| The Volkswagen Beetle, or the Type 1 as it | | | | Rod, but other combinations and variations |
| was officially known until 1967, is an | | | | are possible. While the engine platform is |
| economy class car. It was originally designed | | | | over 40 years old, the Beetle's engine is |
| by Ferdinand Porsche for Adolf Hitler's | | | | flexible enough to handle the mixing and |
| commission for what the latter called the | | | | matching of more souped up or tweaked parts, |
| "People's Car," (Volk-Wagen in German). The | | | | going beyond the original limitations of the |
| idea was to have a car available at an | | | | stock Beetle, making the car no stranger to |
| affordable price for every German household. | | | | motorsport events and street racing |
| The official production started in 1938 and | | | | competitions. A particular Beetle sub-style |
| ended in 2003. The original design was | | | | known as the Baja Bug is also found in |
| equipped with an air-cooled 4-cylinder | | | | off-road competitions. Other customizers opt |
| horizontally opposed cylinder or "flat four" | | | | to stick to the vintage Beetle look. Since |
| located at the rear as opposed to the front | | | | the Volkswagen produced different |
| like most vehicles. Another trademark is the | | | | incarnations of the Beetle, parts vary from |
| design of the body, which probably gave the | | | | year to year. The market for classic stock VW |
| vehicle its namesake. Throughout the years, | | | | Beetle Parts ranges back to the very first |
| some upgrades to the model have been | | | | model produced in the 1960's, allowing |
| produced, but the architecture remains mostly | | | | collectors to restore and maintain their |
| in line with the original Type 1 signature | | | | vintage Beetles on good running condition. In |
| design. Due to the inherent versatility of | | | | 1998, Volkswagen released the New Beetle, a |
| its engine platform and customization | | | | retro themed car based on the company's Golf |
| opportunities, the Beetle is one of the | | | | platform, but borrowing the design of the its |
| longest and most produced design among | | | | big brother so to speak. Unlike the original, |
| automobiles. As far as modification goes, VW | | | | the New Beetle had a front-mounted engine as |
| Beetle Parts, be it OEM or aftermarket parts, | | | | opposed to the Beetle's traditional |
| are heavily sought after by many Beetle | | | | rear-mounted one. It remains to be seen if |
| enthusiasts. Certain set styles were already | | | | the New Beetle will have the same |
| popular amongst the car's cult following, | | | | characteristics as the original. |
| such as the Cal Looker, Resto Cal, and Rat | | | | |