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CONTENTS

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History of VW Beetle

��� Most people are aware of the genesis of the Volkswagen Beetle as "The People's Car" prior to the Second World War, designed by Dr Ferdinand Porsche to put the German people behind the wheel of an affordable car. What most people do not realise is that production did not start until after the Second World War and that it was the British Army that started what is the modern day Volkswagen Group!
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��� After the war, the British Army found itself as the manager of what was left of the Volkswagen factory, more than 60 per cent of it had been destroyed during the war, some plans and a few parts. All the prototype cars had also been destroyed. They offered the company first to the Rootes Group in the UK and then Ford. Both companies turned down the car and company saying that the Volkswagen had no future.

��� �So the British Army appointed Major Ivan Hirst, a bank manager from Yorkshire, to run the plant. Remarkably he lead theVolkswagen workers to produce 1785 Beetles by the end of 1945. The following year the figure was up to 10,020. The Beetle was well and truly on its way. Exports began, to the Netherlands, in 1947 and to the USA in 1949 and in the same year the British Army relinquished control of the plant and Volkswagenwerk GmbH was formed, under the control of the German Government. From then on, the history is one of Production milestones and new importers opening their doors.

��� �The million mark is passed in 1955; production in Australia starts in 1957; the five million mark is passed in 1961; ten million in 1965 and 20 million in 1971. Untill mid 1995, 21 million VW Beetle has been produced.

The new Concept One or the NEW BEETLE was unvieled at 1996 Tokyo International Motorshow. This model is expected to continue the success of it's big brother.

Beetle Gallery

����� �� The Traditional Beetle ��������������� The New Beetle

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This page was last modified on the 9th of September 1998.

Copyright @ 1998 Shan.All rights reserved.