported our senior officers around in, but I suspect it was probably Mercedes, possibly 280SL's.  

I know in the '70s, it was not unusual to have your average taxi be a Mercedes sedan (something most Canadian civilians respond to with a certain degree of skepticism given that Mercedes are perceived as luxury vehicles), so I'm kind of thinking they might also have been used as 'official cars.'  Probably in basic shiny black....

As I think of it, I'm also getting thoughts of Opels...hmmmm.

Citrons too, but they were more used by the Belgians and French (go figure!).  Cool cars.  Weird looking, but cool.

VW beetles were used extensively in Germany, at least up to 1965. Besides being used for "utility" purposes, along with Kleinbuses, they were a sort of staff car for OCs of smaller units like transport coys and the like. Battalion commanders, along with the Brigade Commander, being higher up the food chain, had 1957 Chevrolet cars (complete with the big fins that were stylish and something to which Canadians did respond in those days). We never had Mercedes or Opel cars in my time.

They were still using the VW's when I left in Dec 68 and when I returned in 71. I think Opels were used for C.O.'s of major units starting in the 60's and the Generals in Lahr had Mercedes. The Major General O.C. Canadian Forces in Europe had his bugged by the East Germans. I remember seeing the photo's at Bde. H.Q.'s. I think it was Major General Johnston was the name, he was Black Watch I think.

I have tried to upload pics of my VW that came from Vehicle Coy 151 what ever that is but I can't up load it

Just to answer Stephen Lock.  The Canadians did use the VW Beetle. Well, they look like Canadians to me. Beetle

Looking for something completely different came across the link below which may be of special interest to VW afficionados:

http://www.cdvandt.org/BIOS-998.pdf

Investigation into the Design and performance of the Volkswagen or German Peoples Car

BIOS 998 dated 1945

Pborn4 wrote:

Looking for something completely different came across the link below which may be of special interest to VW afficionados:

http://www.cdvandt.org/BIOS-998.pdf

Investigation into the Design and performance of the Volkswagen or German Peoples Car

BIOS 998  dated 1945

Hi all, good to see this interesting report.
I have a slight memory of the German police in early 1950's had a Volkswagen without a roof or doors, four men could jump out quickly

Regards
Sapper

My dad was a tech storeman with 3rd and then 1st RTR, I remember him taking charge of several staff cars, they were ford Zephers, [ sp?] 4's and 6's, must have been late 50's early 60's, they were intended to be staff cars but I believe they thought that the "6" had far too much power so they sent them back. It might be that they were just at the regiment on trial? When I was at HQ 1 [BR] Corps in the early 70's we had the same situation with the range rover, we trialed them [ we had 2] for several weeks but they were sent back, 1. too fast, and 2. not squaddie proof. Ian.

A very old thread but have discovered in the Historical Records for 15 Vehicle Company RAOC mixed in with G Branch 2 Infantry Division for 1947

Detachment 15 Vehicle Company was based at the Wolfsburg Motor Works and were responsible for the issue of new Beetles

BTW 15 Vehicle Company RAOC as at 31 Dec 47 had 22 Officers and 626 other ranks in 6 locations including 151 Vehicle Park that was in Herford!

A further illustrated version of the VW Story -


https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/konzern/documents/history/englisch/Heft1_EN.pdf
https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/konzern/documents/history/englisch/Heft2_EN.pdf
https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/konzern/documents/history/englisch/Heft3_EN.pdf
https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/konzern/documents/history/englisch/Heft4_EN.pdf
https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/konzern/documents/history/englisch/Heft5_EN.pdf

https://www.volkswagenag.com/presence/konzern/documents/history/englisch/Heft8_EN.pdf

Is there a HEFT1?

Many thanks Pborn 4 for the historical notes...very interesting history.