Ryh 846L 1973 1600 Where is this?

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stilomitch6
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Ryh 846L 1973 1600 Where is this?

Post by stilomitch6 » 1st October 2020 - 3:02pm

Hello Everyone,

This car was purchased by my late Uncle in 1973. I'm pretty sure it was new at the time, this foto is from 1973 or 1974, and was taken in the Balham area of south west London.

Yes, I'm one of the bored looking brats in the foto!

What was he thinking at the time? All those brats and this car had only 2 doors and 4/5 seats from
Babyschuggi 1974.jpg
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what I remember.
Does anyone know if it still exists?

Is it still the same, or has it been restored/modded?
Is it still the same beige/yellow colour?
I think he sold it in 1977 or thereabouts.

Regards,

Max.
Last edited by stilomitch6 on 7th October 2020 - 12:04pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Danny Lord
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Re: Ryh 846L 1973 Variant 1600 Where is this?

Post by Danny Lord » 1st October 2020 - 5:03pm

Just checked the DVLA website to see if it is still taxed, it is! Taxed until January 2021, says it's still yellow as well.
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broady_6
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Re: Ryh 846L 1973 Variant 1600 Where is this?

Post by broady_6 » 5th October 2020 - 10:02pm

It is also showing as insured. The MOT has expried but I expect that a vaguery of the exemption rules.

Date of first registration is listed as 31/12/72 which fits in with your memories.
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Dave Summers
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Re: Ryh 846L 1973 Variant 1600 Where is this?

Post by Dave Summers » 5th October 2020 - 11:20pm

Nice to know it's still around. However, looking carefully at the photo, it's a Fastback, not a Variant. (Variant was VW's term for an estate car although it does sometimes get applied to the other body styles.)
Dave
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stilomitch6
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Re: Ryh 846L 1973 1600 Where is this?

Post by stilomitch6 » 7th October 2020 - 12:30pm

Thanks to y'all for your thoughts.

Vw 1600? (First foto) That's it? No mention of "Variant/Fastback/Type3" body types or model name?

Didn't realise the DVLA provided all that info'. However I would have thought that they would been a little more specific and given the make/model AND the model derivative.

Thanks Dave Summers for pointing out that this is the 'fastback', and not the 2 door estate as I incorrectly remembered.

Which deepens the mystery even further: a 2 door coupe for all those brats almost sitting on top of an aircooled engine?

Vw must have been giving this car away at a very low price to tempt buyers away from the usual suspects at the time: Ford Cortina's & Vauxhall Viva's etc,etc.

Or was Vw desperate to get these antiques off the showroom floor to make way for the front engined Golf models?
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Dave Summers
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Re: Ryh 846L 1973 1600 Where is this?

Post by Dave Summers » 7th October 2020 - 10:34pm

stilomitch6 wrote:
7th October 2020 - 12:30pm

Vw 1600? (First foto) That's it? No mention of "Variant/Fastback/Type3" body types or model name?

Vw must have been giving this car away at a very low price to tempt buyers away from the usual suspects at the time: Ford Cortina's & Vauxhall Viva's etc.

Or was Vw desperate to get these antiques off the the showroom floor to make way for the front engined Golf models?
Yes, the badging was only "VW 1600" for the basic version, although some had "TL" (if it had a bit more equipment) or "TE" (if it had fuel injection) added.

I don't think they were low priced (although Beetles were), but VWs at that time sold mainly on build quality and reliability, which were well ahead of most competitors. The Fastback also had a better back seat than the Variant, but obviously less luggage space.

I was at school back then, and one of my teachers had a K-reg Fastback (1600TE) which he had owned from new and did a high mileage in, including commuting with three colleagues. He replaced it with a Viva which I never thought was his kind of car, and sure enough, he only kept it for 18 months before buying an Alfasud (which must have been at least as good to drive as the VW, but of course rusted...).
Dave
412 Variant
411 2-door saloon

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