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