Marque Guide...
We trace the origins of Volkswagen from the development of the air- cooled Beetle during a dark period prior to the start of World War Two and briefly look at the landmark vehicles the company produced up to the introduction of the New Beetle
VW – A brief look at this important company’s post-war history and cars.
Prior to the formation of
KdF-Stadt by the German Labour Front in 1932, the country’s already well established car makers were mainly concentrating on building luxury models. Most of these were far too expensive for the average German citizen to afford, although sensing a lucrative new market several manufacturers were starting to develop a range of smaller and more affordable cars.
Most of these concepts were just scaled- down versions of larger cars and by 1934 Germany’s leader, Adolf Hitler had become heavily involved in the project to build an affordable 'People's Car'. After considering several alternatives, Hitler eventually approved an innovative ground-up design put forward by the noted engineer Ferdinand Porsche that was called the ‘ Volksauto’.
In 1938 the Third Reich introduced its body on frame KdF-Wagen and the running gear for what would go on to become universally known as the Beetle was utilised as the basis for the wartime produced Kübelwagen. By the time peace returned to Europe in 1945, the Volkswagenwerk had been reduced to rubble and that should have been the end of the road for Hitler’s technically advanced air- cooled ‘ Volks Wagen’ but a strange turn of fortune was about to unfold.
At the end of the conflict the zone that included the
KdF-Stadt factories came under British control and the plants were requisitioned as a maintenance depot. In charge of the operation was a certain Major Ivan Hirst and he spotted a wartime- built KdF-Wagen in an undamaged corner of the factory. After repainting the car dark green, Hirst demonstrated the vehicle to British Army Headquarters who at the time were desperately short of light transport.
After the rubble at the shattered factory had been cleared away and limited production facilities re- established, Hirst and his team received an order to build 20,000 examples of the little rear- engined car and by the time production was finally underway, the surrounding area had changed its name to Wolfsburg. Although the bomb- damaged Nazi-built factory was back in business producing what would soon be sold as the VW Beetle, the long-term future for the revitalised plant was still however unclear.
Several major motor manufacturers were offered the chance to take the factory over but all had declined, with Sir Billy Rootes saying to Hirst; “if you think you can build cars in this place, you’re a bloody fool young man”. However, by 1946 the still part-roofless VW plant was turning out 1000 cars a month, but even Henry Ford II dismissed an offer to take the company over for free two years later after being told by his chairman that the rejuvenated VW operation “wasn’t worth a dime”.
During the Volkswagenwerk’s post-war regeneration Hirst appointed Heinz Nordhoff as his assistant and he would go on to run Volkswagen after the Military Government ceased control in 1949. As VW’s managing director, Nordhoff oversaw the rebuilding of the resurrected Wolfsburg plant, which by 1955 had produced a staggering total of one million Volkswagens.
By the end of that decade, Volkswagen had opened a manufacturing plant close to São Paulo in Mexico producing Beetles and Type 2 vans and throughout the Sixties, the Beetle went one to be produced in record numbers. In 1970 VW introduced the front-wheel drive and water-cooled K70 and Audi became part of the Volkswagen Group in the mid Sixties. Further major acquisitions would result in the Spanish car maker Seat being added to the group, followed by Czech maker Skoda in 1990.
Other marques currently fully or part controlled by the VW Group include Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini and Porsche plus the
motorcycle manufacturer Ducati and commercial vehicle builders MAN, Scania and Neoplan.
Producing a detailed history of this major company in such a small space is obviously impossible, so the following model guide should hopefully fill in some of the blanks regarding the introduction of VW’s landmark vehicles up to 1997 and the New Beetle. But first we’ll go back in time and feature the vehicle that turned Volkswagen’s post-war rags into riches – the aircooled Beetle (see the box above).
TYPE 2 – 1949-2013
Better known as the Transporter, the air-cooled VW Type 2 was available in a number of formats that included a panel van, pick up, bus, camper and a host of different custom-built utility styles. The creation of the Type 2 Transporter is credited to Dutch
VW importer Ben Pon who noticed improvised parts movers at the Wolfsburg factory and produced rough sketches that led to the design of a forwardcontrol van. Type 2 Campers, Kombis and Transporters are these days a cult all to themselves and decent split screen examples command very high prices.
1500/1600 – 1961-73
The Volkswagen Type 3 proved a popular choice in the UK and was imported in several different body and engine configurations. Launched as the rear engined, air-cooled 1493cc 1500 saloon; the 1500S came on the scene in 1963, offering 54bhp over the standard car’s 45bhp, a useful increase that gave the ‘S’ badged model a top speed of 85mph. Suspension was by all round torsion bars and the fastback or TL version arrived in 1965, the same time as the 1600. Power for the new model came from a 1584cc flat four and the range now included the 1600TE. Estate models were called Variants and European Type 3 production came to an end in 1973.
411/412 – 1968-74
Introduced in 1968, the Type 4 was VW’s largest car to date. It was produced in two series, the 1679cc 411 from 1968-72 and the 1795cc 412 from 1972-74. Although commercially unsuccessful, the T4 introduced MacPherson strut front suspension and unibody construction to the VW range. Although the more powerful 412 could top 90mph, unpredictable handling due to the car’s rear engine set-up meant this speed was only for the brave.
K70 – 1970-75
After going through a very difficult financial period, VW launched its first water cooled front-wheel drive car in 1970; the NSU Ro80-inspired K70. Poor sales and corrosion issues led to the K70 being replaced in 1973 with the Passat.
SCIROCCO – 1974-92
Until the introduction of the first generation Scirocco sports coupé in 1974, VWs weren’t considered particularly sporty. This handsome Ford Capri basher won the beauty stakes hands- down and early examples are now extremely desirable. The Scirocco used the Golf’s floorpan and the choice of engines available at launch included either a 1457cc or 1588cc OHC inline-four. In 1979 a righthand drive version of the left hand drive 110bhp GTI was launched as the GLI and the second generation Scirocco appeared on the scene in 1982 and lasted until 1992. VW revived the name in 2008 and a new Scirocco was available until 2017.
POLO – 1975-Present
Volkswagen invaded BL Mini territory in 1975 with its first generation Polo. Marketed as a re-badged Audi 50, a booted version, the Derby, was introduced in 1977. Engine choices at launch on UK versions included the option of either an 875 or 1093cc inline-four, while all-round independent suspension provided sharp handling. The Polo’s slick styling made it a popular choice and in 1981 VW introduced the heavily revised MkII. In 2010 VW produced the 11,111,111th Polo and today the sixth generation of this still popular model is still in production.
JETTA – 1979-2017
VW introduced the booted Jetta to satisfy customers who where put off by the Golf’s rear hatch and wanted a three-box saloon instead. Powertrains were similar to those offered for the hatchback but whereas the Golf
had earned a cool, go anywhere image, the Jetta remained the Cinderella of the pairing. The Jetta was 12 inches longer than the hatchback and although power output was very similar across the range, the extra weight made the Jetta slightly slower. Despite its lack of image, VW preserved with the Jetta (although the name was changed to Vento between 1992 and 1998) and produced the model over several generations until the name finally disappeared from UK brochures last year.
SANTANA – 1983-85
The upmarket Santana was introduced in 1981 as a four- door booted saloon based on the second generation Passat. Power came from either a five- cylinder petrol or diesel engine, but by 1985 VW had abandoned the Santana name and re- launched the model as a Passat in Europe and most other major markets, although Santana production continued in China until January 2012.
NEW BEETLE – 1997-Present
VW bosses reinvented the Beetle but upset purists by placing a water- cooled inline-four at the front instead of the ‘boot’.
This was due to the New Beetle being based on a MkIV Golf but although the retrostyled Beetle bodywork soon had customers flocking to place orders, but right- hand drive cars didn’t start to arrive in the UK market until early 2000.
Production of the new Beetle mainly took place in Mexico and two body styles were available, a two door coupé and a convertible.
We’re covering the story behind the development of the New Beetle and its subsequent model history in more detail as this month’s Emerging Classic (see pages 116-117).