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Categories: VW : VW Beetle : Executive Gifts : Sun Star
VW Beetle `One Millionth VW` (1955) in Gold (1:12 scale by Sun Star 5204)
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This diecast model VW Beetle `One Millionth VW` (1955) is Gold and features working steering, suspension, wheels and also opening bonnet, boot with engine, doors, roof.
In 1933, Ferdinand Porsche was asked by the new Nazi government to design a car for the working man, a project which later to be known as the “people’s car”, or Volkswagen. In May 1937, a company was created to develop and make the car, and one year later, work started on the building of a new factory in the town later to be known as Wolfsburg. However, the war interrupted production almost at once and production was turned over to military vehicles.
In 1945, the factory which was now located in the British occupation zone, was placed under the control of a British Army officer, Major Ivan Hirst. There was no longer a need for military vehicles, so Hirst resuscitated the Volkswagen project and started production following an order from the British Army for 20,000 cars. The factory was then offered to the major US car manufacturers but when no interest was shown, Heinrich Nordhoff, a former senior manager with Opel, was recruited in 1948 and he finally took over from Major Hirst the following year. This was the beginning of one of the most important German companies, which was based on a car which would sell over 20 million units over the following 40 years or so.
Heinz Nordhoff who had taken over from Major Ivan Hirst as head of Volkswagen in 1948 and had led its expansion into the Hebüller and Karmann cabriolets and later into the Type 2 Transporter/Kombi. On 5th August 1955, he marked the production of the 1 millionth Volkswagen with a Press Conference and party at the factory. The star of the show was a 1955 Export saloon in metallic gold, decorated with sparkling cut-glass “jewels”.
This vehicle featured the new 1200cc engine. Internally, it had revised door and interior panels, a steering wheel with a smaller hub and new easy-grip rim and a cranked gear lever. Externally, it had the revised brake tail light and reflector units, chromed twin exhaust pipes whilst in the luggage compartment, the shape of the fuel tank had been modified to increase the space for luggage from 70 to 85 litres and the brake fluid reservoir had been moved to the front, behind the spare wheel.
Features :
• Over 400 parts
• Opening roof
• Opening glove box
• Tilting front seats
• Opening front side windows operated by crank handle
• Removable spare wheel
• Rear seat backs fold forwards
• Removable tool kit
• Independent suspension
• Functioning door handles
• Detailed engine with separate HT leads, fan belt, alternator, starter motor etc
• Removable hub cabs
• All four wheels can be changed by unscrewing the 5 nuts
• Posable windscreen wipers
• movable gear lever
• movable sun visors
1:12 scale (approx. 30cm / 11.8in long) - made by Sun Star.
Limited edition of 1000 pieces worldwide complete with numbered certificate.
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