Why the COA sometimes pales in comparison to a Kardex

[Edwin Ek]

Mike, spot on for the meaning as a stand-alone word. I should have mentioned that in my answer above. It could very easily be relevant.

[Mike Wilson]

Now to find out what "Ri-Fi" stands for. An abbreviation for something. But why would there be a special fuse and for what?

Mike

[Mike Wilson]

A little more digging. Sicherung could also be translated to "safety device". Was there an alarm system offered on the 356 or some other anti-theft device? I know it's not the locking steering column as that has different terminology.

Mike

[David Pateman]

Thanks Edwin. I think it will take a native old-timer to figure out this one. I agree with others about "Fuse". However the Ri-Fi or Rifi is likely the key to solving this.
My translations file for Kardex is what benefits. It is interesting the various descriptions used for the same option.
Dave

[Wes Bender]

Does this help? From the Ebay ad that Patrick referenced on the previous page.

"Orig. Plakat Rifi Sicherung für Schwenkfenster VW DKW BMW Porsche NSU,50er Jahre"

(My German is far worse than my French which pales in comparison to my Spanish...)

[Edwin Ek]

Wes's post is the clue. RiFi was a brand name, a company. Its product was a locking mechanism for vent windows. There is a picture of a full advertisement for RiFi on The Samba.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album ... _id=392153

Remember, vent windows for A cars were an accessory which couldn't be locked. (That didn't matter; they were outside of the window.) Locking vent windows must have been introduced with the T-5 cars. Seems they were optional at the beginning; they were standard on the C cars, as I recall.

So it is another theft deterrent device.

The translation for the above is: original placard for Rifi Sicherung for vent windows VW, DKW, ...

[Wes Bender]

Thanks, but credit goes to Patrick Ltjens for finding the ad in German on EBay.

[David Pateman]

Okay, so now Rifi Sicherung is nailed.