Did You Even Know It Was Still Being Made?
Remember the Beetle? No, not the funky retro restyled VW Golf based rolling arch being sold by North American Volkswagen dealers today, but the air-cooled, rear-mounted, horizontally opposed-engine variety that started off as Germany's "people's car", an automotive icon initially designed to get the European country back on the road to prosperity in 1938.
 |
| Although news to some, the classic Beetle has enjoyed a 50 year production run in Mexico and 70 years globally. (Photo: Volkswagen) |
While it hasn't been sold in Canada for decades the once popular Beetle is still available elsewhere, but not for long. On Friday Europe's largest automaker announced it would finally pull the plug on Beetle production this summer in its Puebla, Mexico plant after a 50 year run.
 |
| After seven decades and millions sold, the original Beetle has inspired a cult-like following. (Photo: beetle-minsk.mebius.net) |
Altogether over 22 million Beetles were built over the model's 70 years of global production.
In North America Beetles are currently popular among collectors and import tuners alike, having formed a longstanding cult-like status.
After this summer only the New Beetle will remain in the global new car market, but the front-wheel drive model with its front-mounted, water-cooled, inline four-cylinder engine bares only a spiritual connection to the original.