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The People's Car

The Volkswagen Bug (or more popularly known as the Beetle) is the most iconic of VW vehicles, due to the fact that has seen a continuous production run from the late 1930s to the early 21st century.

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The Volkswagen Bug (or more popularly known as the Beetle) is the most iconic of VW vehicles, due to the fact that has seen a continuous production run from the late 1930s to the early 21st century. Unmistakable VW bug parts such as the hunched roof and bubble wheels flares make it instantly recognizable even from a distance.

The Bug was first conceptualized in 1925, by an Austrian, Bela Barenyi. But the design took off in 1933, when the German Fuhrer, Adolf Hitler, talked to Richard Whittle and Ferdinand Porsche about making a Volks-Wagen or “People's Car."

The concept called for a basic VW bug parts design, which could seat two adults and three children, a top speed of 100 km/h and should cost no more than 990 Reichmarks, which put it in the price range of the ordinary worker. The price made it affordable for millions of German workers, who relished the chance of owning a car for the first time.

World War II brought a halt to its civilian production, as the production plants became war factories. The plants then churned out military models of the Beetle for use of the German military.

The lack of jobs at the end of the war brought back the civilian production of the Beetle. Production started to pick up, with the one millionth Beetle coming off the assembly line in 1955. The Beetle design had superior performance in its category because of its top performing VW bug parts such as its engine, which can attain a top speed of 115km/h (72mph) and 0-100km/h (0-60mph) in 27.5 seconds on 7.6 l/100 km (31mpg) for the standard 25kW (34hp) engine.

People liked the Beetle because for a small car, it handled excellently and was a joy to drive. Competitors were frustrated of its popularity that Henry Ford II remarked that it was “a little shit box."

However, those remarks did little to dispel the Beetle's popularity, as it became the world's best-selling car.

Production began to decline steadily during the 70's, prompting Volkswagen to plan for its phasing out. The last Beetle rolled out in Mexico in 2003 amid much fanfare.

The Beetle became one of the icons of 20th century life, with numerous references in popular culture.

With its affordability, easy handling and iconic stature, the Beetle truly deserves to be called the People's Car.

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A Free Lance Writer and Car Enthusiast.

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