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The New Hebmüller

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Beginning Where They Left Off

It’s surprising to some Beetle enthusiasts that the Type 14A Roadster was constructed into the VW Oval era. It’s true that as Karosserie Hebmüller ceased production of the 2-Seater cabrio enough parts where taken to the Karmann company for construction there. We are certain through records recently discovered by Historians Dr. Bernt Wiersch and Dr. Susanne Wiersch at Automuseum Volkswagen that a dozen Type 14’s were built by Karmann in the Spring of 1952. On the discovered printed document is also hand written the numbers of a Type 14 built in early 1953.

In the exhaustive chronicling of the book “The Car of the Century”, author J. T. Garwood had discovered a Late 1953 “Hebmüller” (page 280). He also records another Heb built in late 1952 (page 238).

If all of these discoveries are correct there would be three Zwitter/Oval era Type 14 Roadsters. But would they have been built using Split era parts and dashboards? Every indication is that they would have been constructed using up-to-date parts for their build dates. It makes sense when you consider that Volkswagen was interested in continuing production of the roadster. If that was not the case it would have been an exercise in futility to send the project to another subcontractor such as Karmann.

By late 1952 components had changed enough to throw into question whether it was practical to make the necessary modifications to warrant continuation of the roadster line. Sedan doors were at that time forever changed to provide for the new vent wing window. They would now need to be altered to accommodate the roadster single glass panel. How would this be accomplished with the new sedan window winders? They would need to know if they were going to offer these roadsters to the public. The likelihood is that these transition Zwitter/Oval vehicles were used to try out new Beetle modifications and determine if it was viable to continue production.

The new Hebmüller Registry managed by Claus Missing and Peter Schepens is currently investigating a few T/14 2-Sitzers with Zwitter/Oval era dashboards. One of these can be seen at their website: http://karmann1952.de/html/hebmuller_1953_0.html

As we explored the possibilities for the New Hebmüller Roadster that we are now constructing we determined that it would be appropriate to begin at both ends. Dr. Dirk Hortig currently has a Split era roadster under construction in Germany. We are looking forward to seeing photos of his Heb soon.

Our first offering here in California is a late 1953 Oval era roadster. Our construction was interupted to take it to the 2009 Kelly Park Show in San Jose. It was received well and we have had a lot of encouraging comments from restorers who appreciate just what it takes to construct a Hebmüller. Shown below are some of the photos taken at the time of the show. The Heb is in the “body-in-white” stage of construction. We will be adding some appropriate metal of course but this will give you a good skeletal view of the “Phantom ‘53”. We will continue to add photos as construction progresses.

Thanks to all of you who have given us so much support!

Long Lines

Rare 1953 Dash

Correct Reinforcement Panels

Nice Wood!

Stats for the finished Roadster:

September 1953 Chassis / Matching numbers axle, pan, transmission / 36hp engine with ‘53 spec tin

Paint: One Year Only L-35 Dark Azure Blue Metallic

Top: Grey Haartz Canvas

Interior: Grey Leather with Ivory Piping, Grey German Wool Headliner and Square Weave Carpet

SoCal Treffen photos courtesy of Frank Espinoza / www.strictlyairvws.com

Fast Forward………..

We were scrambling to get our first Heb, Type 14 to the SoCal Treffen at the middle of September, 2009. It is the week before the show and the 1953 Hebmüller needs to get from the body shop at West Coast Auto Craft, to the upholsterer. Only the front seats had been completed before the car was delivered after noon on the Tuesday before the show. The final mechanical adjustments were being made to the top late that day. The interior door panels need to be built, the rear seat is only partially installed and the complete soft top needs to be built not to mention carpet installation. In short, everything! For many shops just one of these issues would have been the limit of the task ahead of them. But not for Byron Roebeck’s shop “Finish Line” automotive interiors in the San Francisco, South Bay Area. They virtually worked magic in a short time. By 7:00 Friday evening the Heb was rolled out of their shop, seats installed and top on.

We had actually started the chrome trim installation at their shop and changed from the tattered wheels and bald tires used through the build to the ‘53 matched set of rims and new whitewalls. After a couple of more hours of primping we were off for Southern California. It had been a long week of sustained days and brief nights so we only made it a few more hours before finding a motel only to resume the trip the following day at sometime in the fourth hour. Sunrise was yet an unknown location somewhere along highway 5 in the Central Valley.

Reaching the Treffen location at the German Cultural Center, “The Phoenix Club”, in Anaheim shortly after noon I was directed back to the Pavilion. The crew from Wolfsburg West were hoisting large Volkswagen posters above the wide expanse of tented floor just below the “Altstadt” German flag and succession of regional banners. We had made it to our destination but still needed hours to continue the assembly procedure on the ‘53 Type 14. That process would again continue late into the evening but would wait an hour for a beer and some needed rest. A nap would have been great but that was preempted by the shuffling of the cars in the pavilion. The crew was arranging and rearranging the Porsches, Rometsches and other elites that were invited into the Pavilion. Rich Kimball was directing the group and I was somehow reminded of Moses as the group faithfully followed his lead. His booth and our Karosserie Hebmüller booth had been side by side at Kelly Park so he had a view of the Oval Heb in its “underwear”.

With his hands on his hips he pondered then turn my way. “Hey Roger! Can you bring your Heb inside?” he asked.

“We still have a few hours of work to make it presentable”, I replied.

“Can you have it here first thing tomorrow morning?” was his come back.

“We sure can”, I said “Bright and early”.

We arrived a little after 6:00 the following Sunday morning. The vender’s booths were just being stocked and the sun was yet below the horizon when we were directed to push the New Heb around the perimeter of the oversized tent and through the side door and into the arena. One spot remained reserved for the New VW Roadster.

To say it was a surreal experience for me is an understatement. Just to be in the company of other coachbuilts of the quality that were invited into the pavilion would have been enough but this was also a début that was many years in the making. There was certainly a dreamlike quality about the moment, enhanced I’m sure by the shear deficit of sleep. Needless to say the dream continue though the event. So many great cars assembled together and the grounds simply immaculate as would be expected at a Deutschlander facility. There were a few moments where I was certain that I had been transported to the Rhineland.

There was so much beautiful antique tin at the Treffen that it had been truly difficult to select only one representation in many of the classifications. After I cast my votes I took a seat close enough to the stage under the big top to enjoy the folk dance presentation. The dream proved to have a few more “acts and scenes” remaining as the awards ceremony commenced. The truly greatest surprise for me was the award we took as first-runner-up for the Coachbuilt classification.

Hats off to all of those involved in this long-time-coming project!

SoCal Treffen photos courtesy of Frank Espinoza / www.strictlyairvws.com

For more photos of the SoCal Treffen go to: www.strictlyairvws.com

The New Hebmüller

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