Germans in the Tropics
Actualitzat: Nov 1
The German influence on Venezuela runs deeper than you might imagine if you are unfamiliar with the country. Back in the 16th century, the colonisation of the territory was granted to German settlers, who began expanding inland from the town of Coro. Then, during the 19th century, another attempt was made to attract German immigrants, this time with the aim of developing local agriculture.
One of the best-known legacies of this immigration is Colonia Tovar, a town situated some 50 kilometres from Caracas. More than 150 years after a group of around 400 immigrants first arrived in Venezuela, the town's architecture still retains the distinctive features of Baden, the region they originally came from. Their descendants even continue to speak a Caribbean-influenced version of the Baden dialect.
The colony was established in a valley at an altitude of around 1,700 metres, where the climate and natural conditions were similar to those back in Baden. A visit to Colonia Tovar is almost a must if you happen to spend a weekend in Caracas. The timber-framed façades are reminiscent of traditional Black Forest architecture, while local shopkeepers sell souvenirs dressed in traditional 19th-century German clothing. You can also sample beer brewed in the colony, tuck into Brezeln or sausages, and enjoy a few other reminders of its European heritage.
As you might expect, there were a few Volkswagen Beetles to be found in Tovar. Outside one of the farms, I also came across a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air. It had been preserved in the Cuban style, although, unlike many of its counterparts on the island, it still retained its original chrome trim.
My next encounter with German motoring heritage took place elsewhere in Venezuela, where I came across two German brothers who had devoted themselves to classic cars from their homeland.
There are still plenty of Volkswagen Beetles in Venezuela. Many are vochos imported from Mexico or Brazilian-built Fuscas, although German-made examples can also be found. Friedrich and Karl arrived in Venezuela in the 1960s. For decades, their names were practically synonymous with Volkswagen in Barquisimeto. Over time, however, they grew tired of keeping up with technological changes and dealing with labour disputes, eventually retreating to a small workshop where they now work on their own. A friend had told me about them, and I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to pay them a visit.
Waiting for us outside was Friedrich's T1 pick-up, a model that has become the stuff of collectors' dreams. Inside, the workshop was something of a tropical Volkswagen shrine. The brothers had devoted their lives to bringing back to the road the dozen or so Beetles scattered among the countless piles of parts and spares that filled the place.
We arrived to find them hard at work. After explaining what they were doing, they insisted that I should head to the back of the workshop, where a couple of oval-window Beetles and a split-window example were waiting their turn for restoration. With so much old metal and so many spare parts piled everywhere, it wasn't easy to work out where anything was, but eventually I managed to find them.
In the condition they were in, these early production models might well have been written off as beyond restoration elsewhere. Not so for Friedrich, who had already added them to his waiting list for a future resurrection.
The brothers' personal favourite, however, was an Auto Union 1000 SP. This little coupé looked like a miniature Ford Thunderbird, tucked away among all the Beetles. It was complete, right down to its two-stroke engine, and provided a welcome change from the sea of Volkswagens surrounding it.
Our visit was not particularly long, as the brothers had work to do and we didn't want to distract them. Nevertheless, we were delighted to have had the chance to meet them and see their workshop. It was undoubtedly the sort of place that would make any Beetle enthusiast's heart skip a beat.
I hope Friedrich and Karl will continue to enjoy bringing their beloved Beetles back to life for many years to come.
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