Was the VW Beetle the most important object of the 20th Century?

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Volkswagen Beetle

Few cars are as significant as the original Volkswagen Beetle. We aren't saying that because over 21 million were built, or because it was built continuously for 65 years. It's not even because it essentially did for Germany what the Ford Model T did for the United States, the Citroen 2CV did for France, the Mini did for Great Britain and the Fiat Topolino did for Italy. It's because, as explained by Xcar, the Beetle is the reason for Volkswagen as we know it.

Dating back to its birth at the hands of Ferdinand Porsche and Adolf Hitler during the inter-war period, and as Nazi Germany was on the rise, the original Beetle didn't truly catch on until after the country's defeat in World War II, when the factory was taken over by the British military. Had things gone even a little bit differently - say, if the factory been purchased by another automaker, as the Brits had intended - this would have never happened, and Xcar wouldn't be exploring the rear-engined model's history and how it relates to the New Beetle as well as the Golf-based coupe currently starring in VW's portfolio.

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Was the VW Beetle the most important object of the 20th Century? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Nov 2014 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VW Beetle celebrates 65 years in the US

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Volkswagen Beetle: 1949 and 2014

Although the existence of the Volkswagen Beetle dates back to the early 1930s, it wasn't until 1949 that the first of what would turn out to be millions would find its way to the US. Sixty-five years ago this month, Dutch businessman Ben Pon, Sr. brought the first Beetle - or Type 1 - to the US, and Volkswagen is marking the occasion not with a special edition, but with a small gallery of images showing a gorgeous '49 Type 1 alongside a 2014 Beetle.

In that first year, only two Beetles were sold in the US, but just 20 years later, the car had become the face of a generation, selling 423,000 units in 1968 alone. Even though that's about 10 times as many Beetles sold in 2013, the bubbly hatchback remains one of the more popular vehicles in VW's lineup. Scroll down to read VW's informative press release marking the Beetle's 65th year in the US, and be sure to check out the great photographs, too.

Continue reading VW Beetle celebrates 65 years in the US

VW Beetle celebrates 65 years in the US originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Jan 2014 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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