Volkswagen Type 14A (Hebmüller Cabriolet)
| Volkswagen Type 14A | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Hebmüller and Sohn for Volkswagen |
| Also called | Hebmüller Cabriolet |
| Production | June 1949-1953 |
| Assembly |
Wuppertal, Germany Osnabrück, Germany |
| Designer | Charles Radcliffye, Joseph Hebmüller II |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 2+2 seater Cabriolet |
| Layout | Longitudinal rear engine |
| Related | Volkswagen Beetle |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 19 kW Volkswagen air-cooled engine |
The Volkswagen Type 14A (commonly known as the Hebmüller Cabriolet or simply Heb) is a German automobile produced after the Second World War.
After the war, Hebmüller and Sohn, a coachbuilding firm in Wuppertal, Germany, like most German companies of the time, lacked business. During this time, British Army Major Ivan Hirst of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) was running Volkswagen. After talks with Colonel Michael McEvoy about a sports car based Volkswagen Beetle, Ivan asked Ringel's experimental team to build the Colonel in charge of Volkswagen, Charles Radcliffye, a two-seat cabriolet.
The Radclyffe Cabriolet, as it is known in Volkswagen circles, obviously influenced Joseph Hebmüller II on his frequent trips to the Wolfsburg plant. The Type 14A, commonly known among VW enthusiasts as a "Heb", took many elements of the Radclyffe Cabriolet his company would later build.
At the request of Volkswagen Managing Director Heinz Nordhoff, Hebmüller and Karmann would build cabriolets for Volkswagen, with as many Type 1 parts, such as chassis, engines, and body panels, as possible. Hebmüller was to build the 2+2 cabriolet, and Karmann the four-seat cabriolet. By contrast with the Karmann, the Heb was intended as a sporting model.
In April 1949, the Type 14A passed a 10,000 kilometres (6,214 mi) rough road test by Volkswagen engineers, pleased with the results, Heinz Nordhoff ordered 2000 production versions to be sold by Volkswagen through its agents.
Hebmüller started production in June 1949, mechanically the Type 14A was the same as the Beetle saloon with mechanical brakes, and the Type 1's' 19-kilowatt (26 PS; 25 bhp) petrol engine. It also shared the Type 1's crank starting, and the cabriolet's icowl-mounted semaphore turn signals and its pushbutton Telefunken radio. The Heb differed in having the decklid and trunk lid being of a similar size and shape.
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