Posted by: BEETLE MAN - 23 April 2013 19:31:30
Hello I was wondering how many RHD Zwitters are registered in the UK.:wink:

Posted by: Pricivius - 24 April 2013 12:43:56
No idea! But... There's a register on the samba.com which you could trawl down and pick out all the UK zwitters. I can't remember whether it lists LHD/RHD though. It might not be very up to date... I'm yet to meet another zwitter, LHD or RHD, but I know there are a few around. Several people have come up to me at Shows who are restoring RHD zwitters and want to check out what parts are on my LHD. This usually sparks a fun debate with the conclusion that no one knows for certain, but demonstrates there are some out there. No doubt others can offer a more accurate answer!

Posted by: vintagebug - 24 April 2013 13:43:29
I'm aware of at least one RHD zwitter here in the UK, and it belongs to a contributor to this very forum (not me!). I don't know of any others, but I'm sure they're out there.

Posted by: BEETLE MAN - 24 April 2013 16:48:24
[quote=vintagebug]I'm aware of at least one RHD zwitter here in the UK, and it belongs to a contributor to this very forum (not me!). I don't know of any others, but I'm sure they're out there. [/quote] What colour is it?

Posted by: vintagebug - 24 April 2013 17:06:12
Here you go:- https://forums.pre67vw.com/yaf_postst18369_A-great-day.aspx Dave

Posted by: RoRoVw - 24 April 2013 19:02:13
You'll be pleased to hear that there are three zwitters registered to display in this year's Stanford Hall Historic Beetle Display and one of them is the right hand drive one mentioned above. Cheers, Rob.

Posted by: Pricivius - 25 April 2013 09:45:44
Excellent - it'll be great to see some others.

Posted by: BEETLE MAN - 25 April 2013 10:40:49
I cannot wait for next weekend 😉

Posted by: AW - 25 April 2013 10:47:12
Snap :beer: Only bean trying to get there for the past 4 years. Andy W

Posted by: Rich Oakley - 25 April 2013 16:10:04
I know of 3 original RHD Zwitters in the UK.

Posted by: Rattletrap - 25 April 2013 18:52:15
Remember that Beetles were assembled in Ireland, and before[i] Ovals[/i] were introduced, so there were a number of cars known today as '[i]Zwitters[/i]' assembled there and so RHD. Total production number I don't know, but I do know of one of these cars still here in the UK, and a very nice one too. The colour is a mid-blue.:beer:

Posted by: Rattletrap - 25 April 2013 19:00:05
Unfortunately, you have to wary of buying a [i]Zwitter[/i], a car identical to the early Oval apart from the split rear window and also worth more. If I say that numbers of early Ovals have reduced a little and numbers of Zwitters have increased, I think you'll see what I mean. Unrestored Zwitters with the original headliner around the window are ones to go after. I know of at least one Zwitter here that was once an oval....[-x

Posted by: BEETLE MAN - 25 April 2013 20:10:12
[quote=Rattletrap]Unfortunately, you have to wary of buying a [i]Zwitter[/i], a car identical to the early Oval apart from the split rear window and also worth more. If I say that numbers of early Ovals have reduced a little and numbers of Zwitters have increased, I think you'll see what I mean. Unrestored Zwitters with the original headliner around the window are ones to go after. I know of at least one Zwitter here that was once an oval....[-x [/quote] Right that is criminal that someone would butcher an oval to make a Zwitter :( Would be interested to know which one has been worked on to make a zwitter.

Posted by: Pricivius - 30 April 2013 14:16:54
As far as I know, my zwitter is the genuine article... but then I guess every owner is likely to make that claim! It's a tricky issue, that's for sure.

Posted by: stevo - 30 April 2013 18:21:09
Being matching numbers and having the correct vw paperwork I'd like someone to disprove mine!!

Posted by: BEETLE MAN - 30 April 2013 20:41:42
Makes all the differance when you have the paper to prove :-)

Posted by: Pricivius - 30 April 2013 21:08:34
I guess it depends what you mean by paperwork... An original sales receipt? A certificate from VW?

Posted by: stevo - 30 April 2013 21:47:15
Well I have the vw dating certificate which confirms the engine and chassis to be correct to the car. I know these aren't everything but engine,gearbox,body,chassis and ancillary parts are dated to feb 1953. Where the car came from I think it would have been difficult to 'make' the car look older!

Posted by: Pricivius - 30 April 2013 22:07:26
I have a couple of VW certificates confirming the numbers etc..., but then if I was trying to pass my zwitter off as genuine, I don't think they would be too tricky to fake. I'm just playing devil's advocate and looking at it as if I was a buyer trying to avoid being ripped off. Looking back, I was very trusting when I bought my zwitter and relied on him being a well-known car...

Posted by: 65deluxe - 28 May 2013 22:01:48
I picked up my Zwitter a while ago and its in need of full restoration . Although the car was known from the early 70's and had the original headlining ( painted in emulsion ) I was still glad to get the horrible orange paint off and find the original metal untouched underneath . Mine is LHD by the way .