What Type 3 Fastback did I see? Not a Karmann Ghia

What Type 3 Fastback did I see? Not a Karmann Ghia

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carinaman

Original Poster:

22,064 posts

179 months

Saturday 7th September
quotequote all
While out on my motorcycle yesterday afternoon I passed a petrol station and there was a 1960s/70s fastback two door in white pulling away from a petrol pump that I can best describe as a VW Type 3 Fastback but instead of having vertical tail lights had larger rear light lenses arranged horizontally positioned atop the rear bumper. The rear lights looked like Porsche 914 ones. At the front there was what looked like a fake radiator grille with vertical slats arranged in narrow V shape leaning outwards from the centre to each side.

It was quite pretty and my second thought was that perhaps it was some South American model based on a Type 3. I guess it could some other vehicle and not a VW Type 3?

It looked more like a coach built car than some custom built type creation. It looked factory.

Doing Cardle today and not having a clue reminded me of seeing that car yesterday.

paddycam

506 posts

132 months

Saturday 7th September
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Could it have been a Type 4?

VW 412

carinaman

Original Poster:

22,064 posts

179 months

Saturday 7th September
quotequote all
Image by Charles 01 from Wikipedia:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Volkswagen...



The front is different and it didn't have a reg. plate between the headlamps. The front had front wings like a Type 3, MGB, Midget, Cambridge/Oxford or Mk1 Cortina or countless other cars from that time

There was no gap between the rear bumper and rear light lenses, and while the Type 4 lamps are similar these looked more like Porsche 914 lamps. They were more protruding, less integrated into the bodywork.

I suppose it could've been some other European brand like a Fiat, Renault or Simca?

Reciprocating mass

6,040 posts

248 months

Saturday 7th September
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Type 3 notchback would be my guessing

carinaman

Original Poster:

22,064 posts

179 months

Saturday 7th September
quotequote all
paddycam said:
Could it have been a Type 4?

VW 412
Thanks.

The rear lamps were very much like the Type 4 Variant including their positioning:

Image from https://www.ultimatespecs.com/car-specs/Volkswagen...


Dr Interceptor

8,045 posts

203 months

Saturday 7th September
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Volkswagen SP2? I love these cloud9


carinaman

Original Poster:

22,064 posts

179 months

Saturday 7th September
quotequote all
Sorry Dr. Interceptor, it wasn't an SP2, but I did think as I was going along on my motorcycle at about 40mph that it may've been some kind of South American made VW that had made it's way here.

The glasshouse was quite like a Type 3 fastback. On first glance it screams Type 3 fastback but then the rear lamps and the front pretend radiator grille cause 'Doesn't compute' type thoughts.

Edited by carinaman on Saturday 7th September 10:23

Dr Interceptor

8,045 posts

203 months

Saturday 7th September
quotequote all
Hmm... how about the Brazilian Karmann Ghia?




carinaman

Original Poster:

22,064 posts

179 months

Saturday 7th September
quotequote all
Thanks Dr. Intereceptor, never knew such a car existed. Very close. Front wings and headlamps matches. Rear lamps very similar.

The grille looked different, but it has a grille. I wonder if it's a later version of the same car.

Grille was like:

\\\\\\\\\\//////////

carinaman

Original Poster:

22,064 posts

179 months

Saturday 7th September
quotequote all
Dr Interceptor said:
Hmm... how about the Brazilian Karmann Ghia?



I think I'll have to settle for that. That's it or something very similar. Thank you.