Topic: Whaddyacallit #388 -Josef Ganz' prototype for the Schweizer Volkswagen, ca. 1937

[Ray B.]

Ever seen this ?

If you did, please respond below and let us know the make and model of the car posted here.

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[Ray B.]

Experts' game

[ftg3plus4]

I believe this is Josef Ganz' 1938 prototype, called the "Silberfisch," whose design was used for the 1946 Rapid from Switzerland.

[Ray B.]

And I believe you're right, at least partially because I found it -in a seemingly reliable source- as a "Josef Ganz Swiss Volkswagen prototype". He made 3 or 4. We can't be sure this is the Silberfisch, who had an all-aluminum body and was probably not painted, as suggested by its name.

[DynaMike]

Walter Zeichner mentions this car in his book "Kleinwagen International". He says that Josef Ganz, who had to flee Germany after 1933, built this car called "Erfiag" when he lived in Liechtenstein. In 1943 he moved to Switzerland, but as a foreigner he was not allowed to start his own factory. So he found the Rapid company (still existing producer of lawn mowers and small tractors) who were willing to build his car. In Spring 1945 the first Rapid prototypes (that were virtually similar to Ganz' former car) were built with the same 1-cylinder 2-stroke engine. Until the beginning of 1947 a series of 36 Rapid Kleinwagen was built with a different engine, a 350 cc 1-cylinder with double pistons. Later Ganz emigrated to Australia and worked for Holden.

[Ray B.]

Fine: here is what I've found on the Josef Ganz Foundation. More or less the same story.

Rapid Schweizer Volkswagen (Switzerland, 1937-1947):
- designed by Josef Ganz;
- 3 or 4 prototypes built including one aluminium-bodied car dubbed Silberfisch in 1937: fate of all prototypes unknown (presumed lost);
- the Rapid was produced from 1946 to 1947, approximately 46 cars produced: 2 cars are known to exist:

one restored car is on display at the (Verkehrshaus) in Luzern, Switzerland ;
one car is currently being restored in the Netherlands (private ownership).

[thorax]

another picture