60th Birthday of the VW Beetle

       This year, around the world, many VW admirers and VW clubs are celebrating the 60th birthday of the VW Beetle. A remarkable achievement of an automobile! The Beetle is today still in production. It has achieved the highest number of vehicles ever produced by any manufacturer in lots of variations, and it is the most loved, cared for, restored, joked about, practical, reliable, and long lasting vehicle in the world. 

It is my guess that in Australia nearly every person at some time in the last 48 years has either owned or driven in a Beetle. What an achievement! 

The question is how did it all begin? 

Let me give you a brief of the chronological history:

  1931: There was a versatile, brilliant engineer by the name of Ferdinand Porsche who had an idea    and the dream to build a People's Car.

1934: There was a Government, the National Socialist Party, who wanted to produce a vehicle for 1000.00 Marks so everybody could own one, be mobile and utilise the newly built Autobahn or Freeways.

1948: There was a qualified engineer/manager, Professor Dr. Nordhoff, who took over the management of the VW company in Wolfsburg, in Lower Saxony, and came to love the Beetle. His faith in the Beetle’s future success is now evident around the world with 21.5 million sold since inception.  

Let's go back to 1931.  

The birth of an Automobile!

The dream, the idea, and the eventual design of the People's car is quite unique. Dr Porsche, the engineer/designer and his team of faithful engineers assembled progressively a brilliant concept in 1931. They didn't use a scaled down version of the larger vehicles at the time, but a fundamentally new approach.  

Example:

·         A centre back bone frame chassis with easily demounted vehicle body.  

·         Torsion spring packed design front suspension.  

·         Torsion bar rear suspension.

      ·         Engine/gearbox mounting at back for better traction  

·         No prop shaft - less mechanical energy wastage  

·         Air cooled engine.  

·          Spare wheel, fuel tank, luggage space in front for weight distribution.

      ·         A streamlined, beetle-shaped body.

  The project was called Type 12 and was a major technical achievement!  

Motorcycle Manufacturer NSU and Zundapp contracted Porsche Design Studio to develop a small car so that they could expand into vehicle manufacturing and sales.  

Dr. Porsche and his design team worked in their own consulting and design studio, not related to any vehicle manufacturer, in the city of Stuttgart South Germany, the heart of the German car industry.  

The original Prototype was an odd looking car:  

·         Bonnet dropped forward in a graceless curve to the front fenders.  

·         Windscreen was upright and interfered with slipstream.  

·         Sharply sloping roof line with, little headroom for rear passengers.  

·         Very small rear window.  

An unusual look - it actually looked like a bug - a Beetle - the name we still call it today! Zundapp did not proceed due to financial reasons. NSU requested changes to body, headlights and an air-cooled engine - flat 4 horizontally opposed cylinders called a boxer motor. 3 Prototypes were built and test driven, but in the end NSU did not proceed with the project, again for financial reasons. Investment in the final analysis was too great.

On 17 January 1934, Dr Porsche submitted plans for a People's Car to the Government Ministry of Transport which were shortly afterwards approved, and the project commenced. Now 30 prototypes were built by Mercedes Benz, and a batch of a further 30 vehicles followed. They were test-driven day and night, and all performed extremely well.

The contract with the Government called for a Chassis Design which could accept various body versions:  

·         A two-door sedan.

      ·         A convertible.  

·         A cross country vehicle.

    ·         An amphibious vehicle  

A state-owned company, "Volkswagen Development Corporation", took control and in 1938 the vehicle was called KDF Wagen (Power through Joy). Prototypes were exhibited in 1938 at the Berlin Motor Show. On 26 May 1938 foundation stones of the factory at Wolfsburg were laid, and production started in late 1939 with a 995cc engine.

1940 – 1945  

During the war years, 70'000 cross‑country and amphibious vehicles, also designed by Dr. Porsche Design Studio, were produced and proved very reliable in Russia and North Africa.­ The factory was badly damaged during the war, but in 1946 the workers were able to assemble 10000 beetles for Government Authorities.  

The Beetle was reborn and never looked back!  

Private sales commenced in 1948, with exports starting to Holland, Denmark, Luxemburg, Sweden, Belgium and Switzerland.

The Beetle had a 25HP I I 00cc engine 4 speed manual transmission, cable brakes all-round, a small instrument panel, 2 front seats, 1 rear bench seat, a fuel cock underneath the tank with 5 Lt reserve and body colour of grey, black or dark green.

1949

An Export model was launched, The first luxury version of the Beetle. A VW convertible with bodywork by Karmann introduced to market.  

New milestone: 50000 Beetles produced since start.  

1950: Another milestone - The I00000th Beetle runs off the production line.

      ·         Engine receives major improvements.

·         Hydraulic brake system for export models.

·         Opening sunroof model introduced.

1951: New milestone, The 250'000th. Beetle!  

1952: Introduction of synchromesh transmission 2nd, 3rd, 4th gear export model.

1953: New milestone - the 500000th Beetle.

1954: Upgraded engine to 34hp.

1955: Beetles were now also assembled from factory supplied CKD packs in Brazil, Ireland, South Africa, and Australia.

1955: New milestone: The I millionth Beetle produced. Expansion continued into most countries around the world. Production facilities were set up in Brazil, Mexico, South Africa and later in Australia in Clayton, Victoria.

 Trials 1955 – 1958  

Remember the famous Trials and Rallies? Against all odds, the Beetles had smashing victories in Australia, such as:

      ·         1955: Redex Trial: 1 stand 2nd place.

·         1956: Mobilgas Trial 13,992km: Ist 3rd, 4th and 6th.

·         1957: Ampol Trial 9'660km: Ist and 2nd.

·         1957: Mobilgas Trial: first 6 places!

·         1958: Mobilgas Trial: 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th.

Also in the early 60's a standard beetle, with only minor alterations to air intake manifold and skid plates under 'front end and gearbox/engine, performed remarkably well in the Antarctic with the Australian Division.

1960/61:

We may call it a Turtle! Each state equipped a standard beetle with a short coupling and propeller attached to crankshaft pulley and happily, floated it on Sydney Harbour, the Brisbane River, and the Swan River in Perth.

The Beetle's success so far is actually based on 2 marketing concepts:

       ·         Beetle owners became enthusiastic salesmen for the VW company because the Beetle        showed ruggedness, reliability and value for money.  

·         An enthusiastic and well trained Dealer Service Network committed to offering first class vehicle maintenance and repairs at fixed prices. VW service policy was the benchmark for the industry in those years.  

1966: Introduction of 40 hp 1300cc engine.

1968: Introduction of Stickshift model with 1500cc engine and velocity rear axle.

1970: Upgraded 1600cc engine with built-in extra durability.

1971: Introduction of Superbug with long nose and McPherson front struts.

1972: New milestone: The 15 millionth Beetle was produced, and a Commemorative Beetle with Plaque was sold in limited numbers here in Australia.  

In later years, Beetle engines were also equipped with fuel injection equipment and catalytic converters for those countries with strict emission laws.  

Question: Why do Beetles last for so many years?

        ·         Every vital component is over-designed with lots of reserve.

·         Low revving engine with low compression ratio.

·         Very strong and simple gearbox.

·         Vehicle body fully submerged in paint bath for anti‑rust treatment.

·         Baked enamel paint finish.

·         Simple electrical and control systems.

·         Simple vehicle interior.

  Current Production  

The Beetle is still being produced in Mexico and Brazil in high numbers as a robust, simple, cheap and everlasting vehicle.

A vehicle which is fun to own and drive.

Let us congratulate Dr. Porsche and the Beetle on its 60th Birthday,

 

Happy Birthday

  The Beetle’s history in Australia is very interesting. Here is an outline of the major historical events.

  PRE-1953    A handful of Beetles were privately imported as part of the Migration Plan.

  1953          The Pre-War DKW representative, Baron von Oertzen, then working for the VW Factory, with an office in Johannesburg, South Africa, revisited his old friends in Australia and appointed Regent Motors holding, in Melbourne, as Australian Distributor. Shortly afterwards, 6 State Distributors were appointed to market the Beetle­.

In NSW    -  Lanock Motors

    Qld       - Annand & Thompson

    SA/NT  - Light Motors

      WA       - Western Motors

      Vic/Tas - Spencer Motors

      ACT     - Gregory Motors

The first shipment of some 31 Beetles arrived in Sydney they were on display at Lannock Motors, William Street Showroom.Reception was mixed. However, with good reports from Wheels Magazine and newspaper test reports, they soon were sold.

VW in Germany bad already arranged supply of CKD kits. This meant the vehicles arrived in individual components and were locally assembled.

Martin & King in Clayton, Victoria (railway stock builders) started assembling Beetles in 1954, and the six State Distributors, plus a handful of VW Dealers, quickly sold any number which came off the assembly line.

             1280 Beetles -.fully imported sold.

             3084 Beetles – CKD packs shipped to Australia.

END 1954

Regent Motors made the decision to participate in the then famous Redex, Ampol and Mobilgas Trials, and overnight, nearly every Australian saw the Beetle in action.

  1955 to 1958

Winning regularly Ist and 2nd price in these trials, the Beetle gained  tremendous respect for ruggedness, reliability and value for money.

1959  

A new company, Volkswagen Australia, was formed the Martin & King plant was bought, and an overall investment in plant, equipment, laboratories and buildings resulted in $A24 Million investment by VW Germany in Australia. Soon, a modem press shop was built and put into operation to produce all body panels in Australia, with dies being manufactured by Chrysler in Adelaide.

  1960

A modern testing laboratory was established t o set new quality standards for the Australian supply industry. The very latest paint technology was applied, with full body submerging baths, special anti-rust treatments, and heated paint booths to bake the enamel finish.

Now you know why so many old Beetles from the Sixties are still in original paint finish on the road.

Three Beetle models were locally produced: 

·         A Standard version,

·         A Deluxe version,

·         A Deluxe version with sunroof option,

all equipped with the 34 HP engine.

VW Dealer Peter Webster from Midland, WA, drove his Beetle with propellor attached to rear the crankshaft pulley and a small snorkel in the Swan River as thePremier of WA tried to cut the ribbon to open the Narrows Bridge.

Dec 1960                   

 Philip Island Race. 4 Beetles were entered, and they came 1st, 2nd 3rd and 4th in their class. All we did was loosen most bearings, equalise compression chambers in the four cylinders, balance rods and use Shell Rotella engine oil.

1960/61 

In Sydney, Lanock Motors prepared a Beetle and crossed Kogarah Bay and Sydney Harbour to everybody's amazement.

Antarctica 1.Yes! a standard Beetle, colour red, was fitted with skid plates under the front end and below gearbox/engine, some asbestos wrapping around intake manifold to avoid icing up, and performed to the full satisfaction of the Australian Antarctic Division. Later on, another Beetle, Antarctic 2, followed. After they returned to Mainland Australia, they continued to play an active part in rallys. What a success!

1962-1965 

Australian‑produced Beetles were exported to, New Zealand,. Norfolk Island, Fiji, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, and Solomon Islands. 28,000 Beetles sold in one year alone; and the 200,000th VW produced in Australia.

1966-67 

Beetle engine, transmission, chassis, body,….nearly every component was produced in Australia, either by VW or the hundreds of local suppliers, such as Bosch, Hella, VDO, Armstrong, Henderson, Pilkington, Dulux, etc. 

In November 1966, the last 1200 cc engine was installed, to be replaced with the 1300cc engine.

           1968

Clayton factory ceased production and reverted to CKD assembly, starting with the 1500cc Beetle.

Introduction of Stickshift Model Bettle 1500 cc engine.

Company renamed, Motor Producers, later on assembled Volvo and Nissan cars and Mercedes trucks.

The Marketing Division was sold to LNC Industries in Sydney, and they operated the VW business under the company name 'Volkswagen Australia Pty Ltd'. 

1971

troduction of Superbug.

 1972 

15 millionth Beetle produced. Here in Australia, a Commorative model was sold with plaque on the dashboard.

1975

Introduction of Beetle short front and1600 cc engine.

VW plant in Clayton sold to Nissan, and all assembly of VW ceased!

1 January 1976  

Regretfully, fully imported Beetles were not possible due to unfavourable exchange rates and stricter safety and more costly emission standards.

A very sad decision!  

From my knowledge, approx 265000 Beetles were sold in Australia.  

Today, we see so many lovingly restored Beetles here of every model year, which is proof that the Beetle played a very unique and fascinating role in the lives of many Australians.

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