Production of the Volkswagen Beetle is set to end in 2019.1 From a wartime symbol to an icon of 1960s hippie culture, to its reintroduction in the late 1990s, the Beetle has held strong. Through 2010, 1.2 million New Beetles were sold, according to The New York Times,2 while an estimated 21 million units were built since the Beetle’s introduction.3 There is now limited time to secure a new Beetle from our Downingtown, PA, Volkswagen dealership.
History of the VW Beetle
The original Beetle had a 25 hp rear-mounted engine and a top speed of 62 mph. First known simply as the “Type 1,” it was designed by Ferdinand Porsche and commissioned as the “people’s car” in 1938 Germany. By 1951, the vehicle was available in 29 countries. It would acquire the name “Ladybug” in France and simply the “Bug” in the U.S.
The popularity of the Volkswagen Bug in the 1960s had less-dark associations than its origins. It was essentially a symbol of the 1960’s counterculture and was the nation’s best-selling import at the time. Painfully slow and equipped with an ineffective heating system, the Beetle was less popular by the 1970s. Strict pollution standards were affecting its viability as well. Volkswagen stopped producing it in Germany by 1978.
However, finding a VW Beetle for sale became possible again, in 1997, when the company introduced the New Beetle. Although intended to deliver nostalgia, it was built on the Volkswagen Golf platform. Sales declined after news that VW used illegal software to deceive regulators about diesel emissions.
A variation appeared in 2012, but sales have steadily declined since 2013. Volkswagen announced the final models, the Final Edition SE and Final Edition SEL, in 2018 as convertibles.
The VW Beetle in Pop Culture
Since its initial release, the Beetle was always instantly identifiable. Its presence in 1960s American culture was aided by its role in the 1968 movie The Love Bug. The vehicle is survived by other popular VW cars, the Golf, and the Tiguan SUV. That’s after many years of accolades, which include Motor Trend’s “Import Car of the Year” in 1999 and a car of the century competition that named it in fourth place after the Ford Model T, Mini, and Citroën DS19.
The Beetle’s Impact on VW’s Popularity
The Beetle Bug has been produced in 23 exterior colors, 32 interior trims, and 13 engine configurations over the years.4 It is one of the company’s most recognizable models. In fact, the Beetle’s success contributed to the establishment of Volkswagen, Europe’s largest carmaker. With popular models such as the Atlas, Golf GTI, Jetta, Passat, and Tiguan, it certainly won’t be its last.
Buy a Used VW Beetle at Your Local Volkswagen Dealer Today
If you’re interested in a used Volkswagen Beetle, go to Jeff D’Ambrosio Volkswagen in Downingtown, PA. New and used vehicles are available, while all pre-owned cars are multi-point inspected to ensure they’re showroom-ready before being put on our lot. We have an on-site parts and service department, financing options, and exceptional customer service. Call us today at 888-585-7794 to speak with a sales representative and test drive a VW Beetle for sale today.
Sources:
- https://qz.com/1664068/volkswagens-beetle-81-is-no-more/
- https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/14/business/volkswagen-beetle.html
- http://newsroom.vw.com/vehicles/as-the-beetle-ends-a-look-at-its-impact-on-design-and-volkswagens-future/
- https://qz.com/1664068/volkswagens-beetle-81-is-no-more/
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