Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:31 pm Post subject: Tempo Matador
May I introduce my Tempo Matador.
For those who don't know what they are, they were made from 1949 to 1952.
The need for an economical light truck was realised, due to massive fuel shortages.
The engineers at Tempowerks in Harburg thought a truck with a VW engine would fit the bill.
They put this to VW who thought it a good idea, and supplied Tempo with 25hp VW motors and gearboxes without VW engine numbers on them.
This was the only time in VW history that they approved the use of their engines in another vehicle.
Tempo made a front wheel drive single cab on a triangular tubular chassis with a payload of 1650kg, they called it the Matador.
The frugal little truck was quite popular, and Tempo had a very professional service and marketing team.
A total of 1362 of them were made with VW engines, most being single cabs, but later they made a number of vans and 11 seater minibusses.
The 25hp gearbox wasn't quite up to the task, and had a tendency to crap itself under heavy loads.
An optional extra later in the model run was a ZF gearbox, for heavy work. That has been used in a number of high powered track cars since.
The Tempo Matador was particularly popular in Australia, the exact number of Australian sales I can't seem to track down.
When the Kombi came out it was in direct competition with the Matador and VW saw sales going the Matadors way.
VW pulled the engine supply at this time and Tempo had to modify the chassis to take an Austin engine, it no longer had a split screen or suicide doors. Shortly after they put a grill on the front for the radiator.
I had owned a Baja and 2 split screens in the past, and my parents had a 76 Kombi and now a Syncro camper. I was looking for another split screen and was horrified by the amount of money people were asking for them so threw my net wider. I asked my uncle who has a few old Cortinas in Victoria. He told me he didn't know where to find a Splitty but could hook me up with a Tempo Matador if I wanted one.
My first reaction was "What's one of those?" After some photo's and research, I couldn't resist.
Here she is.
This is how I found it (The model is my mum)
Took the box off the back and took it for a drive when it got to Perth
great looking machine you have there. are you putting the box and sunvisor back on? hope so, that looks cool as. what are your plans? a full resto or just a tidy up and get it back on the road?
dave.
Just look at it's face, so cute, what character, especially on the photo with your mum. _________________ Di
Kombi Karma - you know it makes sense
www.klaus1.bigblog.com.au
76 8 seater poptop, resto'd in a fashion
The sun visor was a cut down holden one and was pretty poor shape, so that is staying off.
The box used to carry around an X-ray machine, you can stand in it and it's about twice the internal size of my Kombi. So I'm planning on turning it into a deluxe camper. But I'm going to make it removable, It's 2 metres wide and 2.35 metres high, which makes it near impossible to drive around the city. It'll have an exchangable ute back on it.
It will be a very serious resto. It's almost complete, except a semaphore switch. The 25hp runs but it'll get a once over.
They were sold in Perth by the same company that had VW and Porsche agency but with another name. Western Motor Co had VW and then Porsche and Tivoli Garage had Tempo- I think that was how it worked. They were in St.Georges Tce opposite Mill St.
------------------------- _________________ Kombis Keep you Younger
I do actually have another, it came with the deal as a parts car.
This is basically where I'm at, redone the brakes, and stripped the interior ready to lift the cab from the chassis
Wooden floor has gone and all connections from cab. Next weekend I'm going to try unbolt it and lift it off.
Marharg your funny Happy hunting! While your looking see if you can find me a BD Panel
Matador nice one for sticking this post up mate, it looks really impressive - I, and I am sure that a few others are keen to watch your progress, so keep the updates coming please....
Thanks
_________________
Taken at Alfreds in Guildford - Remember the meeting place is the 1st Wednesday of every month from 18:30
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dave.
Happy hunting! While your looking see if you can find me a BD Panel 