This weird cartoon-like car once used in criminal activities against the law

Weird ONES Is that a provocative title? We hope not.. As we have discussed some time ago about the unique shaped cars made by the past automotive manufacturers. Some of those are remind us to the car in the cartoon film, and mostly of what we've seen a simply designed roadster.

The first model of the Gebruder Verga Coupé built by Enrico Verga in 1956 has an unusual removable bubble top canopy. (Picture from: MarioTheMultipla)

This could be just a memory refresher for you, if some time ago we had discussed a car like this, namely the Volugrafo Bimbo 46 of 1947. And now we will discuss the similar look car made by lesser known Swiss coachbuilder back in the 1950s. Uniquely, this spectacular little space-aged coupé named the Gebruder Verga Coupé has a special body attached on a Volkswagen chassis, and powered by a rear-mounted air-cooled engine.

The second model of the Gebruder Verga Coupé (may be) a copy which was no less eccentric, a coupé with gull wing styled doors.. (Picture from: MarioTheMultipla)

Well, from the name alone, might be most of you've never heard or know it before. Indeed there's not many information related to this unique car. But reportedly the mentioned unique car was made only two units, one was an unusual shaped car featured with a removable bubble-top canopy and the other (may be) its copy which was no less eccentric, a coupé with gull wing styled doors.

The first model of the Gebruder Verga Coupé has unique bodywork style built on a Volkswagen chassis, and powered by a rear-mounted air-cooled engine. (Picture from: MarioTheMultipla)

Related to the maker is Carrozzeria Verga, which was founded in 1830 by Benjamin Verga as a carriage maker and carriages made of wood and iron. Over times, the business remains in the family and in the following century, the next Verga's generation became a skilled automotive coachbuilder. And the first model prototype of the Gebruder Verga Coupé was built by Enrico Verga in 1956, it firstly appeared to public at the Concours D’Elegance Campione d’Italia competition in Lugano in that year.

The first model of the Gebruder Verga Coupé has a unique appearance after being converted into a roadster which resembles the shape of a vehicle in a cartoon. (Picture from: MarioTheMultipla)

Due to the absence of photographic documentation, it is not known what kind of car was included in the automotive event in Lugano. It is thought that this is a beautiful and futuristic bubble glass version and this car pictures are also being displayed on this coachbuilder business website, unfortunately there is no information regarding the whereabouts of the antique car, many speculations said probably it hidden somewhere in the Verga Carrozzeria's workshop as well.

The first model of the Gebruder Verga Coupé after being converted into a roadster by replacing the bubble canopy with a curved windshield. (Picture from: MarioTheMultipla)

By the way, it had published in a German magazine back in the 1950’s (Auto Motor un Sport Nr. 24 of 1956), whose wrote that such bubble roof opening had a rather strange and clumsy, in which it lifted up in one piece including the circular door disc. Furthermore, in several of the photos below, it seems to have been replaced with a curved windscreen, maybe the roof was removable or perhaps this was a modification or even a different version, although has the same registration vehicle number.

The second model of the Gebruder Verga Coupé was seized by the French Police for being used for smuggling activities back in 1959. (Picture from: MarioTheMultipla)

Then related to the second model designed and built by Verga with a body shape and style that is very similar to the first one but with a slight difference, namely with a fixed roof coupled with gull-wing style doors. It seems that it does have a more interesting stories.

The second model of the Gebruder Verga Coupé was confiscated by the French's authorities, and kept in storage at the La Rochelle Customs School until its recent retrieval. (Picture from: Flat4Ever)

Over the years, the car underwent some rather extensive modifications for reasons that a bit naughty or actually were not legal. Because the car was used to smuggle auto parts, especially ball bearings for trucks which at the time had  high customs duties. For this reason, the frame was strengthened to be able to withstand the extra load, after which a secret compartment was made accompanied by the installation of a jack system at the four corners of the body to lift the compartment which functioned as a storage place for contraband goods.

The second model of the Gebruder Verga Coupé has a hidden competement completed with with jack system at the four corners of the body to lift the compartment which functioned as a storage place for contraband goods. (Picture from: MarioTheMultipla)

The smugling actions were carried out by using this car was against the law, and it did not always go according to plan, because at one time also ended badly, as happened in 1959. At that time, the car was arrested and seized by the French Police in Arnéguy on the Spanish border. Subsequently the car was confiscated by the state and kept in storage at the La Rochelle Customs School until its recent retrieval.

Today, Carrozzeria Verga is still in business and is run by Simone Verga, the Great Grandson of Benjamin Verga. Hopefully we could got more information about the car's whereabouts and soon it could be seen again. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | VERGACAR | MARIOTHEMULTIPLA | JUSTCARGUY | FLAT4EVER ]

Note: This blog can be accessed via your smart phone.

Kindly Bookmark and Share it: