AUTOMOTIVE HISTORY
A Car For The People
The VW Beetle
Despite the association between the little bug and freedom, the Volkswagen Beetle was initially borne out of Adolf Hitler’s desire to provide low-cost motoring for the masses. What is today an icon of carefree youth was actually designed to be a somber method of transport for Nazi Germany.
Ferdinand Porsche was responsible for the original rear-engined, air-cooled design in the 1930s, and a few cars were built before the Second World War. Production recommenced in 1945, although customers only had one trim level to choose from; a very basically specified 1100cc model.
“What is today an icon of carefree youth was actually designed to be a somber method of transport for Nazi Germany.”
Once the Bettle hit US shores it became an instant hit with youths. Millions of Americans looking for a cheap, well built, second car, fell in love with the Beetle’s engineering, simplicity, practicality and economy. Sure, the little flat-four pushrod wouldn’t win any stop light Grand Prix’s but it was never designed to. VW tried to address the performance (or blatant lack of it) by growing the engine from 1131cc to 1200cc in the 1950s, although this did little to improve the lethargic bug. Karmann Ghia also stepped in, offering sports versions and a cabriolet.
Calls for a faster, more modern-driving Beetle were answered in the mid-1960s with the 1300 and 1500 models , both gaining an all-synchromesh gearbox along with the larger engines. Later Beetles would also come with disc brakes, and even a semi-automatic transmission was offered. It was ultimately the company’s reliance on one basic model that had a serious negative effect on sales. VW tried to entice buyers with ‘dressed-up’ Beetles. The 1961 1500cc version amounted to little more than a rebodied version of the original car, and even the big four-door 411 with its fuel injection didn’t fool many buyers.
“Sure, the little flat-four pushrod wouldn’t win any stop light Grand Prix’s but it was never designed to.”
The Beetle was eventually coaxed out of the spot light with the arrival of the water-cooled, front-engined, front-wheel-drive Golf in 1974, which became a benchmark for all sporty hatchbacks of the time. The last German-built Beetles rolled out of the Wolfsburg factory in 1978, but the model was still in production under licence up till the late 2000s in South America. Today, the Beetle remains an icon of cheap, mass transportation. It’s multiple cinema appearances as Herbie the Love Bug further served to win it a place in the hearts of many.
Holloway, H. and Buckley, M., 1999. The A-Z Of Cars. Godalming, Surrey: Colour Library Direct.
Daniel is a writer, senior teacher, and geographer based in Malta. His main passion is empowering students to fulfill their aspirations and reach their goals.
