Does anyone have any1952 idea of how many 1952 Kombies came to Australia and how many are still about?
They didn't start selling them until 1954 in australia I know of one 1952 that was imported lhd and was converted to rhd here in australia, if it is a genuine 1952 barndoor with piano hinge quarter vent windows there few and far between
Thats correct info right there, none came to Australia til 54, I believe there were fewer than 300 in total into Aus and NZ A genuine RHD of that age would indeed be a very very rare beast, the oldest RHD known to exist is a 52 I think.
The 54 My dad had a 54 microbus with factory canvas sunroof. Sold in 1985. It has since been fully restored and lives in South Australia.
There was a piano-vent hinge barny 23 deluxe here in Sa, Sunroof was converted to a pop top(home made, about the size of the sunroof). Was a non rear bumper car, had been painted martini olive. I believe the car has since been scrapped when the owner rolled it. The pics were amazing. I have also owned several NOS early Barndoor vent window stays in the past. They must have been here for the bits to have been ordered.
Thats a great picture and thank you for sharing...wish I could get my hands on that roof rack !! I'm after one if you still have it stashed away ha ha . Interesting comments above about the non rear bumper bus and owning the NOS parts. I'm very confident that no buses were imported before early to mid 54 though, I believe the 1st shipment down under went to NZ, a total of 5 were shipped down and I'm also led to believe my 54 was one of that 1st shipment...not conformed yet though. I have found the sister bus to mine though, by all accounts on the ship down here, it's only 5 digits away on chassis numbers and is now restored and in the UK where it was shipped to years ago from NZ....still dove blue OG paint as well.. 1500King...you have a PM
