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1955 Volkswagen Beetle

Convertible Sedan by Karmann
Chassis number: 1 0906 325

Ferdinand Porsche conceived the Beetle in 1932 as a mass-produced, low-priced vehicle that was available and affordable for all Germans. This 'people's car' was just hitting its stride in 1955 when, by year-end, the Wolfsburg Works had produced a total of 279,988 cars in one year alone. By 1965, production achieved the million-car mark.

During World War II, the Fallersleben plant was partially destroyed. The Volkswagen project was offered to Henry Ford II, who felt the car wasn't 'worth a damn.' No one wanted the Volkswagen, partially due to the American public's strong anti-German sentiment. One man, however, did see promise in the company. A Dutchman brought the car to the United States and partnered with foreign car importer Max Hoffman, and helped fill America's demands for affordable transportation. By 1952, Volkswagen produced and sold over 100,000 of these little air-cooled cars. Model choices included the Standard, the Deluxe, the Deluxe with Sunshine Roof, the Type 2 Microbus, and the Cabriolet.

This vehicle is a 1955 Volkswagen Cabriolet that has been given a restoration. This was a heavily optioned car from the factory when new, and is finished in silvery blue Mittelblau metallic paintwork with original and proper fender skirts. The car rides on whitewall tires and there are chrome hubcaps and trim rings. Other features include twin fog lamps, illuminated semaphore turn indicators, the European 'Heart' tail lamps, and the City Arms (Wolfsburg crest) badge.

The interior features pale blue leather, translucent plastic sun visors, twin door panel pockets, an original Blaupunkt 'Frankfurt' pushbutton LMUK radio, and twin leather-upholstered bolster pillows to the rear. There is also a rare 'Deluxe Panel' dashboard clock, located in the center of the dash.

Mounted in the rear is a 72.74 cubic-inch air- and oil-cooled horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine with a single Solex carburetor. There is a four-speed manual transmission and four-wheel hydraulic brakes.

by Dan Vaughan

Sedan

This Volkswagen is one of a four Beetle team built in Mexico City that was campaigned in the 1996 running of the famous Mexican road race. The cars were sponsored by Mars Candy Company (Skittles) to commemorate the original Volkswagen team entries in the 1954 Carrera Panamericana. This particular car finished the grueling 2,000 mile course in the required 7 day length of the race. After the race, the car fell into disrepair and was abandoned before being brought across the border into the United States. It is believed that this is the only 1 of the original 4 Beetle team that is still on the road.

Sedan
Chassis number: 10805973

The classic Volkswagen Type 1 was created by Ferdinand Porsche and his team in Wolfsburg, Germany. Production lasted from 1938 to 2003 with more than an estimated 21 million examples built worldwide, making it one of the best-selling cars of all time.

This particular example was the recipient of a nut-and-bolt ground-up restoration. It was original sold in Belgium in 1955and remained there until 1968 when it was shipped to New York and kept as a daily driver for many years until the owner gifted it to his grandson, who shipped the car to Los Angles in the 1980s. West Coast Classic Restorations purchased the car and had it completely restored. After the restoration, it was purchased by Gunther Volkswagen in Florida, the largest Volkswagen dealer in the country. The car was put on display by the Gunther Collection for several years before coming into the care of its current owner.

This Volkswagen Oval Window Type 1 is finished in Polar Silver with the original German style red leatherette interior, German mohair carpets, and headliner. It is a Deluxe model with chrome body side moldings and chrome dash trim and includes the Volkswagen tool kit and original jack. Since it is a European market car, it has the Euro front and rear bumpers and the semaphore lighted turn signals. Power is from a single port 1,192cc motor offering 36 horsepower and mated to a four-speed manual gearbox.

by Dan Vaughan

The Beetle is the best-selling car of all time (of a single platform). Truly, it is a recognizable shape that has stood the test of time. The vehicle is still being produced in Mexico, continuing its long-lasting running record.

Adolf Hitler was searching for a people's car that was capable of transporting three children and two adults at speeds of sixty miles-per-hour. The car was to be inexpensive, costing the same as a motorcycle. Ferdinand Porsche was commissioned to produce such a vehicle.

There are many theories as to where the designs originated from. Some believe Hitler designed the vehicle. Some theorize that it was Joseph Ganz's 1920 design that was the true inspiration for the Beetle design. Porsche had created designs for the Mercedes-Benz 170H, which played into the design of the Beetle.

Inspiration for the Beetle had been drawn from the Tatra vehicles, mainly the T97, that had been designed by Hans Ledwinka. Due to the similarities, Tatra launched a lawsuit that never really materialized due to Germany invading Czechoslovakia. The lawsuit was later re-opened after World War II and Volkswagen was forced to pay Tatra 3,000,000 Deutsche Marks. This left Volkswagen with little money for the development of new Beetle models.

The Volkswagen Beetle first came on the scene in 1947, but they were known by a different name. KdF, short for Kraft durch Freude meaning 'power by joy', was designated for these small, gas-friendly vehicles. In English, the name Beetle was used. In German, they were known as Kafer, and in French, they were called Coccinelle.

These little bundles of joy featured mechanical drum brakes and a gearbox void of synchromesh.

In 1949 the Volkswagen logo was placed on the rims. The engine was expanded to 1131 cc and was capable of producing 25 horsepower. The models that were produced after October of 1949 could be started without a 'starting crank'.

Two convertible options were offered by Volkswagen in 1949. The two-seater design, designated 14A, was penned by Josef Hebmuller. The four-seater Type 15 version was designed and produced by Karmann of Osnabruck. The four-seater was vastly more popular and stayed in production for 30 years.

The 14A was stylish and attractive, with the major shortcoming being a fire that destroyed the factory where they were being produced. The two-seaters featured a rear deck nearly identical to the front hood. The strength of the car, lost by removing the roof, was amplified by a stronger windshield frame and dual Z-section girders located under the floor. In 1953, the last of the Hebmuller rolled off the assembly line, after only 696 examples were produced.

In a time when practicality ruled over style, the four-seater cabriolet was king. The Karmann company had a long history of designing and building cars. In business since 1901, was familiar with assembly line production, benefits and features of different types of metals, and the styles of multiple markets.

The mechanical, cable-driven brakes were replaced with hydraulic brakes in 1950.

During the 1950's the Beetle saw exterior and interior improvements. 1951 saw the addition of arm-rests which were discontinued just a few months later. In 1952, 2nd-4th gears became synchronized. The dashboard was redesigned with a glove compartment. The rear of the Beetle was updated in 1953, receiving a new single oval pane window in place of its original split rear window design. In 1955, the bumper was improved and electrical direction-indicators were installed. A second tail-pipe was added. The front seats became wider and could be moved to three different seat-back adjustable positions.

In 1956, the tires became tubeless. Near the end of '56, side view mirrors became standard on all Beetle models.

In 1957 the front window was increased by 17 percent while the rear window received a 95 percent increase. A new dashboard, rear view mirror, radio, and a speaker appeared. The turn signals would now turn-off automatically.

Up to this point, a roller pedal had been used to initiate acceleration. This was the year that the gas pedal replaced the roller pedal.

In 1958, ivory disc wheels were offered.

In 1960, an engine capable of producing 34 horsepower was offered. The speedometer was increased from 74 mph to 87 mph. A windshield-wiper washer system became available. The front directional light was changed from white to amber.

A gas gauge was added in July of 1961.

In 1963, the seats were changed from wool upholstery to synthetic. The VW emblem located on the hubcap was no longer painted. The safety of the vehicle was once-again enhanced with enlarged directional lights.

There were minor changes in 1964. The windows did, however, become larger.

In 1965, the front axle was improved. The ongoing saga of incremental improvements received another chapter - A defroster vent was added to the center of the dashboard.

The Beetle continued to be sold in the United States until 1978 with the convertible version sold until early 1980. Sales continued in Europe until 1985. Developing countries, such as Mexico, have been developing the Beetle since 1964 and the vehicles have remained in production since that time.

by Dan Vaughan