Description
The Beetle, officially the Volkswagen Type 1, is a small family car produced by the German company Volkswagen from 1938 to 2003. One of the most iconic cars in automotive history, the Beetle is known for its distinctive shape. Its 65-year production run is the longest of any car generation, and its total output of over 21. 5 million is the highest of any single-platform car. The Volkswagen Beetle was conceived in the early 1930s. The leader of Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler, decided it was necessary to create a popular car - one that was cheap, simple and mass-produced - to serve Germany's new motorway network, the Reichsautobahn. German engineer Ferdinand Porsche and his design team began developing and designing the car in the early 1930s, but the fundamental design concept can be traced back to Béla Barényi in 1925, predating Porsche's claims by almost a decade. The result was the Volkswagen Type 1 and the introduction of the Volkswagen brand. Volkswagen had originally planned production for the late 1930s, but the outbreak of war in 1939 meant that production was delayed until later in the war. The car was originally called the Volkswagen Type 1 and marketed simply under the Volkswagen name. Volkswagen introduced designations for the Beetle in the 1960s, including 1200, 1300, 1500, 1600, 1302 and 1303. The brand launched a series of large luxury models throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including the Type 3, Type 4 and K70, to complement the Beetle, but none of these models achieved the level of success it did. The rapid shift in European consumer preferences towards front-wheel drive compact saloons led Volkswagen to phase out rear-wheel drive, starting with the Golf in 1974. In the late 1970s and 1980s, Japanese carmakers began to dominate some markets around the world, contributing to the Beetle's declining popularity. Throughout its lifetime, the Beetle's design remained consistent, but Volkswagen implemented more than 78, 000 incremental updates. These modifications were often subtle, involving small changes to the exterior, interior, colours and lighting. Among the most notable changes were the introduction of new engines, models and systems, as well as improved technology and comfort. The car on display is a 1972 1200 Standard, restored in the late 1990s and still fitted with the mechanical assistance it needs to function properly. It is a privately-owned car that has been delivered to us from a sales depot. Invited offers.
