In 1910, Hubert Kienberger founded HUKI, Kienberger & Co., Nürnberg, Germany. They mainly produced Penny Toys and animals on wheels. Before WW2, they used the brand name KiCo, which was later altered into HUKI. In 1943, the company was destroyed by a fire and only in 1951 production was restarted. HUKI ceased to exist in the second half of the seventies. HUKI always produced tin toys and did not change to plastic cars like many other manufacturers. This caused their downfall. They had developed new toy models until the late sixties; in their last decade (or less) they only produced from their old production tooling.
Very nice tinplate lithograph body representing a “woody” convertible VW Beetle (if there is such a vehicle). In the lithograph design, there is a dark tan convertible top with an oval window in the rear section and people’s faces in the windows. The fenders are a light pastel green and include details of the headlights, bumpers, taillights, trim and fender skirts. Tin plate chassis, rubber wheels with a clockwerk motor. The box shows how to use the lever on the engine lid and the lever on the front hood. At the engine lid: position 1 is the lowest position, which is the "brake". Position 2 is "slow driving" and position 3 is "fast driving". The lever on the front hood is for steering. The second known version only has a friction motor and the rear wheels are made of tin; the front wheels are made of rubber. License registration number HK-4004 on front bumper and rear deck lid.
