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Post by Lee Hedges on Dec 28, 2010 8:48:01 GMT -8
The September 1961 Frankfurt Auto Show was the first time most people saw the T34 Cabriolet in-person, rotating on a round display platform with the top down. The interior is interesting in this M341 prototype because it doesn't match the cloth seat upholstery typically used in 1962 T34s. It appears to be solid leatherette vinyl but with the typical two-tone (light outer & dark inner). Jorg or Carsten, do you have any explanations?  |
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Post by Jörg Fischer on Jan 18, 2011 23:58:49 GMT -8
The explanation I have so far is that the T341 from the Frankfurt Auto Show is pretty much "handmade" and has been assembled at the last minute. A few years ago an old Karmann worker (employed there since 1941 or so) told me, that the Frankfurt Auto Show T341 did not have a top frame (!) at the exhibition because there was too little preparation time (anyone got pics from the show with closed roof??)...
I can imagine that - since Karmann had its own upholstery team - for the show the upholsterer (or Mr. Karmann himself) wanted a somewhat "fancy" interior.
I have (unfortunately only few) copies of papers from the development time of the type 34 in 1961 where the problems in developing become very clear, since VW was contemporaneously working on and improving the type 3, and all major changes had to be passed to Karmann (which of course happened with quite some delay).
In August we should get the opportunity to ask this question to former Karmann workers...
Regards Jörg
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Post by Lee Hedges on Jan 19, 2011 9:21:02 GMT -8
That's what I love about the T34 story ... it's all still unfolding 50 years later! I do have a Sep 1961 FAS photo with the M341 top up. The KARMANN license plate was tilted forward (or photoshop'd later) to provide the proper advertising for Karmann.  |
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Post by Jürgen Klein on Jan 19, 2011 14:33:52 GMT -8
Nice bumper overrider !
Jürgen
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Post by Lee Hedges on Jan 19, 2011 15:37:39 GMT -8
Look again ... the black area is only a shadow, not the American-style bumper bars. I originally thought the same thing when I first saw this photo. It's your eyes playing tricks ...  |
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Post by Jürgen Klein on Jan 20, 2011 1:20:51 GMT -8
The shadow between the body and the bumper . Oh yeah - now I see .
And I think : How can it be that I havn`t realize this last night ?
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