Originally conceived and based upon the shape of the Porsche, with its sloping rear end, the idea for the Volkswagen, or "People's car" was born in 1933from an idea created by Adolf Hitler. Hitler's dream was for a car to be created that could be afforded by the average man or woman in the street. His instructions were that it should seat five people and cost only around 1,000 Marks. To ensure the running costs would not stretch people's pockets. Part of the specifications was that it would return in excess of 30 mpg.

Test versions of the original concept, called the VW30 were produced and tested by Hitler's infamous SS and in 1939 pre-production of the car was started with demonstration models, although because of the war, the car production was stopped and the factory started to produce German Army staff and light arms vehicles based upon the VW beetle chassis.

It was not until 1945 that the British government, whose army had seriously damaged the factory, decided to rebuild the facility and start production of the beetle once more. It was an instant success, by the end of that year producing 2,000 vehicles and quadrupling this output in the following year. The Business was handed back to the German government in 1949 and its success story grew significantly in the 1950's. It was in this decade that the Beetle began an international marque, with vehicle sales being achieved in South Africa, other European countries and the US.

In the 1960's the VW Beetle was immortalised by Disney as Herbie in the film the "Love Bug" and during that decade sales reached a pinnacle of over one million units a year. However, during the 1970's its popularity waned and this, together with more stringent vehicle regulations led to its production ceasing almost everywhere, apart from Mexico, by the early 1980's.

Nevertheless, by this time the VW Beetle had gathered something of a "cult" following. In the hey days of "flower-power" it was seen as the only means of transport by those involved, with a range of personalised body colour and picture designed models being a frequent sight on the streets and at music gatherings.

Resurrected from the feeling of nostalgia, a new Beetle was produced just before the turn of the century and remains in production today. It seems that, with well over twenty million cars sold, the VW Beetle is probably the one and only positive legacy from the Hitler years.

Learn more about this author, Paul Lines.
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