MRT 308, the first VW built for the UK· Page 2 · International Vintage Volkswagen Forums

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Ovalbug
pre67vw Junkie

16 years ago

Very interesting thread.....:d
Going slightly OT for a minute though, the talk of the first 1953 'batch' of 945 officially imported vehicles interests me as my own oval was delivered to VW Motors London in Sept of that year.
Does anyone have any info on how VW Motors actually sold these UK cars back in '53?
I'd always imagined the cars being sold in drips and drabs throughout '53, with the March cars being sold and then replaced by the April-built cars etc and so on.....
If this wasn't the case were the cars sold by the dealers to special order or were they all available to UK customers ex-stock?

:wink:

'63 Karmann Ghia RHD
'72 1302LS Karmann Cabrio RHD

Standard split
pre67vw Junkie Topic Starter

16 years ago

#22

Ovalbug wrote:

I believe that Colbourne Baber, VW dealers in Guildford, Surrey (still there) were among the first official VW dealers in 1953. They started reconditioning and selling used VWs bought over by ex-servicemen in the late '40s, LHD of course :wink:

Edited by user 16 years ago | Reason: Not specified

Rattletrap – the Volkswagen Beetle that has covered an incredible mileage equivalent to over 35 times around the planet :omg:
Running nifty since 1950… the King of Volkswagens:beer: Why not make friends with this famous little VW – he's on facebook! :d
http://forums.pre67vw.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=16378

Rattletrap
pre67vw Junkie

15 years ago

#23

Here's a very interesting photo; this is MRT 308 being unloaded onto UK soil at Dover, April 1952 – a new right-hand-drive Volkswagen.:thumbup:

So, VW Great Britain, this pre-dates your first batch of right-handers in 1953.:p
MRT Arriving at Dover Apr1952.jpg You have insufficient rights to see the content.

Rich Oakley
pre67vw Junkie

15 years ago

#24

Rattletrap wrote:

Great pic John. Where did you get it from?

47 Beetle, 56 UK Karmann Cabriolet, 56 UK Beetle, 57 UK Type 2, 59 UK Beetle, 66 UK Fastback.

Rattletrap
pre67vw Junkie

15 years ago

#25

A worker within the VW factory in 1952 a Rudolf Mez, retired to Canada back in 1979. I managed to trace him, he was a great guy and sent me everything he had and knew about MRT, including some fascinating photos.:beer:

See my post about him on the lower part of page 1.

Rattletrap
pre67vw Junkie

15 years ago

#26

Here's a real treat. MRT 308, brand new in the UK and just registered, seen here with the proud new owners (April 1952).8)
MRT New-rear.jpg You have insufficient rights to see the content.

59 Ragtop
pre67vw Junkie

15 years ago

#27

Great pic8)

Mike Peckham
pre67vw Junkie

15 years ago

#28

yes, great pic. Do you know where it was taken? Would have been great to take the car back there and set the scene up again.

I love that sort of provenance with a car - early photos are a real treasure!

Mike

July 1957 UK supplied RHD Oval. 1972 World Champion Beetle. 1978 UK supplied RHD 1303LS Cabriolet. 1973 UK supplied RHD 1303s.

Rattletrap
pre67vw Junkie

15 years ago

#29

Great pic8)

59 Ragtop wrote:

Thanks:!:

Mike Peckham wrote:

Walberswick, Suffolk, Mike. MRT is a bit like having our own VW38. I used to show that car everywhere, always very popular.

I'd love to have it back. Be nice for it to be back on the scene.8)