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News: A Dozen Special-Bodied VWs Will Line Up In A Special Class At Amelia Island

A Dozen Special-Bodied VWs Will Line Up In A Special Class At Amelia Island

By News Desk
March 8, 2019
2 comments

Twelve special-bodied Volkswagens will make a star appearance at Florida’s the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance on Sunday March 10, to mark the 70th anniversary of the Beetle first going on sale in the USA. The special class for Beetle cars with custom coachwork is this year’s unorthodox offering at the world-class concours, which makes a point of surprising its visitors every year with unusual display classes. This will also be the first time that a number of these cars have been seen in public in the US. For example, the 1965 Karmann-Ghia Type 1 concept, which belongs to Volkswagen, and the 1951 Rometsch Beeskow Coupé, which belongs to the Grundmann Collection, have been shipped specially from Germany for the occasion.

The cars are: 1950 Hebmueller Type 14A (above left); 1951 Rometsch Beeskow Coupe; 1951 Tempo Matador; 1953 Rometsch Taxi; 1953 Dannenhauer & Stauss Cabriolet; 1954 Dannenhauer & Stauss Coupe; 1954 Rometsch Beeskow Coupe; 1956 Beetle by Troutman and Barnes; 1957 Rometsch Lawrence Convertible; 1960 Rometsch Lawrence Coupe; 1965 Karmann-Ghia Type 1 concept (main images); and 1969 Beetle Wedding Car (above right).

”We’re delighted that the Amelia Island Concours chose to host a class for the Beetle with custom coachwork,” said Klaus Bischoff, head of Volkswagen Design. “While everyone knows the humble Beetle, it’s less well-known that the Beetle platform was used by a number of coachbuilders in Europe to produce the amazing, unique vehicles on show this weekend.”

“The Volkswagen with custom coachwork is the flipside of the Bug’s original American mission and message: and thus the perfect fodder for an Amelia Concours special class,” said Bill Warner, founder and chairman of the event.  

Images courtesy of Volkswagen

Tags Amelia Island/ Coachbuilt/ Volkswagen Beetle
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sluggo
sluggo
5 years ago

Regardless of the lipstick and rouge that’s applied, it’s still IS and forever will be Der Furher’s car. The 1st motor Dr. Porsche ever made was the Beetle; produced specifically for the aforementioned, not the iconic “Porsche 911” some would have ya believe.

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Chad C.
Chad C.
5 years ago

It seems so strange to me to write about the experience of the air-cooled Beetle. Seems about as necessary as writing about the experience of using a tooth brush, it’s just universally understood.

Then I think of how many young people might not have ever driven one of these. How the hell can you use words to describe everything between getting into & out of a Beetle? Each of the five senses are uniquely engaged (yes, even taste). I think the benchmark of a People’s car is its benevolent purity of design. Everything required is there but very little more. I needed to know how much gas was in my ’60 ragtop Beetle, so the factory included a measuring stick to dip down into the tank. Design purity.

So much so, that owners easily forgave the car for all it didn’t have because it had endeared itself to its owner in all the ways I’m failing to describe. I absolutely loved my Beetle, and I remember it as I remember a long lost friend.

If you haven’t driven an air-cooled Beetle, it is the very essence of motoring and a touchstone of design. There really isn’t a more significant car in the history of automobiles. You need to experience one of these.

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