The Second Zwitter Sunroof Beele

[Bruce]

At the show on Sunday, I was talking to Bob West.  For those that haven't heard of Bob West, he's an old timer local racer from way back.  He used to race a 356 at Westwood and used to work as a mechanic at Volkswagen Pacific in the 50s and 60s.

He was telling me about his 53 split zwitter sunroof, one of only 2 zwitter sunroofs in Western Canada.  In 1969 he acquired a mint 67 floor pan from a wreck and decided to put the zwitter onto it.  He pulled the zwitter body off its original pan in his driveway, then during the night it was stolen!

A few people may remember about the zwitter that was up on the pole outside a repair shop in Victoria, I thought it was a sunroof split.  That car was brought down and restored, I believe it is black now.  Mirko's friend?  That would be one of them.

Where is the second one today?

[nivag]

The one Mirko's friend Derek owned is now in Vancouver... it is no longer black.    

[Greg]

I do believe there is one up near parksville that is an OG ragtop zwitter, I'll double check though

[Bruce]

I talked to Mirko today and Derick's ex car is not one of the 2 zwitter sunroof cars.

The sunroof spilt up on the pole was at Speedway motors.  The story Mirko remembers was that it came down and was a dual glove box split (51), and not a zwitter.  That car was sold in a lot of derelect cars for next to nothing.  He rememberd seeing it off the PBH for about 10 years after it came down, then lost track of it.  It has not been seen or heard of since.

Keep us posted, Greg.

[Derick]

Hey Bruce you probably know by know my black zwitter is owned by gavin!!Cant wait too see it all done up and done right this time!Will it be done this show season!!The zwitter up island is owned by Dave at country volks its pretty sweet now it was at island bugs along with my original black one!I sure miss those days of screaming around with Mirko in our old black bugs!!Someday ill go too cali and by another solid one!

[Bruce]

Yep, Gav filled me in.
On Sunday at the Vic show, I was talking to a couple of the \"long in the tooth\" guys about this.  One guy said that Dave's zwitter at country Volks is indeed an original sunroof split.  So that means one is accounted for.  Is that Bob West's split?  Who knows?

[Derick]

Last time i saw Daves split it was a put in 3 fold however maybe he has another one i dont know of.There were actually 2 zwitters there the last time 2 years ago i was there the grey sunroof and a blue hardtop he said a guy from van owned.Dave was actually the one who bought my split off me and then later sold too gavin!Too bad i couldnt make the vic show considering its 1 min from my house would have been nice too bs with all the boys again.

[Greg]

Dave at country volks has 2 zwitters, and I do belive that one is a OG sunroof (the car I was thinking of) but it was an american bug

[neil68]

Not a sunroof, but still another oldie from the bush in northern Alberta:

http://www.airriders.ca/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=9408

[nivag]

Hey Derick, Gavin here... DO you know anyone from the old Bowwow shop in Vic? There was a shot of my/your zwit in it's glory days, painted gloss black pullin a big wheelie at Mission. It was hung right above the door as you were leaving the shop, pretty big in size. Or do you know anyone that might be able to help track that down?

Cheers, Gavin

[Greg]

Chris from Bow-wow works at speedway now in the parts department, call him and ask  
1-250-381-4331
Im sure he would love to talk about cars from the past while he works

No im wrong about the zwitters at country volks, its the three fold.
He owned the one that was on the speedway post but he sold it a few years ago.

[Bruce]

He owned the one that was on the speedway post but he sold it a few years ago.

What year was that car?  Mirko swears it was a double glove box split.  Was it also a sunroof car?

[Derick]

Bruce the car on the speedway pole was a 51 og sunroof ive seen this car and met the owner at the time.As Mirko says it was off the pat bay highway i wont say where on here however i here the car may be on saltspring now!My black split was owned by Roy miller and then Marty P.The country volks split is not the other sunroof zwitter you are looking for!These are facts i dont know where Greg gets his facts he wasnt even born when all this went down!!

[Greg]

you right im only 20!


Neither was was daves son but Im guessing he knows whats up    

[Derick]

no sorry greg james is wrong on that one!!I know i owned the car for years then sold it too his dad!!