Research Related to the hood Ornament - Aussie Bonnet Badge

Vodevil Reporting


 John Weninger of Type VW Club in Melbourne has one on his original 1959 36-bhp (30PS to you Europeans!) and he couldn't explain its origins, although he did put me in touch with someone who was very helpful, Gary Collis, proprietor of Wolfsburg Motors at Coburg. Weninger has seen a '62 Beetle originally purchased new in Sri Lanka (Ceylon back then) and it had one of those emblems fitted from new. ‘Hot VWs’ magazine had an article in their July 1988 issue, which referred to two of the badges as the ‘rarest of the rare’, and they believed they had come from Australia.

All indications are that they were an Australian invention, and it is probable, though not absolutely certain, that they were only made in this country.

The manufacturer, from about 1957, was Merlin Metal Products of Coburg, Melbourne, a company that went out of business a number of years ago. Merlin Metal Products manufactured decorative diecast metal ware, and in particular ‘mascots’ for the bonnets of popular home grown cars, including the Aussie Holden (GM), Ford Falcon and Fairlane, Chrysler Valliant and of course the VW.

The VW types were produced in at least six different versions, generally highly elaborate structures, always incorporating the VW emblem; wings, perhaps a torpedo formation, and one version even features a kangaroo! The more common variety (and they are by no means ‘common’) are perhaps 15cm long by 10cm high, and designed to fit the curve of the beetle bonnet, astride the centre trim strip, requiring drilling of holes for the integral mounting bolts.

Gary Collis has owned several of these at different times, and retains three different versions for display. The spare genuine ones were sold. He has had reproductions made of the one with wings and torpedo.

Vic has another curio of this kind, which incorporates the VW roundel and a wolf. It is more than double the size and triple the weight of the others, and has much larger mounting studs of about 6 mm, which go through the centre moulding strip, rather than either side. This one is so big it would probably need bracing struts or props to hold it in place when the car is in motion. He hasn't a clue where this one originated, nor for that matter what to do with it, although he isn’t stupid! It was no doubt another of Merlin Metal Products’ gothic fancy.

Either love ‘em or hate ‘em, when confronted with one you can’t ignore it, nor deny they are novel, and rare.