Building VW Beetles, the "People's Car" of Germany

1953

Image: Corbis

In 1934, looking to put a motorized vehicle in the garage of every German family, Adolf Hitler contracted automotive engineer Ferdinand Porsche to develop a “people’s car,” practically called a Volkswagen.

The Volkswagen would need to be capable of carrying a family of five at sustained speeds of 62 miles per hour, with a fuel efficiency of 32 miles per gallon. It would also need to be inexpensive to fix and replace worn-out parts.

Ferdinand Porsche developed several prototypes of a model called the “Type 60.” Featuring a rear-mounted, air-cooled engine and a distinctive bulbous shape, the prototypes were test-driven for nearly 2 million miles Read more...