The Volkswagen Beetle: an Enduring Legacy
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AUTOMOTIVE RESEARCH LIBRARY OF THE HCFI Major support by the Ellen Browning Scripps Foundation Summer 2014 “The Information Place” Volume 16 #3 The Volkswagen Beetle: An Enduring Legacy In our last article titled “Auto Design and Coach Building” we touched upon re- nowned auto designer and engineer Dr. Fer- dinand Porsche, and his many contributions to the automotive industry. After doing all the research for that last article, I thought an article might be in order chronicling one of his most iconic and enduring designs – the VW Beetle, and it’s almost impossible jour- ney - from a simple idea that the average person could afford to drive a car that was both reliable and efficient if engineered cor- rectly - to quite possibly the most recogniza- ble car ever developed. The VW Beetle is no doubt recognized world-wide for its ubiquitous design. It’s been the workhorse for budget-minded col- lege students, ambitious minimum-wage earners who just entered the workforce, as well as creative hot rod enthusiasts who have taken the famous bodies and done eve- rything imaginable to them: from cutting up several of them and welding them into lim- First production VW circa 1939 ousines, to cramming Chevrolet 350 motors conceivable - and still maintain its identity. into them for drag racing purposes. They’ve Very few cars are that versatile; even fewer Up Coming Events been adorned with custom paint jobs that are that universally recognizable – not only cost more than some of them were worth; by sight, but sound as well. September 28: Santa Fe some have their suspensions modified to Having personally grown up during the Concorso, at The Club at Las ridiculous proportions to accommodate ex- 1970’s and 80’s, the VW Bug was every- Campanas, Santa Fe, NM treme off-roading (aka the ‘Baja Bugs’ pop- where. Most of my friends that owned them October 8 to 11: Hershey Fall ular in the deserts of the American South- had inherited them from their parents (who Swap Meet, Hershey, PA west.) The truth is the “Bug” design was so hadn’t the heart to get rid of them for nostal- good that it could be modified in every way Continue on page 2 October 26: Car Classic 2014 — Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA Library receives another large book donation It’s September, and so far it’s been a say a quick thank you to those who made November 12, 9:00am: Board busy year here at the library. We’ve taken in those generous donations: San Diego Gas & Meeting at the Library. quite a few donations of books, magazines, Electric, B. Rockwood, B. Campbell, G. La Mesa, CA and memorabilia. We’d like to go ahead and Long, J. Windle, L. Shrum, J. Mauleg, P. February 20-22, 2015: BIG 3 Parts Reed, H. Lanahan, and any that we may Exchange, San Diego, CA have overlooked – many thanks to all of Library at Hershey you! It is your generosity that enables us to March 19 & 20, 2015: Pre-War In Chocolate North Field grow and expand each year. Swap Meet, Chickasha, OK Growing and expanding is indeed the case, as the library has been graciously of- April 10 & 11, 2015: Bakersfield C4F5 Swap Meet, Bakersfield, CA Continue on page 6 The Volkswagen Beetle: An Enduring Legacy Continued from page 1 gic reasons) or saved up summer job mon- ey and found just the right one out of the classified ads in the newspaper (remember those?) only to spend every penny earned and every spare moment available in the garage working on making their Bug not only an accurate reflection of their person- ality, but the coolest car in the parking lot at school. Truthfully, the affordability of the Bug and its abundance in the automo- tive marketplace made it a suitable first vehicle for many, although it should be noted that the Beetle will almost always sell for more to a second owner than it did to the first – an accomplishment few other vehicles can boast. The origins of the VW are well-known to most auto enthusiasts, but to the layman on the street, it might be surprising to find out the extraordinary circumstances of how the “Bug” came to be. At the risk of revis- Porsche's personal Wanderer prototype circa 1932 iting Porsche’s past again in too much de- tail, it’s imperative to note that it had been from a completely revolutionary stand- gine, independent suspension, the swing his goal (even prior to WWI) to create an point. axle, and a tube chassis. The Volkswagen affordable vehicle ‘for the people.’ He bris- Intrigued by the ‘small cars’ of the would incorporate all of these features. tled at the seven and eight liter behemoths day which included the Austin, Citroen, Following the opening of Porsche’s own that were the norm, and seemed to serve and Renault, and the problems that arose in engineering firm in 1930, the idea then only the very wealthy (who were the only small-car design– particularly after many known as ‘Project Twelve’ or “Small Car” people that could afford the enormous costs visits and conversations with longtime was put into motion. It was the birth of the of maintaining them). friend and designer for the Czech firm Ta- VW Beetle. Much of that early design is As it turned out, the economic impacts tra, Dr. Hans Ledwinka - he plotted a still evident in the Volkswagens seen felt throughout Europe following WWI course to change history. everywhere today. forced many to reluctantly switch to cars Focusing on maximizing space, mini- The target top speed was 60mph, so that were smaller and more economical, mizing weight, and optimizing performance the car had to be light and aerodynamic, which Porsche intended to further capital- not only in the engine but also in the sus- minimizing wind resistance. The rear- ize by taking on the design issues head-on pension and electrical systems, the features engine design allowed easy production, and approaching the design of the car (and of what he deemed ‘The People’s Car’ passengers to have more room between the re-design of the idea of cars in general) would sport a rear-mounted air-cooled en- axles, and the ability to forgo a long driveshaft. To achieve even weight distri- bution, the tires were set in a “four-corner” configuration, and a ‘flat’ or opposed- cylinder engine with an integrated trans- mission and differential was adopted. To avoid a heavy box frame, he opted for a lighter, more rigid tubular frame with a central backbone and outriggers, as well as a swing axle in the rear and trailing arm/ torsion bar suspension in the front of the car. After initial sketches, Porsche set out to find financing for prototypes. The first to throw their hat into the ring were the Wan- derer motorcycle firm, where prototypes (known as the Zundapp type 12 or Volksau- to) were drawn up and put into production. Of the three developed (all of which showed little resemblance to what we know now as the Beetle), one actually became his personal car. After poor initial test results, A VW Bug Limo (Courtesy of Flickr.com) it was decided that Dr. Fritz Neumeyer, 2 The Volkswagen Beetle: An Enduring Legacy Continued from page 2 and despite inadequate funding and only ten months to complete them, he succeeded in creating the VW series 3 – a full twenty eight months later – a testament to his in- difference to the Nazi regime. The proto- types were turned over to the Nazis on Oc- tober 12, 1936. Testing went well, and all seemed right – with the exception of the weight of the car, which did not met Hit- ler’s specifications. By replacing cast iron with expensive alloys however, the price skyrocketed, and Hitler, along with the entire Society of German Automobile Man- ufacturers balked, fearing bankruptcy or worse if they did not first establish a sepa- rate company to develop the people’s car. With Nazi backing from the Party Labor Organization, a Nazi-owned company was commandeered and Porsche was installed as head of the Board of Directors. ‘The people’s car’ was now ready to Last Surviving NSU Type 32 Volksauto Prototype begin production on a full scale, and the Wolfsburg Factory (which featured tools head of Zundapp Motorcycles, would focus car.’ Hitler also hung national pride on the and machinery secured in the United States on motorcycles entirely due to the surge of winning of auto racing competitions. Under as well as American-trained German engi- interest in them during the Great Depres- these auspices, Porsche was summoned to neers summoned back to the Fatherland to sion. He terminated their agreement and Berlin for a secret meeting. He was in- work for the Nazis) was now a reality. released all rights for Project 12 to Porsche. structed to follow Hitler’s criteria for devel- Since there was no budget ceiling, Porsche The next to court Porsche was the Bol- oping a small car and prepare a memoran- could perfect all the imperfections, and shevik nation of the USSR, who wined and dum to the Government. Fortuitously for produce the car he had dreamt about for so dined him in hopes of him being the desig- Porsche, his criteria were the following: long. What was once the Series 30 became nated state auto designer for the Russian Speed, economy, room for family, air cool- the Volkswagen Series 38; it was approved Empire. Tempted by promises of his own ing, and a low price.