Factory code: Type 14A (Type 14 Cabriolet Hebmüller)
The construction of vehicles in the first half of the 20th century – frame structures with bolted-on bodies – enable independent coachbuilders to design their own models based on existing production vehicles. In the economic revival of the late 1940s, the coachbuilder Hebmüller from the Bergisches Land region offers its services to Volkswagen.
In 1948, Karosseriewerke Joseph Hebmüller Söhne is commissioned to develop a convertible based on the Volkswagen Type 1 (“Beetle”). Hebmüller creates an elegant 2+2-seater with a distinctive rear end, a fully retractable roof, and exclusive interior fittings. Volkswagen orders 2,000 units of the convertible (Type 14A) based on the Volkswagen 1100 Export.
Hebmüller manufactures the elegant vehicles, which are officially sold through Volkswagen dealers, until series production is halted prematurely – a major fire in July 1949 destroys large parts of the Hebmüller production facilities in Wülfrath. In order to use up the remaining body parts, a small number of "two-window convertibles" are finally produced at Karmann in Osnabrück. A total of only 696 Volkswagen 1100 Cabriolet Hebmüller are ever built.
