The Beetle, not the bug nor the band!

This Day in History: May 28, 1937

While today's founding is not American made, it certainly has had its impact on America. On this day in 1937, the government of Germany forms a new state-owned automobile company then known as Gesellschaft zur Vorbereitung des Deutschen Volkswagens mbH. Whew! What a mouthful. It was later renamed Volkswagenwerk, or "The People's Car Company," which certainly made communication and advertising much simpler. To America, it is the Volkswagon, the Bug, the Beetle!

W30 Prototype 1937

There is so much history connected to the Volkswagon before WWII when the economy was poor and afterward during reconstruction. The idea of a car for the people appealed to the young Adolf Hitler who himself could not drive, but was a car fanatic. Hitler even designed a brief car that could carry two adults and three children at a speed of 60mph with at least 33mpg. Apparently, he was greatly influenced by the achievements of American Henry Ford after reading Ford's biography while in prison in 1923. Hitler had also sketched his ideas of how the car should look, although the sketch bears little resemblance to the final car.

Check out the Prototype Schwimmwagen (1942)

  VW History 1930's-1945

 

VW History 1945-1985 

The 'classic Beetle' is the one well remembered even though it was replaced by the 'new Beetle' in 1998. While the design was reminiscent of the classic, many differences prevailed. 

Even though this commercial is in German, you
will still get its meaning!

Which is your fav - the 'classic Beetle' or
the 'new Beetle'?