Volkswagen Beetle

Production: 1938–2003 (series production from 1945)

The Volkswagen Type 1, known as the Beetle (Käfer), was built on Ferdinand Porsche's design as a simple, affordable "people's car". Series production got under way in Wolfsburg after the Second World War: the first cars rolled off the line at the end of 1945, and the thousandth was built in 1946.

The design hardly changed for decades: a two-door body, a rear-mounted air-cooled flat-four engine and rear-wheel drive. Volkswagen began using the name "Beetle" officially in 1968.

In total, 21,529,464 cars were built between 1938 and 2003. Sedan production in Germany ended in 1978, the last convertible left the line in Osnabrück in 1980, and in Mexico production continued until 30 July 2003.

Interesting facts

• On 17 February 1972, at 15,007,034 units, the Beetle overtook the Ford Model T to become the best-selling car in history.
• The Beetle held the Model T's record until 2002.
• In the 1999 Car of the Century contest, the Type 1 placed fourth, after the Ford Model T, the Mini and the Citroën DS.