The Volkswagen Beetle, officially called the Volkswagen Type 1, is an economy vehicle yielded by the German car machine Volkswagen from 1938 till 2003. The auto was conceived by Adolf Hitler whenever he was leader of Nazi Germany plus sought a inexpensive, easy car; he contracted Porsche inside 1934 with shape plus build it with his exacting practices. Ferdinand Porsche plus his team took till 1938 with finalise the shape. This really is the among the initial rear-engined vehicles. With over 21 million produced inside an air-cooled, rear-engined, rear-wheel drive configuration, the Beetle is the longest-running plus most-manufactured auto of the single shape platform, internationally.

Although tailored inside the 1930s, the Beetle was just yielded inside noticeable numbers from 1945 about whenever the model was internally designated the Volkswagen Type 1, plus advertised merely because the "Volkswagen". Later models were designated VW 1200, 1300, 1500, 1302 or 1303, the past 3 indicating engine displacement as well as the latter 2 being produced within the sort amount plus not indicative of engine capability. The model became generally acknowledged inside its house nation because the Käfer plus was later advertised as a result inside Germany, plus because the Volkswagen Beetle inside additional nations.

The Beetle was crafted for sustained excellent speed found on the Autobahn. It eventually gave rise with variants, including the Volkswagen Karmann Ghia as well as the Volkswagen Type 2 bus. The Beetle had marked a extensive trend led by Volkswagen, Fiat, plus Renault whereby the rear-engine, rear-wheel drive design had improved from 2.6 % of continental Western Europe's auto manufacturing inside 1946 with 26.6 % inside 1956. The 1948 Citroën 2CV plus different European models marked a later trend with front-wheel drive inside the European tiny vehicle marketplace, a trend which might come with dominate which marketplace. In 1974, Volkswagen's own front-wheel drive Golf model succeeded the Beetle. In 1994, Volkswagen unveiled the Concept One, a "retro"-themed concept automobile with a resemblance with the authentic Beetle, plus inside 1998 introduced the "New Beetle", built found on the Golf platform with styling recalling the authentic Type 1.

In a 1999 global poll for the world's many influential auto of the 20th century, the Type 1 came 4th, following the Ford Model T, the Mini, as well as the Citroën DS.

In April 1934, Adolf Hitler gave the purchase with Ferdinand Porsche with develop a Volkswagen. The epithet Volks- virtually, "people's-" had been earlier used with additional Nazi sponsored customer goods like the Volksempfänger. There followed, inside May 1934, a meeting at Berlin’s Kaiserhof Hotel where Chancellor Hitler offered Porsche with more details, insisting about a standard car, capable of transporting 2 adults plus 3 kids at 100 km/h without utilizing over 7 litres of gas per 100 km. The engine had with be effective enough for fast sustained sailing about Germany’s fresh Autobahnen. Everything had with be crafted with confirm used out components may be instantly plus inexpensively exchanged. The engine had with be air-cooled because, because Hitler explained, not each nation doctor had his own garage. The "People's Car" will be accessible with people of the Third Reich from the savings scheme, or Sparkarte, at 990 Reichsmark, regarding the cost of the tiny motorcycle.

Ferdinand Porsche had developed the Porsche Type 12, or "Car für Jedermann" for Zündapp inside 1931. Porsche absolutely preferred the flat-four engine, plus chosen a swing axle back suspension, whilst Zündapp insisted about a water-cooled five-cylinder radial engine. In 1932, 3 prototypes were running. All of those vehicles were lost throughout World War II, the last inside a bombing raid inside Stuttgart inside 1945.

The Zündapp prototypes were followed by the Porsche Type 32, crafted inside 1933 for NSU Motorenwerke AG, another motorcycle business. The Type 32 was synonymous inside shape with the Type 12, nevertheless had a flat-four engine. NSU's leave from vehicle production lead to the Type 32 being abandoned at the prototype stage.

Initially designated Type 60 by Porsche, the shape team included Erwin Komenda plus Karl Rabe. In October 1935 the initially 2 Type 60 prototypes, well-known as the V1 plus V2, were willing. In 1936, testing started of 3 further V3 prototypes, integrated Porsche's Stuttgart store. A batch of thirty W30 development models, yielded for Porsche by Daimler-Benz, underwent 1,800,000 mi of further testing inside 1937. All vehicles absolutely had the distinctive round form as well as the air-cooled, rear-mounted engine. Included inside this batch became a rollback soft top called the Cabrio Limousine. A further batch of 44 VW38 pre-production vehicles yielded inside 1938 introduced split back windows; both the split window as well as the dash were retained about manufacturing Type 1s till 1953. The VW38 vehicles were followed by another batch of 50 VW39 vehicles, completed inside July 1939.

The automobile was crafted with be as basic because potential mechanically, thus which there was clearly less with go wrong; the air-cooled 25 hp 995 cc motors proven specifically powerful inside actions of the German Afrika Korps inside Africa's desert heat. This was due with the built-in oil cooler as well as the superior performance of the flat-four engine configuration. The suspension shape utilized compact torsion bars rather of coil or leaf springs. The Beetle is almost airtight plus may float for a some minutes about water.

On 26 May 1938, Hitler laid the cornerstone for the Volkswagen factory inside Fallersleben. He gave a speech, inside that he called the auto Kraft durch Freude-Wagen. The name pertains with Kraft durch Freude, the official leisure business of the Third Reich. The model town of Stadt des KdF-Wagens was built close Fallersleben inside Lower Saxony inside 1938 for the advantage of the employees at the newly built factory.

The factory had just yielded a few of vehicles by the begin of the war inside 1939; the initial volume-produced versions of the car's chassis were military cars, the Type 82 Kübelwagen as well as the amphibious Type 166 Schwimmwagen.

The initially Beetles were yielded about a tiny scale inside 1941.

In occupied Germany, the Allies followed the Morgenthau program with eliminate all German war possible by complete or partial pastoralization. As piece of the, inside the Industrial plans for Germany, the rules for that industry Germany was with be authorized with retain were set out. German automobile creation was set at a maximum of 10% of the 1936 automobile creation numbers.

Mass manufacturing of civilian VW vehicles didn't begin till post-war job. The Volkswagen factory was handed over by the Americans with British control inside 1945; it was with be dismantled plus shipped with Britain. Fortunately for Volkswagen, no British vehicle maker was interested inside the factory; "the car refuses to meet the basic technical requirement of the motor-car ... it is actually quite unattractive with the average buyer ... To build the auto commercially will be a completely uneconomic enterprise." The factory survived by producing vehicles for the British Army rather. Allied dismantling plan changed inside late 1946 with mid-1947, though thick industry continued with be dismantled till 1951. In March 1947, Herbert Hoover assisted change plan by stating

"There is the illusion which the New Germany left following the annexations is reduced with a 'pastoral state'. It can not be completed except you exterminate or move 25,000,000 persons from it."

The re-opening of the factory is mostly certified with British Army officer Major Ivan Hirst. Hirst was ordered with take control of the seriously bombed factory, that the Americans had grabbed. His initial task was with eliminate an unexploded bomb which had fallen by the rooftop plus lodged itself between certain pieces of irreplaceable manufacturing equipment; when the bomb had exploded, the Beetle's fate might have been sealed. Hirst persuaded the British military with purchase 20,000 of the vehicles, plus by March 1946 the factory was producing 1,000 vehicles a month, that Hirst mentioned "was the limit set by the supply of materials". During this period, the auto reverted with its authentic name of Volkswagen as well as the town was renamed Wolfsburg. The initially 1,785 Type 1s were produced inside 1945.

After World War II, it was well-known as the Volkswagen Type 1, however, became more commonly well-known as the Beetle.
The jeweled one-millionth Type 1

After the British Army-led restart of creation, past Opel manager Heinz Nordhoff was furnished director of the Volkswagen factory. Under Nordhoff, creation improved dramatically over the following decade, with all the one-millionth vehicle coming off the assembly line by 1955. During this post-war period, the Beetle had superior performance inside its category with a top speed of 115 km/h plus 0–100 km/h inside 27.5 seconds with gas expenditure of 6.7 l/100 km for the standard 25 kW engine. This was far superior with the Citroën 2CV, that was aimed at a low speed/poor road remote peasant marketplace, plus Morris Minor, tailored for a marketplace without motorways / freeways; it was even competitive with more advanced little city vehicles like the Austin Mini.

In Small Wonder, Walter Henry Nelson wrote:

"The engine fires up instantly without a choke. It has tolerable road-handling plus is affordable with keep. Although a tiny auto, the engine has terrific elasticity plus gave the sensation of greater output than its little nominal size."

During the 1950s, the vehicle was modified progressively: the apparent graphic changes largely worried the back windows. In March 1953, the little oval two-piece back window was changed with a somewhat greater single-piece window. More dramatically, inside August 1957 a much heavier full width back window changed the oval 1. 1964 saw the introduction of the widened cover for the light over the back licence plate. Towards the finish of 1964, the height of the side windows plus windscreen grew somewhat, providing the cabin a less pinched look: this coincided with all the introduction of the really somewhat curved windscreen, though the curve was hardly noticeable. The same body appeared throughout 1966, with a 1,300 cc engine inside area of the 1,200 cc: just inside the 1973 model Super Beetle did the Type 1 get an clearly curved windscreen. The flat windscreen stayed found on the standard Beetle.

There were equally changes below the bonnet. In 1954, Volkswagen added 2 mm with the cylinder bore, improving the displacement from 1,131 cc with 1,192 cc. This coincided with updates with many key components including a redesign of the crankshaft. This improved energy from 33 bhp with a stated 40 bhp plus improved the engine's free revving abilities without compromising torque at lower engine speeds. At the same time, compression ratios were slowly raised because, small by small, the octane reviews of accessible gas was raised inside main markets throughout the 1950s plus 1960s.

There were alternative, less-numerous models, also. The Hebmüller cabriolet, a stylish two-seater, was built between 1949 plus 1953; it numbered 696. The Type 18A, a fixed-top cabriolet, was yielded by Austro-Tatra because a authorities plus fire unit; 203 were assembled between January 1950 plus March 1953.
Beetle authorities automobile inside Iran

On 17 February 1972, whenever Beetle No. 15,007,034 was yielded, Beetle creation surpassed which of the past record holder, the Ford Model T. By 1973, total manufacturing was over 16 million, plus by 23 June 1992, over 21 million had been yielded. The 1200 plus 1300 machines continued with be obtainable in the up-to-date bodyshell, because several markets based their taxation about engine size.

On US, UK, plus Ireland models, the generator output was improved from 180 with 360 watts, plus upgraded from a 6-volt with a 12-volt program. The clutch disk additionally improved inside size, plus changes were prepared with the flywheel, braking program, plus back axle. New standard equipment included two-speed windscreen wipers, reversing lights, a driver's armrest found on the door, locking buttons found on the doorways, along with a passenger's side outdoor mirror.

The 1967 model weighed 840 kg inside federal trim, 800 kg inside Europe.

That same year, inside accord with all the newly enacted US Federal Motor Car Safety Standard 108, the well-defined glass headlamp covers were deleted; the headlamps were brought forward with the leading edge of the front fenders, as well as the sealed-beam units were exposed plus encircled by chrome bezels. For the 1968 model year, Beetles available outside North America received the same more upright plus forward headlamp location, however, with replaceable-bulb headlamps compliant with ECE laws instead of the US sealed beams.

In 1971, a new Beetle model featuring MacPherson strut front suspension along with a redesigned front end was established alongside the "standard" Beetle, that continued inside manufacturing. Officially termed as the VW 1302 from 1971 with 1972, plus VW 1303 from 1973 onwards, nevertheless commonly called Super Beetle, the modern stretched nose shape changed the double parallel torsion bar beams that had compromised torso room plus relocated the spare tire from a close vertical with a low horizontal position. The redesign lead to a tighter turning radius despite a 20 mm longer wheelbase, along with a doubling of the front compartment's cargo amount. As with past models, air stress within the spare tire pressurized the windshield washer canister, inside lieu of a electrical pump.

1972 Super Beetles had an 11 % bigger back window taller), greater front brakes, 4 rows of vents found on the engine deck lid, tail lights incorporating reverse lights, a four-spoke energy-absorbing steering wheel plus steering column, plus an engine compartment socket for the proprietary VW Diagnosis program.
1973–74 Volkswagen 1303/Big

In 1973, the VW 1303 introduced a curved windscreen, forced forward plus away within the travelers, permitting a redesigned, padded dashboard with substitute the pre-1973 vertical dash. A two-speed heater enthusiast, high back mudguards, plus heavier tail lights were added. The changes with the heater/windshield wiper housing plus curved windshield lead to slight redesign of the front bonnet, generating the 1971 plus 1972 Super Beetle hoods distinctive. In late 1973, the well-equipped "1303/Big" unique edition was introduced because buyers were searching for less spartan vehicles. These have 15-inch wheels, metallic paintwork, a more luxurious interior, a heated back windshield, plus other comforts.

For 1974, the past flat steel bumper mounting brackets were changed with tubular "self restoring stamina absorbing" attachments, effectively shock absorbers for the bumpers, about North American marketplace Beetles. These vehicles equally got stronger "5 mph" bumpers which added an inch with the size of the vehicle. The steering knuckle plus consequently the lower connection point of the strut was redesigned with enhance handling plus stability inside the event of the tire blowout. This signifies struts from pre-1974 Super Beetles are not interchangeable with 1974–79s.

1975 models showcased Air Flow Control Fuel Injection about U.S., Canadian, plus Japanese Beetles, a derivative of the more complex Bosch gas injection program selected inside the Volkswagen Type III, plus equal with Bosch L-Jetronic. The fuel-injected engine moreover received a new muffler as well as the choice of a upstream catalytic converter necessary about several models, necessitating a bulge inside the back apron sheet metal straight beneath the back bumper, plus substituting the distinctive double "pea shooter" pipes with a single offset tailpipe, generating fuel-injected models identifiable at a glance. Other changes were rack plus pinion steering substituting the conventional worm plus roller gearbox about Super Beetles, along with a heavier license plate lamp housing under the engine lid. The front turn indicators were moved within the top of the fenders into the bumper bars about European models.

In 1976, the optional Autostick transmission as well as the Super Beetle sedan were discontinued, with VW continuing with market the standard sedan plus VW 1303 convertible. 1976-on convertibles received no extensive technology changes, just a some aesthetic touches plus unique paint choices, including the "Champagne Edition" models with the final 1979 "Epilogue Edition" black about black, inside salute with the initially Beetles yielded inside the 1930s. 1977 model sedans received front seats with separate head restraints.

Though very effective inside the 1960s, the Beetle was confronted with stiff competition from more contemporary designs. The Japanese had processed rear-wheel-drive, water-cooled, front-engine tiny vehicles so they available effectively inside the North American marketplace, plus Americans introduced their own similarly sized rear-wheel-drive Chevrolet Vega, Ford Pinto plus AMC Gremlin inside the 1970s. The superminis inside Europe adopted more effective transverse-engine front-wheel-drive layouts, plus sales started dropping inside the mid-1970s. There had been many unsuccessful tries with substitute or supplement the Beetle inside the VW product line throughout the 1960s; the Type 3, Type 4, as well as the NSU-based K70 were all less effective than the Beetle, though aimed at more upscale markets for that VW lacked credibility. The over-reliance found on the Beetle meant which Volkswagen was inside financial crisis by 1974. It required German government funding with provide the Beetle's substitution. Just whenever manufacturing lines at Wolfsburg turned with the brand-new watercooled, front-engined, front-wheel drive Golf tailored by Giorgetto Giugiaro inside 1974, did Volkswagen make the automobile because effective because the Beetle. The Golf will be periodically redesigned over its life, entering its seventh generation inside 2012, with just a limited components carried over between decades, whilst the Beetle had just minor refinements of its authentic shape.

The Golf didn't kill Beetle manufacturing, that continued inside small numbers at alternative German factories till 19 January 1978, whenever mainstream manufacturing changed with Brazil plus Mexico: markets where low working expense was significant. The Beetle Cabriolet was yielded for the North American plus European markets inside Germany till 10 January 1980. The last Beetle was yielded inside Puebla, Mexico, inside July 2003. The final batch of 3,000 Beetles were available because 2004 models plus badged because the Última Edición, with whitewall wheels, a host of earlier discontinued chrome trim, as well as the choice of 2 specialized paint hues taken within the New Beetle. Production inside Brazil ended inside 1986, then began again inside 1993 plus continued till 1996. Volkswagen available Beetle sedans inside the US till August 1977 plus inside Europe till 1985, with private firms continuing with import vehicles yielded inside Mexico following 1985.

The Beetle outlasted many alternative vehicles that had copied the back air-cooled engine design including those by Subaru, Fiat, plus General Motors. Porsche's sport coupes that were initially based about Volkswagen components plus platforms continue with utilize the classic back engine design inside the Porsche 911 series, that remains competitive inside the 2nd decade of the 21st century.

By 2002, over 21 million Type 1s had been yielded, however by 2003, yearly creation had dropped with 30,000 from a peak of 1.3 million inside 1971. VW announced the finish of manufacturing inside June 2003, citing decreasing need, as well as the final authentic Type 1 VW Beetle rolled off the creation line at Puebla, Mexico, about 25 July 2003, 65 years following its authentic release. This last Beetle, nicknamed El Rey was delivered with the company's museum inside Wolfsburg, Germany.

To enjoy the event, Volkswagen advertised a final unique series of 3,000 Beetles advertised because "Última Edición" inside light blue or beige. Every vehicle included the 1.6 engine, whitewall wheels, a CD player with 4 speakers, chrome bumpers, trim, hub caps plus outdoor mirrors, a Wolfsburg emblem above the front trunk's handle, chrome glove box badge, body colored wheels, tinted glass, a back parcel shelf, plus VW Ultima Edicion plaque.

A mariachi band serenaded creation of the last automobile. In Mexico, there was clearly an advertising campaign because a goodbye for the Beetle. In among the advertisements had been a especially tiny parking room found on the street, plus several big vehicles tried with utilize it, nevertheless couldn't. After a while, a signal appears because parking room saying: "Es increíble que un car tan pequeño deje un vacío tan grande". Another depicted the back end of the 1954 Beetle inside the left side of the advertisement, reading "Erase una vez..." as well as the last 2003 Beetle inside the appropriate side, reading "Fin". There were alternative advertisements with all the same nostalgic tone. The Volkswagen Sedan is selected because a taxi inside Mexico City till 2013. The Mexican government is removing this kind of taxi plus absolutely created the green colors change into red-gold.

The Beetle showcased a rear-located, rear-wheel drive, air-cooled four-cylinder, boxer engine inside a two-door bodywork featuring a flat front windscreen, accommodating 4 travelers plus providing luggage storage beneath the front bonnet plus behind the back seat – plus providing a coefficient of drag of 0.41. The bodywork connected with eighteen bolts with its almost flat chassis that showcased a central structural tunnel. Front plus back suspension showcased torsion bars together with front stabilizer bar – providing independent suspension at all wheels. Some initial qualities were subsequently revised, including mechanical drum brakes, split-window back windows, mechanical direction-indicators as well as the non-synchronized gearbox. Other attributes, including its distinctive total form, endured.

Its engine, transmission, plus cylinder heads were built of light alloy. An engine oil cooler guaranteed optimum engine running temperature plus lengthy engine existence, optimized with a thermostat which bypassed the oil cooler whenever the engine was cold. Later models of the carburetor showcased an automatic choke. Engine consumption air passed by the metallic filter, whilst heavier particles were grabbed by an oil bathtub. After 1960, steering showcased a hydraulic damper which absorbed steering irregularities.

Indicative of the car's utilitarian shape, the inside featured painted metal surfaces, a metal dash consolidating instruments inside a single, circular binnacle, adjustable front seats, a fold-down back seat, optional swing-out back windows, front windows with pivoting vent windows, heating through air-to-air exchange manifolds running off the engine's heat, along with a windshield washer program which eschewed the complexity plus expense of a more electrical pump plus rather received its pressurization within the car's spare tire that was accordingly overinflated to support the washer function.

Throughout its manufacturing, VW advertised the Beetle with a four-speed, manual transmission. From 1961, VW available an optional adaptation of the Saxomat semi-automatic transmission: a normal 4-speed guide transaxle combined with an electromagnetic clutch with a centrifugal clutch chosen for idle. Subsequently, VW available an optional semi-automatic transmission, that became a 3-speed guide combined with an electromatic clutch plus torque converter.

While the total appearance of the Beetle changed little over its existence span, it received over 78,000 incremental changes throughout its creation.

Mexican manufacturing started inside 1955 as a result of agreements with firms including Chrysler inside Mexico as well as the Studebaker-Packard Corporation that assembled vehicles imported inside CKD shape. In 1964, they started with be nearby yielded. These models have the heavier windshield, back window, door plus quarter glass beginning inside 1971; as well as the back window from 1965 with 1971 German built models was chosen found on the Mexican models from 1972 with 1985, whenever it was changed with all the bigger back window utilized about 1972 plus later German built Beetles. This adaptation, following the mid-1970s, saw small change with all the incorporation of electronic ignition inside 1988, an anti-theft alert program inside 1990, a catalytic converter inside 1991, and also electronic Digifant gas injection, hydraulic valve lifters, along with a spin-on oil filter inside 1993. The front turn data were situated inside the bumper rather of the Beetle's conventional location over the front fenders within the 1977 model year about, because they had been about German Beetles available inside Europe of the same time period. Starting inside 1995, the Mexican Beetle included front disk brakes, an alternator rather of the generator, plus front automatic seat belts. Starting with all the 1996 model, the chrome moldings disappeared exiting body colored bumpers plus black moldings rather. By the finish of the 1996 model year, outdoor chrome or matt moldings were dropped completely as well as for model year 1997 Volkswagen de Mexico dropped the Sedan's flow-through ventilation program with all its fittings, notably the outdoor crescent-shaped vents behind the back side windows.

In mid-1996, front drum brakes plus fixed front seat belts were re-launched inside a modern budget adaptation called the "Volkswagen Sedán City", that was available alongside the upscale adaptation "Volkswagen Sedán Clásico" that had front disk brakes, automatic seat belts, appropriate side mirror, velour upholstery, optional metallic hues plus wheel covers inside matte finish. These 2 versions were available till 1999. From late 1999–2003, The Sedán Clásico was discontinued as well as the Sedán City lost its prefix plus gained disk brakes, automatic seat belts plus optional metallic hues. This last adaptation was called the "Volkswagen Sedán Unificado" or the "Volkswagen Sedán".
A Beetle decorated inside the Huichol design of beading today about show at the Museo de Arte Popular inside Mexico City

Independent importers continued to provide many main nations, including Germany, France, as well as the UK till the finish of creation inside 2003. Devoted fans of the vehicle even noticed the method to circumvent US protection laws by placing more newly produced Mexican Beetles found on the floorpans of earlier, US-registered vehicles. The Mexican Beetle was found on the US DOT's hot list of gray marketplace imports following 1978 because the car didn't meet protection laws.

In the Southwest US, Mexican Beetles are a very well-known sight because Mexican nationals could legally work the car inside the United States, offered the vehicles stay subscribed inside Mexico.

The end of creation inside Mexico is attributed generally with Mexican political measures: the Beetles no longer met emissions specifications for Mexico City, inside that the ubiquitous Beetles were utilized because taxicabs; as well as the government outlawed their utilize because taxicabs as a result of increasing crime rates, requiring just four-door cars be utilized. The last Vocho taxis inside Mexico City are set with be retired at the finish of 2012. Additionally, Volkswagen has been trying with develop a more upscale, premium brand image, as well as the humble Beetle clashed with this identity, because enjoyed inside the Touareg plus Passat deluxe cars. In the late 1990s customers firmly preferred more contemporary vehicles including the Mexican Chevy, the Nissan Tsuru, as well as the Volkswagen Pointer plus Lupo.

But, need for the Beetle was reasonably significant, specifically inside the 1990s, with all the staff improving at the begin of the decade. The cost of the single standard model was pegged with all the official minimal wage, by an agreement involving the firm as well as the government. In 1990 it expense $5,300.