Ever since the emergence of the first car in the 19th century, millions of cars have been produced by hundreds of car brands. Some brands evolved with time and became industry giants, while others were left behind in the race for excellence. Brands that welcomed technology as a whole worked for decades to make a name in the industry. The years of hard work have paid off and now their launches are highly anticipated, with pre-bookings portraying people’s trust in the brand’s name. Speaking of trusted brands that have built a reputation with decades of experience under their belt, Volkswagen’s name will be right up there with the top ones.
Among the many achievements of the German Automobile manufacturer, ‘Volkswagen Beetle’ has a legacy of its own and it deserves a special mention. We have compiled some interesting facts about Volkswagen Beetle; the car that changed the industry dynamics. These facts about VW Beetle will let you know more about this world-famous car and how it shaped Volkswagen’s future.
Facts about Volkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Group, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany was founded in 1937. ‘Volkswagen’ means ‘people’s car’ in German and this title became the company’s foundation; to produce cars that were affordable for all classes. The group was tasked with producing cars that can fit 5 people. Accommodating husband, wife, and three children was the concept behind the 5-seater car. A foundation was laid for the Volkswagen Beetle which would go on to become one of the most iconic cars of all time. Check out these interesting Volkswagen facts to learn more about the brand.
Let’s go through some interesting facts about the Volkswagen Beetle and what makes it stand out.
BEETLE WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED BY A HUNGARIAN STUDENT
The Volkswagen Beetle was designed by a Hungarian student, ‘Bela Barenyi’. Bela submitted the chassis design for Volkswagen in 1925.
BEETLE WAS NOT ITS ORIGINAL NAME
The original model was released as ‘Volkswagen’ or ‘the people’s car’ but the unique shape contributed to the name Beetle. The New York Times addressed the iconic car as ‘Beetle’ and it caught on.
FIRST CAR TO HIT 20 MILLION
The Beetle was the first car to sell 20 million units. No other car has done that before. It also held the privilege of being Volkswagen’s most built car until 2002, when VW Golf took that title.
PRODUCED FOR 65 YEARS
VW Beetle was introduced in 1938 and its production was halted in 2003. This means that the Beetle was in production for 65 years, making it one of the longest-produced cars of all time.
50% SHARES FOR A VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
Jim Monaghan, co-founder of what we today know as ‘Domino’s Pizza’ had a pizza joint with a different name. He sold 50% of his shares of the company to buy a Volkswagen Beetle.
THE FLOATING BEETLE
The Beetle was built differently from the other cars. Owing to its unique shape and size, it isn’t a surprise that the vehicle floated on the water. There have been instances where the Beetle was seen floating. Although, it wasn’t a feature announced by the manufacturers and the Beetle was not among the amphibious cars.
VW BEETLE ON THE BIG SCREEN
It is only a matter of time that a car as famous as the Beetle would hit the big screen. The VW Beetle is among the famous movie cars to make their presence felt on screen. Beetle has appeared in a number of movies like Quantum of solace, 50 First dates and Herbie to name a few.
DRIVEN BY A PRESIDENT
Among the many Volkswagen Beetle facts, this one is rather interesting. Dubbed the poorest president, Jose Mujica, a former Uruguayan president had a 1987 VW Beetle. Talk about an economical car for all classes.
VW BEETLE IN ‘THE SHINING’
In one of the most famous novels ‘The Shining’, the main character had a red Volkswagen Beetle. Stephen King, the author of the novel, used to drive a VW Beetle to get a feel of the character’s mindset while he was writing the novel.
A CONVERTIBLE VW BEETLE
Volkswagen Beetle was a huge success and it only made sense that manufacturers cashed in on the popularity. The VW Beetle was also released as a convertible and the new model made rounds. The introduction of a convertible model is a good addition to the facts about Volkswagen Beetle.
THE VW THING
While the VW Beetle convertible was a success, one model wasn’t so lucky. The Volkswagen Group introduced a stylish alternative to the VW Beetle known as the ‘VW Thing’. The weird design and driving characteristics contributed to the model’s failure as a whole. It didn’t catch people’s eyes and remains a lesser-known model.
BEETLE REACHES THE ISLAND OF NAURU
The ambition of the Volkswagen Group to make the Beetle a global sensation saw the vehicle’s entrance on the island of Nauru. Beetle’s availability on the island was surprising but it showed the brand’s determination of expanding its horizons.
CREATIVE ADVERTISING
This is another unique one among the facts about Volkswagen Beetle. As the car was unlike anything that people had seen before, the advertising was also different. One of the ads portrayed the VW Beetle as an easy-to-push car if you run out of petrol.
AN AIR-COOLED VEHICLE
One main feature that made the Beetle stand out was that the engine was air-cooled. Instead of utilising a coolant tank or a traditional radiator, the Beetle was air-cooled; making it a highly sought car.
This brings us to the end of facts about the Volkswagen Beetle. The iconic car reached a status that is still a dream for many vehicle manufacturers. The Beetle has made a big difference to make its manufacturer what it is today and these Volkswagen Beetle facts are proof of the car’s success over the years. Volkswagen Group has also launched new models of their iconic cars keeping their tradition of evolving with time alive.
With all its accomplishments, it is intriguing to have a Volkswagen Beetle at your disposal. Check out these used Volkswagen Beetles for sale in the UAE and select from a wide variety of iconic models listed. For other models of the Volkswagen brand, browse through these used Volkswagens for sale in the UAE and have your pick.
Stay tuned to UAE’s top auto blog for interesting car facts and more.
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