Lot details Registration No: FBY513H Chassis No: B192436 Mot Expiry: Feb 2011
The property of Jenson Button
Currently celebrating its 60th birthday, the Volkswagen Type 2 (the Type 1 was the Beetle) has long since acquired cult status courtesy of such diverse celebrity owners as Jamie Oliver, Martin Clunes, Roger Daltry and Jenson Button. It has been home to generations of travelling Australians, helped hippies survive the 60s/70s and become the transport of choice for many a surfer. Variously available in Van, Bus, Pick-up and Camper guises, it would probably have been nicknamed the 'car that changed the world' if the Model T hadn't got there first.
The original Splitscreen T1 version (now very sought after) was launched in 1950 and built in both Germany and Brazil. It was powered by a rear-mounted 1131cc flat-four engine producing a modest 24bhp. By the late 70s, a range of engines up to 2-litres in capacity was available, while many a customised Type 2 has been upgraded to Porsche power.
The Gold-coloured left-hand drive Microbus on offer is the very one owned for the last three years by Jenson Button and comes with paperwork to confirm that approximately 1,000 miles ago it was fitted with a brand new: 1600cc factory engine fed by a pair of 40mm Solex carburettors and topped by chrome engine covers; exhaust, battery and tyres. Moreover, the original steering box has been replaced with a rack and pinion system. As the Splitscreen models were only made in Germany until 1967, the chances are that 'FBY 513H' was manufactured in Brazil. According to Jenson's father John, the coachwork is "very good", the paintwork, gearbox and interior trim are all "good" and the VW is MOT'd until February.
A celebrity-owned Microbus complete with Brawn baseball cap signed by the reigning world champion? Life surely doesn't get much better for the Type 2 cognoscenti!
PLEASE NOTE: This vehicle is left hand drive and not right as described in the catalogue.
PLEASE NOTE: This vehicle has a current MOT certificate expiring February 2011.
PLEASE NOTE: The missing seats from the rear compartment will be made available to the successful purchaser after the sale.
All successful bids must be paid in full by midday the day after the auction at the latest.
You can collect your new pride and joy from our venue until 1pm the day following the sale or our partners are on hand to help arrange safe transportation:
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