







Late last year I came across information on this old VW. The car was found in Lithuania last summer and rescued. I contacted the gentleman who owns it now to get more information on this interesting vehicle. Its history is very unclear. Most likely at the end of the war it was brough back from Germany by a returning soviet army person. Quite a lot of cars were taken from Germany this way, so it is quite possible.



Difficult to say what was done to it during its life, but the last modifications may have taken place as late as the eighties. In its final form only parts of the original body are still intact. The whole of the chassis has been changed to one from a front engined soviet Volga. The windscreen has been swapped, the rear window replaced with a one piece the list of attrocities goes on. It really is heartbreaking to see such a historically unique car this way.



The dating of this VW is actually not that difficult. That said, I invite all VW gurus out there to correct/add to my thinking here. One of the first clues is the sharp corners of the decklid and of the front hood. I cannot imagine anyone going through the trouble of changing those areas. Unlike all the butchery that this car has suffered, Im pretty sure those corners are original to the car. Considering that the three V303 cars, present at the factory cornerstone laying ceremony, were later destroyed, this can only be one of the next batch of pre-pocuction beetles built between May  October (?) 1938. That would make it, the so called VW38 series. Besides being cut down at the bottom, the decklid seems to have survived well. Again, notice the rised hump for the license plate light, a distinct feature of the pre-war beetles. The inside of the decklid is just as interesting. The bracing where the hinges attach is smooth with no holes. Theses holes appeared only later with the VW39 series and were carried into the KdF era. What about the long braces running from the hinges to a crossbar at the bottom of the lid. These can be seen in period photos of the VW38 series cars. Could anyone have fabricated this kind of stuff by accident? The owner also claims that there is evidence of 24 air slots per side under the rear window (later splits having 21 slots per side). The doors may be originals too. Car of this age should have house-door type of doorhandle without the finger recess as found on icepick handle doors. Hard to say from the pictures just how much has been hacked to install the non-vw doorhandles. I would like to see the inside pressing of thoses doors, because the doorhandles of the prototypes were at different positions than on later KdF cars.



Dating of this car is only possible by looking at the surving unique features. Unfortunately all numbers are missing. The owner tells me there is a number found on the car, but he has a strong suspicion it is not original. There is a chance the car was originally without paperwork, so a number and identity of another car was assigned to it so it could be registered to be used on the road. Apparently it was registered as a DKW and has a VIN number much too long to be of a pre-war VW prototype.



Another interesting feature is the color. It appears it may have been dark green originally. Im not sure if thats the green visible under the red though.



So, what do you think? Im far from being an expert on this kind of stuff. All I know is by looking at photos and what I can read in books, so please if anyone can correct me and/or add anything, you are welcome. Im hoping to see this car in person, maybe in a few months. For now I can only go by what I see in the photos and what the owner has told me. Indeed this could be one of the oldest VWs in existance (or whats left of it). As soon as I get more information Ill post it up.



Pictures of the car as found.

















Check out that doorhinge and the sharp corner ends of the hood and decklid











Pre- KdF raised stampings for the licence plate and light







Interesting bracing on the inside of the decklid as can be seen on early prototype VW38







Period photos of decklid details. Smooth hinge panel, different shape hinges and strange brace on the inside of the lid











Picture of a pre-KdF decklid to illustrate the shape.







Index to thread with major milestones

Page Description

1-8 First discovery photos

8 New photos added of interior and other previously unseen areas

9 Current pictures of the Museum Convertible VW38/31 posted for comparison

10 Some mention on the restoration of cars VW38/31 and VW38/03

14 Next batch of new photos, more details are revealed. Lots of shots from the interior showing unique details present on vw38s only.

15 Pictures of Christian Grundmann checking the vw38 during his visit to Lithuania

17 Link posted to an album with more pictures as found

20 More pictures. This time from Undis visit to Lithuania

22 List of chassis numbers/license plates, hard top/rag top specifications is posted. Additional information added to the list over the next few pages.

29 Postcard and other information about DAF in Königsberg/Kaliningrad. Possible historical connection to the car in Lithuania.

33 More information added to the list of chassis numbers/license plates.

35 The VW38 arrives in Germany and news of a 1938 beetle chassis turning up!

40 Pictures of first work cutting off the non-vw stuff

47 Interesting information about fate of VW38 and VW39 cars during pre-war and war period. First pictures of the VW38 displayed at Hessisch Oldendorf

51 The identification is a toss-up between 2 possible contenders

52 The asymmetry in deck lids between cars Nr.5 and Nr.6 is noted

53 Confirmed! The car is identified as VW38/06

55 Two piece front bumper noticed

58 Gearbox, axles and brakes done

61 Original 38 steering wheel found

63 Work on floor pan starts and a YouTube video from 2003 of the car is posted!

70 Floor pan finished and painted

71 38 fan housing and backing plate

73 Gearbox/axles installed in the new floor pan

83 Pictures of new front end bodywork and dashboard

85 Work on the front hood starts

89 Front suspension done

91 Chassis standing on all four wheels

101 Engine installed in the restored chassis

108 Correct split window in place on the body

109 Correct headlights already restored

114 Rear luggage area and inside of the rear window done

116 Body tested on the restored chassis for the first time





Admin Note:

Some of the photos have disappeared form this thread as they were not hosted on this site but they have been reposted on page 202 and 203.

Page 202 link Old VW find. Could this be a VW38?Late last year I came across information on this old VW. The car was found in Lithuania last summer and rescued. I contacted the gentleman who owns it now to get more information on this interesting vehicle. Its history is very unclear. Most likely at the end of the war it was brough back from Germany by a returning soviet army person. Quite a lot of cars were taken from Germany this way, so it is quite possible.Difficult to say what was done to it during its life, but the last modifications may have taken place as late as the eighties. In its final form only parts of the original body are still intact. The whole of the chassis has been changed to one from a front engined soviet Volga. The windscreen has been swapped, the rear window replaced with a one piece the list of attrocities goes on. It really is heartbreaking to see such a historically unique car this way.The dating of this VW is actually not that difficult. That said, I invite all VW gurus out there to correct/add to my thinking here. One of the first clues is the sharp corners of the decklid and of the front hood. I cannot imagine anyone going through the trouble of changing those areas. Unlike all the butchery that this car has suffered, Im pretty sure those corners are original to the car. Considering that the three V303 cars, present at the factory cornerstone laying ceremony, were later destroyed, this can only be one of the next batch of pre-pocuction beetles built between May  October (?) 1938. That would make it, the so called VW38 series. Besides being cut down at the bottom, the decklid seems to have survived well. Again, notice the rised hump for the license plate light, a distinct feature of the pre-war beetles. The inside of the decklid is just as interesting. The bracing where the hinges attach is smooth with no holes. Theses holes appeared only later with the VW39 series and were carried into the KdF era. What about the long braces running from the hinges to a crossbar at the bottom of the lid. These can be seen in period photos of the VW38 series cars. Could anyone have fabricated this kind of stuff by accident? The owner also claims that there is evidence of 24 air slots per side under the rear window (later splits having 21 slots per side). The doors may be originals too. Car of this age should have house-door type of doorhandle without the finger recess as found on icepick handle doors. Hard to say from the pictures just how much has been hacked to install the non-vw doorhandles. I would like to see the inside pressing of thoses doors, because the doorhandles of the prototypes were at different positions than on later KdF cars.Dating of this car is only possible by looking at the surving unique features. Unfortunately all numbers are missing. The owner tells me there is a number found on the car, but he has a strong suspicion it is not original. There is a chance the car was originally without paperwork, so a number and identity of another car was assigned to it so it could be registered to be used on the road. Apparently it was registered as a DKW and has a VIN number much too long to be of a pre-war VW prototype.Another interesting feature is the color. It appears it may have been dark green originally. Im not sure if thats the green visible under the red though.So, what do you think? Im far from being an expert on this kind of stuff. All I know is by looking at photos and what I can read in books, so please if anyone can correct me and/or add anything, you are welcome. Im hoping to see this car in person, maybe in a few months. For now I can only go by what I see in the photos and what the owner has told me. Indeed this could be one of the oldest VWs in existance (or whats left of it). As soon as I get more information Ill post it up.Pictures of the car as found.Check out that doorhinge and the sharp corner ends of the hood and decklidPre- KdF raised stampings for the licence plate and lightInteresting bracing on the inside of the decklid as can be seen on early prototype VW38Period photos of decklid details. Smooth hinge panel, different shape hinges and strange brace on the inside of the lidPicture of a pre-KdF decklid to illustrate the shape.Page Description1-8 First discovery photos8 New photos added of interior and other previously unseen areas9 Current pictures of the Museum Convertible VW38/31 posted for comparison10 Some mention on the restoration of cars VW38/31 and VW38/0314 Next batch of new photos, more details are revealed. Lots of shots from the interior showing unique details present on vw38s only.15 Pictures of Christian Grundmann checking the vw38 during his visit to Lithuania17 Link posted to an album with more pictures as found20 More pictures. This time from Undis visit to Lithuania22 List of chassis numbers/license plates, hard top/rag top specifications is posted. Additional information added to the list over the next few pages.29 Postcard and other information about DAF in Königsberg/Kaliningrad. Possible historical connection to the car in Lithuania.33 More information added to the list of chassis numbers/license plates.35 The VW38 arrives in Germany and news of a 1938 beetle chassis turning up!40 Pictures of first work cutting off the non-vw stuff47 Interesting information about fate of VW38 and VW39 cars during pre-war and war period. First pictures of the VW38 displayed at Hessisch Oldendorf51 The identification is a toss-up between 2 possible contenders52 The asymmetry in deck lids between cars Nr.5 and Nr.6 is noted53 Confirmed! The car is identified as VW38/0655 Two piece front bumper noticed58 Gearbox, axles and brakes done61 Original 38 steering wheel found63 Work on floor pan starts and a YouTube video from 2003 of the car is posted!70 Floor pan finished and painted71 38 fan housing and backing plate73 Gearbox/axles installed in the new floor pan83 Pictures of new front end bodywork and dashboard85 Work on the front hood starts89 Front suspension done91 Chassis standing on all four wheels101 Engine installed in the restored chassis108 Correct split window in place on the body109 Correct headlights already restored114 Rear luggage area and inside of the rear window done116 Body tested on the restored chassis for the first timeSome of the photos have disappeared form this thread as they were not hosted on this site but they have been reposted on page 202 and 203.



Last edited by Undis on Wed Feb 25, 2009 6:17 am; edited 2 times in total