The oval-window Beetle – produced from March 1953 through August 1957 – bridges the split-window originals and the larger rear-window Type 1s that would define the shape for the next two decades. The unified oval rear window, revised dashboard and 1200cc engine make it a distinct collector category in its own right, and diecast releases increasingly reflect that. Autoart, Minichamps and Schuco cover the collector-grade 1:18 market with period paintwork including the popular two-tone Coral Red and Papyrus combinations. Solido and Norev handle 1:43 with strong colour range and historical accuracy. Live eBay listings below cover the current market. Note that oval-window releases are typically produced in smaller runs than the more common standard Type 1 pieces, so limited editions and colour-specific variants often surface as auctions rather than Buy It Now.
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