Volkswagen Beetle : The Car of the Century

by Copping, Richard

• ISBN13: 9781901295863
• ISBN10: 1901295869
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-12-01
• Publisher: Motorbooks Intl

Summary

To date, almost 22 million Beetles have been built: in almost every color; as 6 or 12 volts; by Karmann and Hebmuller; and with as many window configurations as thought possible. Yet the body has remained the same with just a few tweaks here and there. Follow the history of this favorite from its early years and up to its recent rebirth.

Table of Contents

Introduction	6	(1)
Acknowledgements	7	(1)
Bibliography	8	(1)
Section One: History - The People and the Policy	9	(19)
An unlikely duo creates a masterpiece	10	(4)
Hooray for the British!	14	(4)
A golden age	18	(4)
The challenge from within	22	(3)
A long and happy exile in South America, but hardly a retirement	25	(2)
The official pretender to the throne	27	(1)
Section Two: Evolution - The Creation of `Der Weltmeister'	28	(143)
By way of an explanation, for those who haven't yet caught `The Bug'!	29	(2)
The Split-Window Beetle, 1945 - 1953	31	(21)
The KdF-Wagen	31	(1)
1945 - 1948	31	(1)
The early post-war Beetles	32	(7)
Another cog in the VW wheel	32	(2)
`Pon my word - The Beetle goes Dutch	34	(1)
`Here comes Baber in his Beetle'	35	(2)
Feature: 1949 - Standard	37	(2)
1949	39	(4)
Feature: 1950 - Deluxe	41	(2)
The Beetle attempts another American landing	43	(1)
1950	43	(2)
Feature: 1951 - Deluxe	44	(1)
1951	45	(3)
1952	48	(4)
Paint colours 1945 - 1953	50	(1)
Landmarks of the `Split' era	51	(1)
The Oval-Window Beetle, 1953 - 1957	52	(16)
1953	52	(6)
The Beetle invades Britain	53	(2)
If at first you don't succeed ... try another Beetle onslaught	55	(1)
Feature: 1954 - Deluxe	56	(2)
`Eine millionen'	58	(1)
1954	58	(1)
1955 (January 1955 - July 1955)	59	(3)
Feature: 1955 - Deluxe American Specification	61	(1)
1956 (August 1955 - July 1956)	62	(1)
1957 (August 1956 - July 1957)	63	(5)
Paint colours 1953 - 1957	63	(1)
Feature: 1957 - Deluxe American Specification	64	(2)
The Latin connection	66	(1)
Landmarks of the `Oval' era	67	(1)
The Classic `Link-Pin' Beetles, 1958 - 1964	68	(21)
1958 (August 1957 - July 1958)	68	(7)
Feature: 1958 - Deluxe	71	(1)
The marketing men belittle the Beetle: most successfully!	72	(3)
1959 (August 1958 - July 1959)	75	(1)
1960 (August 1959 - July 1960)	75	(6)
Feature: 1960 - Deluxe	76	(2)
Feature: 1961 - Deluxe	78	(2)
Whatever became of the `KdF Savers'?	80	(1)
Just who did own Volkswagen?	81	(1)
1961 (August 1960 - July 1961)	81	(3)
Feature: 1962 - Deluxe	82	(2)
1962 (August 1961 - July 1962)	84	(1)
1963 (August 1962 - July 1963)	85	(1)
1964 (August 1963 - July 1964)	85	(4)
Landmarks of the years 1958 - 1964	87	(1)
Paint colours 1958 - 1964	88	(1)
Setting the standard - The tale of the Base-Model Beetle, July 1949 - December 1964	89	(12)
Feature: Raising the Standard once more	95	(6)
The last years of the `Sloping Headlamps', 1965 - 1967	101	(14)
1965 (August 1964 - July 1965)	101	(4)
Feature: 1965 - Sun-roof	102	(2)
Something of a challenge erupts in the United States	104	(1)
1966 (August 1965 - July 1966)	105	(1)
1967 (August 1966 - July 1967)	106	(9)
A tale of mixed fortunes in Australia	107	(2)
Feature: 1967 - 1500 American Specification	109	(1)
Feature: 1967 - 1500 European Specifications	110	(2)
Paint colours 1965 - 1967	112	(1)
From assembly to manufacture in Mexico	113	(1)
Landmarks of the years 1965 - 1967	113	(2)
The era of the `Vertical Headlamp' Models, 1968 - 1978	115	(34)
1968 (August 1967 - July 1968)	115	(2)
Farewell to Heinz Nordhoff	116	(1)
1969 (August 1968 - July 1969)	117	(4)
Feature: 1969 - 1300	119	(2)
1970 (August 1969 - July 1970)	121	(4)
`Der Weltmeister'	122	(3)
1971 (August 1970 - July 1971)	125	(2)
Feature: 1972 - 1302S	127	(1)
1972 (August 1971 - July 1972)	127	(7)
`Hot Property' - The `GT' Beetle	128	(2)
Supplementing sales requires something a bit special	130	(1)
Feature: 1974 - 1303S' `Big Beetle'	130	(4)
1973 (August 1972 - July 1973)	134	(1)
1974 (August 1973 - July 1974)	134	(7)
Feature: 1974 - 1300	136	(2)
Something a bit special for the States	138	(1)
The South African satellite	139	(2)
1975 (August 1974 - July 1975)	141	(6)
`The time has come to say adieu...' - The Last Edition Beetle	143	(2)
Four and a half million owners can't all be wrong	145	(1)
So, you thought the Beetle was German?	145	(1)
Paint colours 1968 - 1978	146	(1)
1976 (August 1975) to the end of German Production (January 1978)	147	(2)
Landmarks of the years 1968 to 1978	148	(1)
`Hecho en Mexico', 1978 Onwards	149	(22)
1978 - 1985	149	(11)
A veritable deluge of limited edition Beetles	151	(1)
Feature: 1984 - 1200L `Velvet Red' Limited Edition	152	(3)
The quirks of the Brazilian Connection	155	(4)
Feature: 1985 - `50 Jahre Kafer'	159	(1)
The company that produced the 20 millionth Beetle	160	(1)
1985 to the End of the Century	160	(11)
`Car of cars'	161	(6)
Feature: The Beetle of Today	167	(2)
The Beetle in Europe in the 21st century	169	(1)
Paint colours 1978 - 1985 (to the end of exports of Germany)	170	(1)
Landmarks of the years 1978 onwards	170	(1)
Section Three: A Beetle for the Elite	171	(18)
The Evolution of the Cabriolet	172	(17)
The dark days of the `Strength Through Joy' car	172	(1)
A period of British ingenuity	173	(1)
The seeds of a 30-year life-span	173	(1)
The all-too-brief Hebmuller Experience	173	(5)
Promoting the `Convertible'	178	(1)
The Karmann Connection	178	(1)
The evolution of the Karmann Cabriolet	179	(5)
Cabriolet production figures	184	(5)
Index	189