A slug-bug at that!
This one's a 1955 Volkswagen,
my 1:18 die cast toy car.
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The 1955 VW did not have a gas guage (fuel gage). Instead, when it ran out of gas and started to sputter, the driver reached below the dashboard, turned a lever there to the 'RESERVE' position and the car would run to the next gas station on 'reserve.'
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Many motorcycles are like that today, just don't forget to turn the lever back to 'main gas tank' after refueling.
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.In 1962, Volkswagon introduced the gas gauge (mine yesterday was from a later model, the one on the right is a 1960's gauge.
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The reason for having an "R" position instead of "E" for empty was that VW drivers were used to driving on that "RESERVE" gasoline.
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It bothered them, so figured the design engineers, to be driving close to "EMPTY." So the "R" remains to this day, signifying "RESERVE."
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Trivia question, why does this gauge say gasolina instead of fuel or gasoline?
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Answer, this gauge came from a Spanish language country in South America or Mexico..
We have had our share of VW's as far back as the mid sixties to the one my daughter drives right now, a 2004 Jetta.
ReplyDeleteIn Argentina it would have read "nafta"
ReplyDeleteVery interesting Jim. I figured it stood for "refuel."
ReplyDeleteVery cool miniature VW.
ReplyDeleteI never knew that about their gas gauges (or lack there of) back in the olden days.
I suppose R could have stood for...
Rats!! I'm outta gas!!!!!
I knew someone with dislexia who ran out of gas and would put the car in 'reverse' and drive to the next station.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn won't let me play with toys.
Oh GOOD! Once again I have shown that I have NO CLUE! ~ jb///
ReplyDelete