{"id":14013,"date":"2022-06-22T07:55:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-22T10:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.w-143.com\/?page_id=14013"},"modified":"2023-08-30T15:02:29","modified_gmt":"2023-08-30T18:02:29","slug":"volkswagen-kafer-1100-kombi-t1b-schuco","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.w-143.com\/index.php\/volkswagen-kafer-1100-kombi-t1b-schuco\/","title":{"rendered":"Volkswagen Sedan 1100 + Kombi T1b – Schuco"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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1953 Volkswagen Sedan 1100 + 1956 Kombi T1b<\/strong>\nSchuco - 45 027 5800 (diecast) <\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Published 06\/22\/22<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The history behind Volkswagen\u2019s first models is very rich. Despite their somewhat dark origins, the K\u00e4fer and the Kombi are loved by millions. And it all began because Adolf Hitler wanted a cheap car for the masses. In the early 30s, he commissioned Ferdinand Porsche to design a car that was economical, cheap to build and reliable. In 1935 the first prototypes were ready and in 1938 the Nazis built the Volkswagen factory in Fallersleben. The first K\u00e4fer, then called KdF-Wagen<\/a>, rolled off the factory in 1940. However, very shortly after production halted because of the war. After the war, a cheap and reliable car was perfect for war-torn Germany, so Volkswagen restarted their production line. In 1947 the Wolfsburg plant produced almost 9000 cars, officially called \u201cVolkswagen Sedan” or just Typ 1<\/em> (Type 1). The nickname K\u00e4fer (beetle, in German) would only come decades later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The set comes with a trailer – simple but very nice. Including wheel chucks and loading ramps!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The engine of the K\u00e4fer was the same one used in all models out of Wolfsburg since 1947. A simple 1131 cm\u00b3 boxer-4, it was sturdy and reliable, though anemic. Barely delivering 25 hp, nonetheless for a post-war Germany it was adequate. To keep production costs as minimal as possible, Volkswagen made changes to the rest of the car only when necessary. With that, all models, from the pre-war KdF-Wagen up to the 1952 Sedan, look almost identical. What changed was only the trim and upholstery, with the cars becoming \u201cmore luxurious\u201d. Well, maybe more truthfully, the VW Sedan became \u201cless simple\u201d with the years. Visually speaking, the biggest change was the rear window. Up to March 1952, VW used the so-called \u201csplit window<\/a>\u201d; from that point forward they replaced it with the \u201coval window\u201d.  The oval window persisted until 1957, when VW swapped it for a larger one<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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No wing mirrors: so, was this truly a racing car?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
If the K\u00e4fer was the people’s car, the Kombinationsfahrzeug <\/em>(\u201ccombination vehicle\u201c) was the \u201cbusiness car\u201d. On April 23, 1947, Dutch Volkswagen importer Ben Pon visited the VW factory in Wolfsburg. While there, he had the idea of a cargo van using the Typ 1\u2019s platform. Right after, he sketched a doodle<\/a> and presented it to VW\u2019s management. They liked his idea, however the Wolfsburg plant did not have the capacity for a second production line. In 1949, when capacity freed up, the engineering department produced the first prototype, called Typ 29<\/em><\/a>. With a few tweaks and improvements, the first production unit rolled off the assembly line on November 12, 1949. Since this was the second vehicle produced by VW, they simply named it Typ 2<\/strong> (Type 2)<\/a>. Right away it became popularly known as the \u201cKombi\u201d or \u201cBulli\u201d (most likely short for \u201cBus und Lieferwagen<\/em>\u201c – bus and delivery van).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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You can say that both the K\u00e4fer and Kombi were instrumental for Germany’s post-war recovery.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
VW initially produced two versions<\/a> of the Typ 2. These were the Kombi (with side windows and removable seats), and the Commercial (a pure cargo van). Later on, VW introduced the Microbus (1950), Deluxe Microbus and Ambulance (1951) and then a single-cab pickup<\/a> (1952). Powering the Typ 2 was the same 1.1 boxer-4 used on the K\u00e4fer. Delivering measly 25 hp, VW had to use the reduction gear from the wartime Kubelwagen. In 1953 VW upgraded the engine to 1192 cm\u00b3, enhancing power output to 30 hp. Nonetheless, the Kombi in all its versions, could haul 750 kg of cargo. Despite the puny specs, priced at DM 5,850<\/a> (about \u20ac 19,479 today), it was a commercial success in post-war Germany. And just like the Beetle before it, it gained the world soon after.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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VW produced the “oval window” K\u00e4fer from 1953 to 1957.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
In 143rd scale, Schuco offers these two models as a limited-edition set. With only 750 sets available worldwide, you get an oval window K\u00e4fer 1100, a T1b Kombi pickup and a trailer. Both the models are true gems, just as nice as my 1951 K\u00e4fer 1100<\/a>. The trailer is pretty good too; however it is a modern two-axle trailer and consequently not period-correct. Even so, since the Beetle + Bus painted in \u201cHerbie livery<\/a>” is a modern customization job, it works perfectly. Though I looked everywhere, so far I haven\u2019t found any photos of real life K\u00e4fer + Kombi painted in Herbie livery like these. Nonetheless, it’s not hard to find other versions of the Beetle<\/a> and Bus<\/a> in Herbie livery. Therefore, maybe someone actually did paint a 1953 K\u00e4fer and 1956 pickup Kombi as a homage to the original Lovebug. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The trailer is the same one I bought a couple of months ago. From AliX, it was a “generic” model.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Schuco doesn\u2019t mention what year they are, so I can only guess their vintage. However, with a rear oval window, I know that the K\u00e4fer is at least a late 1952 model, though it can be from late 1952 to 1957. In the case of the Kombi, Schuco calls it a T1b – Volkswagen adopted that nomenclature (T1 through T6) in 1990. A T1 would be a first generation Typ 2, produced from 1949 to 1967. Furthermore, a T1b would be a first generation Typ 2 with a smaller rear engine cover, produced from 1956 to 1964. It also had smaller 15\u201d wheels and a smaller engine bay than the T1a and T1c*. Based on that, I consider them to be a 1953 K\u00e4fer and a 1956 Kombi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*The T1a, produced from 1949 to 1955, had a huge \u201cbarn door\u201d engine cover and 16\u201d wheels. The T1c (1965 to 1967) had a wider engine cover than the T1b.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Schuco did an outstanding job on both the Beetle and the Bus.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n
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VW logo – 1948-1960<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
In the end, this is an utterly BEAUTIFUL set. If you need only one Kombi and one K\u00e4fer in your collection, this is the one to get. Nonetheless, I have to point out that I am a bit bothered by not finding a 1:1 K\u00e4fer and Kombi like these. Just an idiosyncrasy of mine, though I try to avoid \u201cfantasy cars\u201d. However, this set looked TOO NICE to resist. Oh, and one last rant: why can\u2019t Schuco properly <\/em>name the vehicles and inform the model year of each? \ud83d\ude44<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Not the “right” Herbie but totally adorable nonetheless.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
During my research for a real-life K\u00e4fer + Kombi in Herbie livery, I found an interesting set from Schuco. It looks like they offered another version of this set (#450374200<\/a>) some time ago. The only difference with my set #450275800 is that the Kombi is a double-cabin pickup. Seems to be nice too, however  the Kombi looks better as a single-cab, if you ask me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My way of celebrating the World Wide Volkswagen Beetle Day<\/strong> \ud83d\ude0e! More Beetle stuff to come, so stay tuned!<\/p>\n\n\n
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1953 Volkswagen Sedan 1100 + 1956 Kombi T1b Schuco – 45 027 5800 (diecast) Published 06\/22\/22 The history behind Volkswagen\u2019s first models is very rich. Despite their somewhat dark origins, the K\u00e4fer and the Kombi are loved by millions. And it all began because Adolf Hitler wanted a cheap car for the masses. In the … Continue reading “Volkswagen Sedan 1100 + Kombi T1b – Schuco”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-14013","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.w-143.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14013","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.w-143.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.w-143.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.w-143.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.w-143.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14013"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/www.w-143.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14013\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16170,"href":"https:\/\/www.w-143.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14013\/revisions\/16170"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.w-143.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14013"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}