- After nearly seven decades on the market, Volkswagen will no longer produce its famous Beetle, the German automaker confirmed on Thursday.
- In 1938, the first Beetles came off the assembly lines. In order to address the demand created by their rising popularity in the US in the 1960s, Volkswagen established its first production facility in North America.
- In July 2019, that factory, which is situated in the Mexican state of Puebla, is anticipated to produce its final Beetle.
The Beetle model line has been in production in some capacity for 78 years, but the New Beetle has been in production for approximately 20 years, spanning two generations. In 2012, the latest generation first went into production.
Although it hasn’t always been the most popular or thrilling VW model, the automotive industry would undoubtedly cry a tear if Beetle production were to end abruptly with no prospect of a comeback.
In This Article...
When did the first Volkswagen bugs enter America?
The Holland America Line Westerdam arrived in New York Harbor from Rotterdam on January 17, 1949, bearing the beginnings of an automobile epoch.
The first Bug automobile was created when?
The first-generation car’s series production began in 1945, and 21.5 million of them were sold, making it the most well-known automobile ever produced from a single platform. In San Francisco, California, a vintage Volkswagen Beetle is parked in front of the Golden Gate Bridge.
When was Beetle Bug released?
In 1945, the first 1,785 Type 1s were produced. After initially focusing primarily on producing Beetles for the British military, manufacturing switched to Beetles exclusively for the general public in 1947. These Beetles were the first to have chromed bumpers, hubcaps, body trim, and running board trim.
What VW Bug is the oldest?
The Volkswagen moniker didn’t exist until after World War II, so technically, the car is a 1941 KdF-wagen Type 60, but it has the same shape and distinguishing features that most petrolheads have grown to love. Paul Lincke, a well-known Berlin musician, received the car as a gift two years after Britain began war on Germany, but Ondrej found it in a terrible condition in 1988.
He told Heritage Parts Centre, “I was a student and I saw this automobile under a big tree, with a covering of clay halfway up its wheels.
It belongs to one of my brother’s friends.
The Type 60 didn’t become available to Brom for another nine years; he bought it the instant it did, but he was unable to immediately pay the asking sum.
“I hurried over to the house to purchase it. The asking price was 60,000 Czech Korunas, but I only had 4,000 in my wallet. Thank goodness the owner granted me some time to visit the bank!
Ondrej had already ventured into the world of Volkswagens before, though. He had previously owned four Beetles, but he was unaware of the history hidden beneath the patina paint. Ondrej had a suspicion that the Beetle was actually a KdF-era vehicle because to his background with Volkswagen, but it took him a long time to corroborate this.
Under layers of patchy rust, cracked panels, and flaking paint, a chassis number was eventually found stamped after meticulous paint removal, X-rays, and spraying the car with police-issue chemicals. Chassis 20 was there.
Polish restorer Jacek Krajewski entered the picture in 2012 to make sure the automobile received the attention it deserved while a restoration effort was launched at home. The Type 60 now features period-correct appearance and rude health following a complete nut-and-bot overhaul.
The Type 60 won’t be going up for sale any time soon, so don’t even consider inquiring about an asking price. Brom is rightfully holding possession of the car for a while longer. But what if KdF #19 was discovered in a field tomorrow? Would he act any differently?
I had never considered this subject before, but it has a straightforward solution. Everything would be done in the same way, with the exception that I would now know who to talk to. The renovation would be completed by Jacek, and everything would be resolved.
Which VW Bug is the rarest?
The Zwitter, which was built from October 1952 to March 1953 and is the most uncommon Volkswagen Beetle, is distinguished by a split window on the back of the vehicle. Production of the car was stopped when it was discovered that the split window in the back was impairing drivers’ view.
What’s the value of a 1970 VW Bug?
Prices jumped once more for the 1970 Volkswagen Beetle Deluxe Sedan, Sunroof Sedan, and Cabriolet, reaching $1839, $1929, and $2245 respectively.
Model description
Volkswagen sold 1,921,013 automobiles globally in 1967, marking 18 years of rising sales. Sales of Beetles in the United States increased to 320,692 units, including 6349 Cabriolets, but the company’s import market share decreased to 57% as GM used Buick to market German Opels and Chrysler acquired the Rootes group in Britain, releasing some Hillman and Sunbeam models in the United States.
The 1500 Beetle, which was offered in addition to the 40 bhp, 1285cc 1300 unit, was the big news, and it is powered by a 53 bhp, 1493 cc engine. The traditional sloping headlights were replaced by sealed beam models, but the vintage bumpers with loop over riders retained. To reduce the strain on the torsion bars, the rear suspension was given an equalizer spring that ran from one axle tube to the next and was connected by rods. A 12-volt electrical system and dual circuit brake system were also added to U.S. Beetles, however it appears that the 1500 model received these upgrades gradually in October. Wiper motors now have two speeds.
The 1967 Deluxe Beetle is now $1639, the 1967 Sunroof Beetle is $1729, and the 1967 Cabriolet is still $2075.
What kind of car did Ted Bundy have?
Ted Bundy committed scores of killings over the course of two years, first in Washington and Oregon, then in Utah and Colorado, using his Volkswagen Beetle as part of his standard operating procedure.
Which Beetle year is the best?
The VW Beetle’s durability and resale value are highest for the model year 2005. Volkswagen made a special effort to create a Beetle with excellent durability and stability after the 2004 model gained notoriety for its transmission faults and window regulator concerns.
Additionally, they made sure that it required very little upkeep. If it ever malfunctions, parts are easily accessible.
And you never gave anything up to get this toughness. For the 2005 model year, there were four trim levels, and each one offered a comfortable and responsive ride. Four individuals may sit comfortably inside, and it had a great appearance.
Why did VW cease producing the Beetle?
As far as we know, VW has never given a formal response. However, based on our study, we have been able to put together a few major explanations for the decision to halt manufacture of what is undoubtedly the most iconic car in history:
- Electrification The idea that Volkswagen discontinued the Beetle so they could concentrate more on impending electric vehicles is another frequently advanced argument. This is a legitimate argument, but not nearly as compelling as the one based on sales performance, since there is no question that VW, along with the majority of other manufacturers, has moved its focus to electrification.
- Sales effectiveness and buyer preferences
- The Beetle’s poor sales performance was the primary factor in VW ceasing production. Volkswagen attributed the termination of production of the original Beetle in 2003 to diminishing demand. When the final model left the Mexican assembly line, it was still essentially an old automobile, despite modifications and revisions over the years. Following the decline of the original Beetle in Western nations, the markets where it was successful also “The outmoded Beetle had been sufficiently modernized to the point where it was no longer practical. In the late 1990s, The New Beetle was introduced in an effort to “Profit on the fondness for the original vehicle. The New Beetle and its successor, the New New Beetle, never sold in particularly large quantities, despite some early success (due to the market preferring the blend of retro appeal and new amenities). By 2018, Volkswagen’s total sales were made up of around 4% of the A5 Beetle. It was a specialized product that was just not making enough money to support its continued manufacturing. Consumer preferences had evolved away from affordable hatchbacks and toward SUV/crossover vehicles. As a result of the model’s low sales results, it was discontinued.
- Platform-sharing
- The A4 and A5 platforms from Volkswagen served as the foundation for the New Beetle generations. Online rumors indicate that one of the reasons VW canceled the Beetle was due to the technical difficulties associated with switching to the Volkswagen Group MQB Platform. This assertion, coupled with the Beetle’s low sales record, was cited as another justification for the decision.
Was there ever a front engine on the VW Bug?
The Beetle name didn’t completely disappear in 1979, even though the air-cooled Bug left America. Volkswagen introduced the New Beetle in 1998, sparking a second Beetle-mania. Although it was nothing more than an MK4 Golf covered in retro-nostalgic appearance, it catapulted the bug and the Volkswagen brand back into the mainstream for a number of years.
Volkswagen’s water-cooled, 2.0-liter, eight-valve inline four-cylinder, which served as the front-engine, front-wheel-drive New Beetle’s base engine at launch, was the industry standard at the time.
In terms of performance, it was adequate. Volkswagen, however, expanded the Beetle lineup for 1999 by include the 1.8T as an available engine. The New Beetle’s 150hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine provided it with the power needed to compete head-to-head with other hot-hatch competitors at the time.
The only available engine was the 2.5L inline five-cylinder when the New Beetle was updated in 2006. Again, the engine of the Beetle was only good enough in terms of performance. Up until 2010, the 2.5L New Beetle kept on trucking.
The Beetle had yet another revamp for 2011. Even while it was still front-wheel drive and water-cooled, this time around the appearance was significantly more aggressive; Volkswagen even called it macho.
The 2.0L I4 with 200 horsepower turbocharged direct injection was also offered at launch, in addition to the 2.5L inline-five that was still the standard engine. These engines were powerful, effective, and simple to enhance for greater performance. They did experience some issues with reliability, such as failures of the high-pressure fuel pumps and carbon buildup on the intake valves. Up until 2019, that Volkswagen Beetle may be purchased in the US.
The VW Beetle’s sales in the United States peaked at approximately 400,000 units in 1968 and remained at that level for a number of years in the late 1960s. The company struggled to keep a 25-year-old design at the forefront of the import market during this time, beginning with timely and intelligent visual adjustments and ending with some fairly daring mechanical revisions.
The 1965 Volkswagen Beetle had a number of alterations, the most noticeable of which were the overall bigger windows. The sun visors could be turned to the side, and the windshield was now slightly curved to lessen glare. The pillars were smaller, and the windscreen was 11 percent larger. The back window increased by 20%, the rear side windows by 18%, and the front side windows by 6%. The motor was more powerful, and the wipers were longer.
1,174,687 Volkswagen vehicles across all types were produced worldwide, while 296,431 Beetles and 7,848 Cabriolets were sold in this country. VW sold 383,978 units in the United States, or 67.4% of all imported automobiles, if you count trucks. The dealer network, however, shrank from 968 to 908.
The 1192cc, 34 horsepower engine was upgraded to a 40 bhp engine, although performance was still sluggish. The 1965 Beetle Deluxe Sedan was $1563, the Sunroof Sedan was $1653, and the Cabriolet was $2053, all small price decreases. Improvements included switching the heater controls from rotary knobs to twin levers. On each side, there were two jacking spots. The clutch and brake mechanisms were enhanced.