Remember Me
forgot your password?

Volkswagen Beetle: a Glimpse Into the History of the People’s Classic Car

The Volkswagen Beetle is one of the most popular classic cars that both collectors and the common people have. It is no wonder, since not only is it cheap and cute, it also carries with it a great deal of history. Here we will take a trip down memory lane and look at the Beetle's great past.

The Birth of the People's Car

It may not be known to many, but little Herbie started out as a Porsche. In the 1930s, Ferdinand Porsche was already designing economy cars, but could not find the proper funding fro research and production.

Then Adolf Hitler came, with several sketches of what he called as the "Volks-Wagen," which literally means "the people's car."(Yes, you read that right: Adolf Hitler provided the concept for the Volkswagen.) The Fuhrer asked Mr. Porsche to make a car that could carry two adults and three children at a speed of 62mph. And so, the Volkswagen Beetle was born.

It was initially named as the Porsche 60, and was available at the very low price of 990 Reichsmark (less than $200 at that time). The Porsche 60 is very similar to what the Beetle looks like now. Perhaps the only difference is with the engine and the windows. It was the most popular car for the Kraft durch Freude (Strength through Joy), the leisure organization of the Nazi party.

Rejections and Success

After the war, Volkswagen has been completely stripped off of Germany's hands. Companies in the UK, however, would not dare produce the Beetle, saying that it was 'unattractive to the average buyer.' (How unlucky for them.) And so Volkswagen survived by making its signature cars for the British army instead.

A few changes were made here and there, and by 1950s it was the top selling foreign car in the United States. It was so popular, that by 1970s, Beetle production rose up to 16 million.

The Volkswagen Beetle's success was mostly due to its simple and simplistic nature. It is a plain, no-nonsense family car, which has a very original look. The Beetle was so original that it was considered as the world's best selling car design. It has been changed a few times, but only with very minor changes, such as the windows. The engine remained almost the same: the 'flat four' engine was so economic and yet still powerful that it was even considered as the engine of a mini-aircraft.

The Beetle as a Classic

Even though the production of the Beetle reached up to a million, it did not bring down its capacity to be a classic car for collectors. The reason for this is simple: the Volkswagen Beetle carries with it a vast amount of culture and history. It started as a dictator's dream car, then became a world-famous family car, and then became the car for the hippie generation. Add to that its capacity to win races (and even have a racing class of its own).

The Volkswagen Beetle is no muscle car. It is not even an elegant sedan. But what it has is an unmistakable simple design--a design that defined the Beetle itself. And with its rich history, the Volkswagen Beetle is undeniably, and truly, a classic car.

Peter Grizzly

Find Volkswagen Beetles at very low prices only at http://www.classicvehicleauction.com. Classic Vehicle Auctions offers a wide variety of classic cars for sale, you'll surely find one within your budget. Peter Grizzly is an age-old classic car enthusiast. He makes his living now by being a classic car trader.

Rate this Article: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s)
Print Email Re-Publish


Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/classics-articles/volkswagen-beetle-a-glimpse-into-the-history-of-the-peoples-classic-car-420091.html
Add new Comment



Captcha

  • Latest Classics Articles
  • More from Peter Grizzly

Would you like your workshop or garage floor to look good for many years to come?

By: Robert | 03/07/2009
Knowhow about concrete garage and workshop floor coatings.

How to Rent a Classic Car

By: Levi Quinn | 30/06/2009
Although we would al agree that a classic car is a very desirable thing to have, the very fact that they are so desirable tends to position the ownership of a classic just outside a lot of people’s price range. However much money you may be willing to spend, you need to make a value judgement.

What Makes a Classic Car?

By: Levi Quinn | 30/06/2009
The term “classic” is largely subjective. Not only when applied to cars, either. There are wide variations in what people consider classics. For example, the film The Shawshank Redemption was fairly widely ignored when it initially came out, but today it is considered one of the finest pieces of film making to come out of Hollywood.

Where to Find Classic Cars

By: Levi Quinn | 30/06/2009
If you have a certain amount of money in the bank, and a certain understanding of the reasons why cars matter to so many people, it is not uncommon to covet a classic car to put in your driveway (or, should you have the chance, a locked garage).

How to Determine If A Car Is Vintage

By: Levi Quinn | 30/06/2009
Owning an old car is something that many people use as a marker to demonstrate that they have “made it”. This should be clarified – in this respect, ten years old is not “old”. When discussing old cars, most of the time we are talking about antique, vintage or classic cars.

Finding Antique Car Shows

By: Levi Quinn | 30/06/2009
Antique cars divide the public like very few other items. There are those who find the whole idea of looking at old cars to be quite simply the most boring concept they can imagine.

Looking for a Blast from the Past? Visit a Classic car Show

By: Alex Springton | 30/06/2009
Most major cities around the world have yearly auto shows, allowing auto dealers and large auto manufacturers to come together and showcase the new cars and trucks that are rolling off the assembly lines.

How to Sell Your Classic Car

By: Levi Quinn | 29/06/2009
As much as it may feel like a betrayal of sorts, there does come a time when some of us have to sell or trade in a classic car. This is not something that any classic car owner greets with equanimity.

Volkswagen Beetle: a Glimpse Into the History of the People’s Classic Car

By: Peter Grizzly | 20/05/2008 | Classics
The Volkswagen Beetle is one of the most popular classic cars that both collectors and common people search for. Despite being produced in large quantities, it still holds great value for classic car collectors. This is mainly because of its great history and the culture that it has carried with it.

Do’s and Don’ts for Maintaining Your Classic Cars

By: Peter Grizzly | 20/05/2008 | Classics
Restoring a classic car back into its old shape is just the beginning of a long process. In order to maintain (or even to increase) the value of your vintage car, you need to spend some time in maintaining it. By knowing a few tips and tricks on maintaining a classic car, you will avoid the hassle of applying a wrong solution or cleaning your car incorrectly.

How to Accurately Estimate Classic Car Values

By: Peter Grizzly | 20/05/2008 | Classics
It is somehow difficult to estimate the value of a classic car. But by looking at the condition, originality, rarity, and the added options, one could estimate classic car values almost accurately.

Submit Your Articles Free: Signup


Article Categories




Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy | User published content is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Copyright © 2005-2008 Free Articles by ArticlesBase.com, All rights reserved. (0.08, 1)