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-1947
The first Beetles were named KdF-wagens. Kdf, Kraft durch Freude, means power by joy. The cars had mechanical drum brakes, split-window rear windows and mechanical direction-indicators. the gearbox was not synchromeshed. for use in the war, the Germans used the chassis of a Kdf-wagen for cars like the kübelwagen, the schwimmwagen and the kommandeurswagen.
The Beetle got a larger 1131 cc engine used in the kommandeurswagen, at the rims the car got a Volkswagen logo placed. Volkswagen introduced a special Export model of the Beetle.
-1959
The Beetle got new rounder licence-plate lightning in March 1955. VW designed electrical direction-indicators and a special bumper.
In August 1957 VW increased the front and rear windows of the Beetle by respectively 17% and 95%. The bonnet at the rear of the car losed is W-shape and would be more plain.
The Beetle's interior got improved. A new dashboard with a new rear view mirror and the possibility to build in a radio and a speaker appeared. The Beetle got new higher placed licence-plate lightning.
In August 1959 a new handle with a push button replaced the old type, which was used more then 20 years.
-1969
1960 - The Beetle got a new steering wheel with a chromished claxon-ring.
Very few changes were made to the Beetle in 1963. The car got a new heating-system which prevented exhaust-gasses to go into the car. The logo of Wolfsburg wasn't placed anymore at the car.
In August of 1965 (at the start of model year 1966) the Beetle got a new 1285cc engine. With the crank-shaft of the VW 1500 the new engine got 17,6% more horsepower namely 40hp. To made the car recognizable VW placed a '1300' logo on the bonnet. The car got also the wheels of the VW 1500. The car got also new bigger direction-indicators at the front of the car.
VW introduced the Beetle 1500 in 1967. The car was equipped with an improved engine of 1493cc, coming from the Type 3, disc-brakes at the front (only in European cars). The American cars got vertical placed head-lights and a 12-volts installation. The bonnet became more angular due to the bigger engine. And the car got an anti-roll-bar. The 1500 version of the Beetle is known as the best Beetle ever built.
-1978
Probably the most famous Bug is Herbie the Love Bug, the Beetle that had a mind of its own in all those silly Disney movies. Here is this Herbie look-a-like at a recent Seattle Bug Nationals show in Kent, Washington.
1971 - A new Beetle 1500 with semi-automatic gearbox became introduced by VW. 1971 became the year of the introduction of the Beetles 1302 and 1302S, also known as "Super Beetle". This Beetle got the new 1300 engine with one inlet valve per cilinder. This engine got a performance of 44 HP. 1302 S Models had a new 50(!) HP 1600 engine. The most interesting news was the new McPherson suspension. The luggage room became also larger and was now 0,25 m3.
1972 - The rear-window became 4cm higher. The Beetle got new bigger rear lights.
1973 - This year the Beetle changed dramatically. The Beetle 1303 and 1303S got new features as a panoramic front window, a new supsension at the rear of the car. A new safelier plastic covered dashboard replaced the old steel dashboard. A new steering wheel appeared. The bonnet got new ventilation air intakes, like the bonnet of a cabriolet.
1974 - The front direction indicators became built in the front bumpers. The interior of the Beetle became more poorly. Sealed-Beam headlights were a huge performance.
1975 - Behind the side-window, the Beetle got a ventilation-groove. The old Bonnet type returned at the rear of the car. The panoramic front window disappeared too.
At the 19th January of 1978 the last Sedan rolled of the assambly line in Emden.
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