The History of the Vw Beetle. One of the Worlds Classic Cars

The VW Beetle is one of the most well known cars in40 years.
history. The beetle came out initially in 1938, and hasAnd the name even came from Adolf Hitler. He
been in production in one form or another for most ofspecified a car that would "look like a beetle" so it was
the years from 1938 to 2003. The VW Beetle iswell streamlined, and hence the name "Beetle". Then
without doubt one of the most classic cars in history."Bug". And the history of the VW Beetle records that
And the history of the VW Beetle is an interesting onethat body shape changed little over many decades.
indeed.The basic style of the VW Beetle changed little over
The original idea for the VW Beetle, or what is alsomany decades, though of course there were many
known as the VW Bug, came from Adolf Hitler. It isdifferent models, but each model had the same basic
said that he had the idea of a "peoples car" in 1924beetle shape, and the engine changed little too. The
whilst he way in prison. He wanted a car that anyonemanufacture of the Volkswagen Beetle stopped in
could afford, and also to help with the unemployment1980, at what point it had become the worlds most
problem that existed in post WW1 Germany. In 1933popular car.
the Nazi party came to power and Hitler raised theThe VW Beetle is not the worlds fastest car. It will,
issue of building special roads for the peoples car, andtechnically, do 0 - 50 mph in 13 seconds, a little slower
in 1933 the government began a program ofthan most cars today, but it had other features that
construction of "autobahns" for German drivers.made it popular. It was cheap to buy and run, simple to
"Volkswagon" (VW) is the German name for peopleswork on and reliable. It had only a small motor and,
car.although originally required by Hitler to do 42 mpg,
Hitler wanted the design project for the Beetle startedactually did a little over 30 mpg. That, however, is still
and gave the job to Ferdinand Porshe, later tovery good compared to many modern cars.
become very well known for the "Porsche" cars thatThat's the basic history of the VW Beetle. It was and
bore his name. Hitler specified some criteria, including ais one of the worlds classic cars. It spawned a whole
top speed of 62 mph (100 kmh), at least 42 miles togeneration of great small cars, like the VW golf, and
the gallon fuel consumption, able to transport at least 2sold hundreds of thousands. It has also been the basis
adults and 3 children and to be able to sell for less thanof many other vehicles. For example many vehicles
what was at the time the equivalent of 86 pounts (UKsuch as dune buggies are based on a simple VW
currency).Beetel chassis.
Thus began the history of the VW Beetle, arguablyThe history of the Beetle is an interesting one. And for
the most famous car in history.those interested in owning a VW Beetle there is still a
The big question was the engine to be used and therange of great quality second hand Beetles available.
placement of the engine, and in 1935 an AustrialAnd there are countless restored Beetles and car
engineer came up with a design for a flat four engine,clubs with many Beetle owners.
Porshe having previously decided that the engineSo if you'd love your own piece of automobile history
should be rear mounted. This engine was an air cooledgrab a VW Beetle. The history of the VW Beetle has
engine, and was cheap to build, and this engineshown it to be one of the worlds great cars.
powered hundreds of thouands of beetles for the next