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