Volkswagen Kever (1938-1957)

De Volkswagen Beetle It was built for 65 years between 1938 and 2003. The model is the most famous Volkswagen, the most famous German car, and perhaps the most famous car in the world. Until 1967, this model was called the Typ 1, the 1200 or 1300, referring to the number of cc of the rear-mounted engine, but the car quickly acquired the nickname 'Beetle' in popular parlance. This name was used so often that Volkswagen decided to start using it themselves. More than 20 million Volkswagen Beetles were produced from 1937 to 2003, making this model the longest-produced and most produced car on the same platform.

History of the Volkswagen Beetle

The Beetle was a combination of ideas conceived by Ferdinand Porsche. He was commissioned by Adolf Hitler to create a car for the 'common people'. However, large parts of the car were not designed by Porsche, but by Béla Barényi and/or Erwin Komenda. Both claim to be the original creator of the successful concept. According to others, the Hungarian Jew Josef Ganz was the designer. It remains unclear for the time being who the actual creator of the Beetle was, and various stories circulate regarding this.

Early Volkswagen Beetle Type 1

The creator of the Beetle's distinctive four-cylinder boxer engine is well known: Franz Reimspiess. Hitler made it possible to proceed with production, but due to the war industry, there was little opportunity to introduce the Beetle as a people's car. The concept was used more as a propaganda tool. Production only really got underway after the war. The first prototypes of the Beetle had no rear window, but after testing, two small windows were installed for safety reasons. The windows looked a bit like the lenses of spectacles, and that is how the first Beetles got their name. Spectacle beetle.

VW 'Spectacle Beetle' with the distinctive rear windows

After the Second World War

After the Second World War, the Volkswagen factory and the “Stadt des KdF-Wagens” came to be located in the British part of Germany. Germany was not simply obliged to produce cars itself, but British Major Ivan Hirst ordered car production to resume anyway so that Germany could thereby contribute to the repayment of war reparations. The place name was changed to Wolfsburg, after the nearby castle, and the factory was named Wolfsburg Motor Works. Later, the company was called Volkswagen.

One of Volkswagen's first export countries was the Netherlands, where Ben Pon began importing the cars. The export models were often better equipped than the models sold locally to the population. In the early 1950s, the rear window was made larger and a single piece, and this variant of the Beetle also received a nickname: the Little Oval. The rear window would subsequently be enlarged once again and became slightly more angular. The model was gradually changed over the years. Throughout the years, however, the Beetle remained instantly recognizable due to its distinctive design.

Under the hood, things also evolved over the years, and the engine was enlarged from 1100 cc to 1584 cc over time. Naturally, this resulted in a significant increase in power and top speed. Furthermore, the Beetle received larger bumpers, larger headlights, turn signals, better brakes, and larger taillights.

Design and interior

The design of the Beetle is as simple as it is brilliant. The rounded fenders, flowing lines, and the friendly-looking nose (or actually: rear, since the engine was naturally at the back) gave the car a unique face. The aerodynamic shape was not only charming but also functional — although the average Beetle owner probably cared little about that.

Inside, austerity was the order of the day, especially in the early models. No frills, no superfluous buttons, just everything you really needed. Later, the interiors became slightly more comfortable, with upholstery, ventilation, and even radios that didn't require a hammer to turn on. Moreover, the simplicity of the design ensured that the Beetle stood the test of time surprisingly well — many examples are still happily driving around today.

Model variants

Over the years, countless variants of the Beetle appeared. Think of the standard Beetle, the 1200, 1300, 1500, and 1600, each with a slightly more powerful engine and more luxury. There were convertibles, export models with extra chrome, and special editions such as the Jeans Beetle and the Silver Bug. In the seventies, there were even Super Beetles with an extended nose and McPherson front suspension — a small revolution in Beetle-land.

Super Beetles

The biggest changes to the Beetle took place in the 1970s. In addition to the “regular” Beetle, the 1302 and 1303 models were also built, which Volkswagen itself called Super Beetles. The 1302 (sedan and convertible) was in production for only two years. The 1303 sedan was built from August 1972 through July 1975, and the 1303 convertible through January 1980. The 1303 model featured, among other things, much more luggage space, a shorter turning circle, and a distinctive convex windshield that was almost half the size larger than that of its predecessor.

Volkswagen Beetle World Champion

In 1972, the Beetle took over the record from the T-Ford as the most produced car. To commemorate this record, a special edition was built: the Weltmeister. Between 5000 and 6000 units of this Beetle were built between February 19 and March 31, 1972. Features include the 1300 engine, Marathon metallic paint, reversing lights, rear window heating, special upholstery, and special Weltmeister wheels.

Volkswagen Beetle World Champion

The top model is undoubtedly the Volkswagen 1303 S, the last and most powerful classic Beetle with the 1.6-liter boxer engine.

• Power: 50 hp
• Torque: 106 Nm
• Topsnelheid: 130 km / u
• 0–100 km/h: approximately 22 seconds

Not exactly a dragster, but hey, he did it with style, and usually he actually did.

The end of an era

A total of more than 21 million Volkswagen Beetles were built, an incredible number. This made the Beetle the second best-selling car in the world in 2003, after the Volkswagen Golf.

The last classic Volkswagen Beetle was built on July 30, 2003, in Puebla, Mexico. This Beetle comes from the 'Última Edición' series, which was built in a limited run of 3000 units in blue and beige. This edition was equipped with a 46 hp fuel-injected engine and came standard with a radio-CD player and alarm, and was only available for the local market. Nevertheless, hundreds of examples ended up abroad with enthusiasts who imported them themselves.

Production of the Beetle has been halted, but model kits are still being shipped from Mexico and parts will remain available for at least another ten years.

Volkswagen Beetle 'Última Edición'

Competitors

Competitors included the Citroën 2CV, Renault 4CV, Fiat 500, and, to some extent, the Mini. All were intended to make mobility affordable, but none of them ever achieved the same global status as the Beetle.

Production in Germany had already stopped in 1978. The last Beetle rolled off the production line in Emden. The model was replaced by another Volkswagen success: golf.