Le Milbar Deflector

What we have here is a very special accessory made in the 1950s, that’s practical as well as a rather charming object in its own right, and would certainly complement the appearance of any vintage Volkswagen. It’s a wind deflector produced by the French manufacturer "Le Milbar", and it also has an integral outdoor thermometer, which can be easily read from the vehicle interior. So, it does fulfil another function besides fending off annoying insects. It’s fixed conventionally to the front bonnet trim,using a screw-fastened metal clamp, while the crystal-clear plastic provides a good, ongoing view of the roadahead. Other manufacturers often produced their fly-screens in coloured plastics, or even chrome or aluminium, which tended to restrict the driver’s view. Its flat, filigree design gives this wind deflector a rather dainty appearance on the VW bonnet, compared withother clumsier versions. Back in the ’50s, "Le Milbar" had its product patented globally. However, since the ’80s, I have come across just four Le Milbar specimens worldwide, so, sadly, this beautiful outdoor thermometer-deflector was probably not really a massive sales hit.