Major Ivan Hirst ordered in 1946/47 the design of an aluminum promotional gift for business relations and valued workers at the VW factory. They used aluminum because there was no shortage of scrap aluminum from dismantled airplanes.
A mould was made and the model was presented to Major Hirst for approval. It is apparent that the VOLK KdF Wagen steel toy was the basis for this aluminum promotional. Especially the similarity of the rear silhouette is striking. The aluminum casting of the Split Window Sedan included the base and was a one-piece construction. Major Hirst however disapproved because the lines of the model did not match the actual VW well enough. In total 2 or 3 of those early prototypes believed to be made; the aluminium model on the baseplate and a clay model also on the baseplate.
The new design later became the well-known, post war VW promotional car (See VOLKSWAGENWERK SPLIT VW V1).
In August 2002, Volkswagenwerk has reproduced a small series (10 models) of this prototype of the aluminum VW, using the original model as a mould. They used Ureol as material (a woodlike feel) and the body was milled from 1 piece. See the model without the baseplate on the pictures. Even this model has become very collectable and is very difficult to find. It was never for sale, but in 2019 some resurfaced from the estate of a deceased VW employee.
