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All about the "Love Bug": The Volkswagen Beetle
The first people’s car, Volkswagen Beetle is one of the most popular as well as respectable models in the car industry. It is a car that always remained very close to the people’s heart because of its lively performance and cute styling. Beetle lovably also called as ‘Bug’ was the sole model of Volkswagen but the new version is developed on the Volkswagen Golf platform. The new version of Beetle gives choice of three-door hatchback or two-door convertible with a heavy price tag. But the expensive price tag has not stopped it from being even more popular.
The Volkswagen Beetle chapter of the automotive history book started in 1934, when Adolf Hitler, the German Dictator, wanted his country to have people’s car which could be affordable to every citizen in the country. The specifications he laid out for this people’s car was that the cars have a seating capacity of four, and the car came with an affordable price tag. The project was taken up by the most popular designer of all time Ferdinand Porsche, the founder of Porsche cars. The original Volkswagen Beetle was built in 1934 but it not produced until 1945 due to the occurrence of 2nd World war.
The work of the Volkswagen Beetle factory began in 1938 and in those days it was one of the biggest car manufacturing factories in the world. The name for the earlier Volkswagen Beetle was KDF Wagen (Kraft Durch Freude Wagen) which means “Car of the force by means of joy". This was the name opted by Hitler and therefore there was no second thought to it.
The official appearance of KDF Wagen was in the year 1939 when it was launched in the Hall of Berlin (Germany). Once it was launched the KDF Wagen gave a real tough competition to the other cars of that era. As World War II broke at the end of 1939, the civil production of the Beetle was stopped to pave way for the military production of the car keeping in mind the future of Beetle. The Beetle underwent toughest of the tough tests to prove its worth in the war that no car had ever gone through. Beetle was used in inhospitable terrains such as snow, mud, slush and sand and thereby the car proved its worth. In the year 1945, by the time the war came to an end, the third part of the Beetle factory was destroyed during bombarding. But this did not stop the Beetle, and the workers started building the Beetle again with the help of last resources saved from the attack. As they were short of the materials, the production process was very slow. But once Heinz Nordhoff started supervising the company, the production numbers flew from few to hundreds.
There was boom in the production of Beetle. But the production started to slow down in mid seventies. During this time more innovative technologies were introduced. But in the whole episode, the Godfather of Beetle, Ferdinand Porsche was jailed in France as he was accused by Pierre Peugeot of war crimes. But as the truth never fails, he was acquitted with the charges and in 1949, he returned to Germany. It is said that on the way back to his home he was so very touched by seeing the Beetles on roads that tears rolled down his cheeks. But the sad thing was that the creator of the Beetle breathed his last in 1951 without experiencing the amazing success of the Beetle.
By now Beetle was exported to other countries like Holland, Denmark, Luxembourg, Sweden, Belgium, Switzerland and United States. It received impressive responses from everywhere.
The Volkswagen Beetle chapter of the automotive history book started in 1934, when Adolf Hitler, the German Dictator, wanted his country to have people’s car which could be affordable to every citizen in the country. The specifications he laid out for this people’s car was that the cars have a seating capacity of four, and the car came with an affordable price tag. The project was taken up by the most popular designer of all time Ferdinand Porsche, the founder of Porsche cars. The original Volkswagen Beetle was built in 1934 but it not produced until 1945 due to the occurrence of 2nd World war.
The work of the Volkswagen Beetle factory began in 1938 and in those days it was one of the biggest car manufacturing factories in the world. The name for the earlier Volkswagen Beetle was KDF Wagen (Kraft Durch Freude Wagen) which means “Car of the force by means of joy". This was the name opted by Hitler and therefore there was no second thought to it.
The official appearance of KDF Wagen was in the year 1939 when it was launched in the Hall of Berlin (Germany). Once it was launched the KDF Wagen gave a real tough competition to the other cars of that era. As World War II broke at the end of 1939, the civil production of the Beetle was stopped to pave way for the military production of the car keeping in mind the future of Beetle. The Beetle underwent toughest of the tough tests to prove its worth in the war that no car had ever gone through. Beetle was used in inhospitable terrains such as snow, mud, slush and sand and thereby the car proved its worth. In the year 1945, by the time the war came to an end, the third part of the Beetle factory was destroyed during bombarding. But this did not stop the Beetle, and the workers started building the Beetle again with the help of last resources saved from the attack. As they were short of the materials, the production process was very slow. But once Heinz Nordhoff started supervising the company, the production numbers flew from few to hundreds.
There was boom in the production of Beetle. But the production started to slow down in mid seventies. During this time more innovative technologies were introduced. But in the whole episode, the Godfather of Beetle, Ferdinand Porsche was jailed in France as he was accused by Pierre Peugeot of war crimes. But as the truth never fails, he was acquitted with the charges and in 1949, he returned to Germany. It is said that on the way back to his home he was so very touched by seeing the Beetles on roads that tears rolled down his cheeks. But the sad thing was that the creator of the Beetle breathed his last in 1951 without experiencing the amazing success of the Beetle.
By now Beetle was exported to other countries like Holland, Denmark, Luxembourg, Sweden, Belgium, Switzerland and United States. It received impressive responses from everywhere.
In 1953 the Brazilian production joined hands with Volkswagen and formed "Volkswagen of Brasil" and similarly "Volkswagen of America" was built too. In the year 1964 more Beetle branches were built outside Germany. The millionth Beetle was rolled out in 1955 and this Beetle was seen in the gold metalized attire, wide seats, and accompaniments in little glass pearls on the chromizings.
The Beetle was spreading its magic across the country and the result was visible with the growing export sales. The demands were so high that the waiting period for the car was 5 months. The Beetle was upgraded in 1967. It got all new circular headlights, wider bumpers, magnified taillamps. Beetle also received modification in 70’s too making it a super Beetle. During this time it received significant facelift, McPherson suspension in the front and rear axle with double flexible shafts at the rear was added. In 1973 it was enhanced with curved interior glass and new dash-board stuffing.
The special edition of Beetle was seen from 1974 which were introduced for limited period only. These limited editions were seen with unique interior fittings and colours. As a mark of celebrating the 50th anniversary ‘the Beetle of the Jubilee’ was introduced. This model flaunted with metalized grey and it had athermic, blue-tinted windshield, printed steel sports rims, the steering wheel of the Golf GTI and grey interiors with various colour tones.
In mid 70’s the Beetle saw little change in weather with the dropping sales and by 1974 the manufacturing unit was shifted Emden from Wolfsburg. In 1978 the production of Beetle came to an end in Europe but it continued to produce in Mexico and was exported to European markets.
The final batch of 3,000 Beetles started selling as 2004 models and was branded as ‘Ultima Edicions’. This series were seen with whitewall tires, a host of previously-discontinued chrome trim, and choice of two special paint colours taken from the New Beetle. In 1988 the Beetle production came to an end in Brazil and then re-started in 1993 which continued till 1996.
The Beetle was so popular that it has even performed in many movies. Volkswagen Beetle featured as Herbie, in the Love Bug series of Disney comedy films and many more feature films. The list of the Beetle featuring in movies just goes on... VW unveiled J Mays-penned "Concept 1” at the 1994 North American International Auto Show. It was a car created with innovative styling which carried the original Beetle's rounded shape. The concept received impressive response and in 1998 it went into production and this is how the New Beetle was born. The New Beetle resembled the original only in terms of name and appearance that was futuristic, under the hood it was all innovative technology used.
By 1998 the first cars were being delivered to their eager customers, and even now, the 21st century Beetle’s looks are proving to be as timeless as the original’s.
In 2002 total production of the VW Golf, at 22 million units, overtook that of the Beetle. However this measure includes all four distinct generations of Golf since 1974.
By 2003 Volkswagen Beetle’s annual production had fallen to 30,000 from a peak of 1.3 million in 1971. On July 30, 2003, the final original VW Beetle was produced at Puebla, Puebla, Mexico, some 65 years since its public launch in Nazi Germany, and an unprecedented 58-year production run since 1945.
The Beetle was spreading its magic across the country and the result was visible with the growing export sales. The demands were so high that the waiting period for the car was 5 months. The Beetle was upgraded in 1967. It got all new circular headlights, wider bumpers, magnified taillamps. Beetle also received modification in 70’s too making it a super Beetle. During this time it received significant facelift, McPherson suspension in the front and rear axle with double flexible shafts at the rear was added. In 1973 it was enhanced with curved interior glass and new dash-board stuffing.
The special edition of Beetle was seen from 1974 which were introduced for limited period only. These limited editions were seen with unique interior fittings and colours. As a mark of celebrating the 50th anniversary ‘the Beetle of the Jubilee’ was introduced. This model flaunted with metalized grey and it had athermic, blue-tinted windshield, printed steel sports rims, the steering wheel of the Golf GTI and grey interiors with various colour tones.
In mid 70’s the Beetle saw little change in weather with the dropping sales and by 1974 the manufacturing unit was shifted Emden from Wolfsburg. In 1978 the production of Beetle came to an end in Europe but it continued to produce in Mexico and was exported to European markets.
The final batch of 3,000 Beetles started selling as 2004 models and was branded as ‘Ultima Edicions’. This series were seen with whitewall tires, a host of previously-discontinued chrome trim, and choice of two special paint colours taken from the New Beetle. In 1988 the Beetle production came to an end in Brazil and then re-started in 1993 which continued till 1996.
The Beetle was so popular that it has even performed in many movies. Volkswagen Beetle featured as Herbie, in the Love Bug series of Disney comedy films and many more feature films. The list of the Beetle featuring in movies just goes on... VW unveiled J Mays-penned "Concept 1” at the 1994 North American International Auto Show. It was a car created with innovative styling which carried the original Beetle's rounded shape. The concept received impressive response and in 1998 it went into production and this is how the New Beetle was born. The New Beetle resembled the original only in terms of name and appearance that was futuristic, under the hood it was all innovative technology used.
By 1998 the first cars were being delivered to their eager customers, and even now, the 21st century Beetle’s looks are proving to be as timeless as the original’s.
In 2002 total production of the VW Golf, at 22 million units, overtook that of the Beetle. However this measure includes all four distinct generations of Golf since 1974.
By 2003 Volkswagen Beetle’s annual production had fallen to 30,000 from a peak of 1.3 million in 1971. On July 30, 2003, the final original VW Beetle was produced at Puebla, Puebla, Mexico, some 65 years since its public launch in Nazi Germany, and an unprecedented 58-year production run since 1945.
