WARNING.— The person in whose name this vehicle is displayed may or may not be the current owner of the vehicle. Readers are warned, therefore, that this entry is not proof of ownership.
Details
- Registration Mark
- ZX 1200
- (a) Type:
- Type 1
- (b) Year:
- 1955
- (c) Colour:
- Black
- (d) Paint code:
- L41
- (e) Engine CCs:
- 1200
History
- (a) Country of origin:
- Ireland
- (b) County first reg'd:
- Kerry
- (c) Current or last known location:
- Kerry
Model information
Oval Window Beetle Deluxe
Info
I took these photos at the Limerick Classic Car Show back on May 30th 2010. The Beetle was still covered in a layer of dust as it was found and that’s the way the owner wants to keep it. It’s great to see an original Irish Oval Window Beetle with traceable history back on the scene.
Having originally sold this Black (L41) Oval Window Beetle Deluxe new in 1955, Divane’s of Castleisland were lucky enough to get the Beetle back and they wasted no time in displaying ZX 1200 in their showroom until 1979 when it went into storage in one of their buildings. The matching numbers Beetle was then vandalised in 1979 requiring one wing to be replaced as well as four windows and a new roof cloth.
When Irish assembly of the Beetle ceased in 1977, Stanley Divane decided to keep one new 1977 Beetle unregistered and on permanent display in his showroom. That Beetle, a silver Beetle originally, was painted gold and to this day, sits proudly in their showroom, unregistered and with only delivery mileage. It was decided that this last-off-the line Beetle would take pride of place in their display fleet so this Oval Window Beetle, now surplus to requirements, was offered to a Kerry based enthusiast who proudly displayed his new Oval that day in Limerick back in 2010. I’m happy to report that the Beetle is still with that very enthusiast, in Kerry, where it was first registered back in 1955.
The brand new Beetle that is on display in Divane’s showroom is also listed here on the Beetle.ie Census so why not check out the lowest mileage Beetle in Ireland https://beetle.ie/vehicle/nos-beetle/
Additional Photos
