Aircooled VW South Africa

Scanned this letter and pic sent to the latest issue of the Wegsleep magazine tonight - pretty interesting!



For the benefit of all the souties between us, I have even translated it

I would like to know whether this 'ox wagon tent' on the picture could be the early ancestor of the popular 'roof-top' tents we find in South Africa today? My father built this roof rack from wood, and made the little ladder as well. The tent was made with the help of a local shoemaker who did all the stitching. My sister and I could erect the tent with three iron arches in two minutes. On this picture, taken in 1959, my sister and I are having something to eat at Letaba. Ida Barnard, Kroonstad

http://www.wegsleep.co.za

Most probably!

WestfaliaRegistry.com

'51 afaik.

N.

That is a post-55 bus.

I have a book about a tour of Southern Africa made in 1955 by a German couple in a 1953 bus converted by Westfalia, which is credited with being the first VW Westfalia camper. Lots of very cool pics of the bus in SA. The book is called South Africa Today and the authors' surname is Blenck. One can still find copies of it in second-hand book shops.

Fig,

Iirc, check the registry. I'm sure I remember a '51 on there.

N.

I've got more info in books at home; I'll check tonight.

But I still can't get this site from home.

Neither can I.

I no longer even try.

N.