This is the story of two cars: one had its origin during the time of the oppressive rule of Nazi Germany while another was designed by a team in a California auto design studio. Ages and worlds apart, the two cars share one important thing: their name. Yes, the Beetle is the car that was to be Hitler’s “folk’s wagon” and managed to survive the destruction of the Third Reich and eventually reach mass production. The New Beetle, on the other hand, is the car that borrowed styling cues from the original, but little else. Let’s take a look at the two models by comparing and contrasting their features.
Make no mistake about it, but the two models look very much alike. From the body style, to running boards, even the interior flower holder, one can look at the two models and think that there is little difference between the two. Ah, but don’t let first appearances fool you. As the song goes: beauty is only skin deep. Underneath, the two models have nothing in common, except for sharing volkswagen parts, but even these parts are a generation or two apart.
The original Beetle was designed during the late 1930s, but only saw mass production with the cessation of the second world war. Hitler’s dream of world dominance died with him, but the dream to produce an affordable, mass produced car remained. For six decades the Beetle was produced and marketed around the world. It is by far the most mass produced model of all time.
That first Beetle was a rear wheel driven, air cooled rear engine car. As cheaply as possible the first Beetles were built and for many years the model was the best buy of any car on the American market. Thanks to the enacting of the Clean Air Act in the 1970s, importation of the Beetle ceased by the end of that decade while production continued for another 25 years in Mexico.
Although the Beetle’s run ended, it remained a favored car with many Americans who enjoyed its folksy looks. Indeed, after 1978, specially refitted Beetles began to show up in the U.S. once again as importers figured out ways to make the models compliant with EPA restrictions. Eventually, further tightening of EPA regulations meant that even the modified models would no longer be imported. Finally, even Mexico forced the Beetle’s end by enacting stringent smog controls and the last Beetle was produced in 2003.
During the 1990s, a California auto design team created what was later to be called the New Beetle. Based on the front wheel drive, front engine Golf platform, the car was shown at various auto shows and was an immediate hit. By 1998, the New Beetle entered production and it has been well received across America. Although the body resembles the original Beetle, the components including the car brakes and ball joint units were all Golf. This has translated into big savings for VW and allowed the automaker to continue production of the model without a huge overhead.
Today, VW owners are customizing their Beetles and New Beetles as all car owners have been doing for generations. A custom car bra looks great on any car, but it gives a New Beetle a performance look like nothing else can.
