The History of Volkswagen

By Zach Elliott

19301930--19401940

�� Beetle first going into Beetle first going into

development.development.

�� Most were made for Most were made for

the military in this the military in this

time periodtime period

�� First Civilian Bug, First Civilian Bug,

made in August 1940made in August 1940

Early Kdf-Wagen

What did Hitler have to do with What did Hitler have to do with

the VW?the VW?�� Hitler came up with Hitler came up with

the idea of a small the idea of a small

““Peoples carPeoples car”” hence hence

the name.the name.

�� Hitler gave this Hitler gave this

assignment to assignment to

Fernidand Fernidand PorschePorsche

�� Fernidand Fernidand Porsche Porsche

Made the VWMade the VW

Ceremony for the VW

19401940--19501950

�� 1000th Beetle made 1000th Beetle made

in March 1946in March 1946

�� 19491949--First Beetle sent First Beetle sent

to Americato America

�� 19491949--The idea of a The idea of a

boxy van vehicle was boxy van vehicle was

thought up.thought up.

1948 Bug

19501950--19601960

�� 19501950--First VW busFirst VW bus

�� 19501950--100,000 Beetles 100,000 Beetles

producedproduced

�� 19541954--Engine Size Engine Size

goes from 1131cc to goes from 1131cc to

1192cc, 30 to 36 HP1192cc, 30 to 36 HP

�� 19551955--FirstFirst Karmann Karmann

Ghia Ghia ProducedProduced

Cutaway of VW Bus

19601960--19701970

�� 19641964--10 millionth Beetle 10 millionth Beetle producedproduced

�� 19661966--Engine size goes Engine size goes from 1192cc to 1285cc, from 1192cc to 1285cc, 36 to 50 HP36 to 50 HP

�� 19671967--Engine Size goes to Engine Size goes to 1493cc, HP to 53 1493cc, HP to 53

�� 19681968--The Second The Second Generation Transporter Generation Transporter was introducedwas introduced

�� 19681968--Automatic Stick Automatic Stick Shift introducedShift introduced

Second Generation Transporter

19701970--19801980

�� 19701970--Engine size goes to Engine size goes to

1600cc, HP to 57 1600cc, HP to 57

�� 19711971--Power Brakes Power Brakes

added to Transporteradded to Transporter

�� 19731973--First Auto First Auto

Transmission in a VW Transmission in a VW

BusBus

�� 19731973--PassatPassat/Dasher /Dasher

IntroducedIntroduced

Another Bay Window

19701970--1980 Continued1980 Continued……

�� 19741974--Golf/Rabbit Golf/Rabbit

introduced (introduced (GtiGti))

�� 19751975--Fuel Injection Fuel Injection

added. HP Jumps by 2added. HP Jumps by 2

�� 19781978--Last German Made Last German Made

Beetle rolled off the Beetle rolled off the

assembly lineassembly line

�� 19791979--Last Transporter Last Transporter

made (Baymade (Bay--Window)Window)VW GTi

19801980--19901990

�� 19801980--Vanagon Vanagon introducedintroduced

�� 19811981--20 millionth 20 millionth Beetle produced in Beetle produced in MexicoMexico

�� Scirocco Scirocco introducedintroduced

�� Corrado Corrado IntroducedIntroduced

VW Vanagon

19901990--20002000

�� 19931993--Eurovan Eurovan

IntroducedIntroduced

�� 19981998--VW New Beetle VW New Beetle

IntroducedIntroduced

�� ““Old StyleOld Style”” Bugs still Bugs still

being produced in being produced in

Mexico.Mexico.

VW Eurovan

20002000--PresentPresent

�� 20032003--Last old Style Last old Style Bug produced in Bug produced in MexicoMexico

�� Total old Style beetle Total old Style beetle production: production: 21,529,46421,529,464

�� Touareg Touareg SUV SUV introducedintroduced

�� Phaeton Luxury Phaeton Luxury sedan introducedsedan introduced

Last VW Bug made

What the Future HoldsWhat the Future Holds

�� VW currently has VW currently has

many concepts out.many concepts out.

�� The New Eos is due The New Eos is due

soonsoon

�� They will also be They will also be

releasing a small SUV releasing a small SUV

soonsoon

VW Eos

The The Wonderous Wonderous Flat FourFlat Four

�� The VW FlatThe VW Flat--four was an four was an

Aircooled Aircooled 44--cylinder cylinder

engine that had great gas engine that had great gas

mileage, and was easy to mileage, and was easy to

maintain. It was put in maintain. It was put in

Vehicles from the first Vehicles from the first

bug, to the lastbug, to the last Vanagon Vanagon

in 1993. 53 Years!in 1993. 53 Years!

((Vanagon Vanagon had had WatercooledWatercooled))

Chromed out VW engine

How Did it Benefit SocietyHow Did it Benefit Society

�� Brought Germany out of Brought Germany out of

an Economic Downfallan Economic Downfall

�� Cheap, so pretty much Cheap, so pretty much

everyone could afford everyone could afford

one.one.

�� It created a huge It created a huge

following of VW following of VW

enthusiastsenthusiasts

�� Without it, there never Without it, there never

would have been a would have been a

German AutobahnGerman AutobahnVW Karmann Ghia

Works CitedWorks Cited

Small Wonder, The Story of the Volkswagen Beetle.

Lincolnwood Illinois: Publications International, 1998. 0-144.

Volkswagen." Wikipedia. Wikipedia, 2005. Answers.com 14

Mar. 2006. http://www.answers.com/topic/volkswagen

Elliott, Zach. "VW Invention?" TheSamba. 8 Mar. 2006. 8

Mar. 2006

<http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16035

3>.