Weird And Wonderful VW's

Limited Production

Following on from June's Wheelspin, on the infamous Hebmüller cabriolet; this month we take a look at some of the other custom roadsters and coupes that were built on the Beetle platform during the 1950's.
Though all of very limited production, they attempted to fill in the void left over by the demise of the Hebmüller concern. It would not be until the popularity of glass fibre roadster conversions from the 1970's onwards that any roadsters remotely like the Hebmüller would become common on the VW scene. Although not nearly as refined as the Hebs, the likes of the Wizard Roadster did cost a lot less than the custom builts of the 1950s. But glassfibre is another story.

The Maier Conversion

Perhaps closest to the Hebmüller in design and refinement, and easily mistaken for one at first glance, only three Maier conversions were commissioned around 1952 - just after the fall of Hebmüller. The coachworks of Werner Maier of Switzerland, were mainly concerned with conversions of such marques as Lancias and Morrises, but decided to undertake a Beetle based 2 seater conversion, with vehicles supplied by a VW dealership in Basel.

Designed and commissioned by the Maier concern, the Beetles were transported to the Karosserie Karl Rusterholz near Zurich - where the work was carried out.

Each vehicle took 6 weeks of fine coachwork and craftsmanship to build. The results were excellent, but the cost meant the models were double the price of a contemporary Beetle Deluxe, and half the price again of the Karmann cabriolet. The expense meant that only three models were built, which is a pity since they could have inherited the Hebmüller crown, given time and some support from Wolfsburg.

Both the semaphore indicators and the short decklid give the car away, the Hebmüller is always noted for its long, bonnet size rear cover. Only one Maier survives to this day.

The sole survivor was first purchased by a Herr Geisberger in 1952 and was well maintained and even raced in 1956 until he parted with it in 1958. The second owner undertook some modernisation, notably the bumpers, engine and headlights. Herr Werner may have used the car for nefarious purposes since a smuggling compartment was found underneath where the folding roof is stored.

In 1967 the car has sold to Fraülein Rutener, who ironically became the secretary of the original owner, Herr Geisberger. The car disappeared until 1979 when an enthusiast started tracing the history of this Hebmüller like model. Funny how beetle owners run into each other.

Moto-Torino

The Italians are no strangers to designing Volkswagens, just look at the Karmann Ghia and Golf to name but two. The now defunct concern of Moto-Torino of Turin, undertook an unknown number of conversion in the late 1950's, only one of which still lives on.

The Moto-Torino is not unlike a Wizard roadster in shape, but was a well built steel coachbuilt conversion rather that a fibreglass built kit. Again, it had a modified Beetle decklid, unlike the long Hebmüller cover, but the Moto-Torino used many cabriolet parts, but an original Beetle 30hp engine.

The surviving example was built in 1959 on a 1957 chassis. This survivor has spent its life in the USA, having been built in Turin, serviced in Germany and shipped straight to Florida in 1959.

The Stoll Coupé

Historic photo of the Stoll

A complete one off, and so it is lucky to survive, is now in the hands of Bob Shaill in southern England, a long term Volkswagen enthusiast who lovingly restored this unique 2+2 seater Stoll Coupé

Originally this car was built between 1952 and 1954 for a Herr Bernard, who originally had his eye on a Hebmüller, but decided to commission his own car after the demise of that firm in 1952.

The two year project to create a hard top conversion, similar to the now lost Hebmüller hard top coupe prototype seen in June's Wheelspin. The redesign featured a reworked rear roof, and custom decklid, based on the Beetle sedan part.

Restored and in the VW museum

Herr Bernard owned the car from 1954 until 1969, from whence it began its long journey towards Bob Shaill's garage.
In 1969 it was sold to two wandering Americans, travelling around Europe, who obviously went far since the car was sold on in 1971 with 370,000 km on the clock. 71 saw the car arrive in England (where possibly the travellers caught the plane home) and was registered under the license plate of EAN 24J.

The car was then stolen and subsequently went through two VW enthusiasts who never got round to the work or expense of restoring the vehicle.

Eventually Bob Shaill acquired what he saw as a unique model and began a 14 year project of restoration and research. He has brought the Stoll Coupé back to life and rescued a one-off piece of Volkswagen history. Not surprisingly Bob Shaill also owns a restored Hebmüller. The Stoll now resides in the VW Museum at Wolfsburg.

The Stoll on show (below) copyright by VW-Veteranenclub Mnster e.V.

http://home.t-online.de/home/vw-veteranenclub.muenster