After Volkswagen decreed its end in 2018, Chinese automaker tries to resurrect the beetle and shamelessly manufactures an electric copy of the iconic Beetle

One of the most coveted classics on the automotive planet, the Volkswagen Beetle, collects admirers wherever it goes. And it's no wonder, the old beetle was manufactured for 65 years and sold over 21 million units worldwide! Brazil, alone, became the third country where more units were manufactured – 3 million – just behind Germany and the United States.

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The most coveted Beetles and therefore the highest value are those made until the end of the 1950s, due to the oval rear window that was removed from production from 1958 in favor of a rectangular window for better visibility.

Beetle is found after 52 years forgotten in a junkyard and worth fortune

A buyer in the USA was very lucky and recently acquired the classic beetle manufactured in 1955. The Volkswagen Beetle spent more than 52 years lying in a junkyard.

As can be seen in the image (on the cover), its wheels were buried in the ground, its body was covered with vegetation and luckily at this time it was not sent to a shredder.

Luckily for its admirers, the Beetle can be refurbished. The beetle had its original documents in the glove compartment and its boxer engine was still original. That is, it has potential for eventual reform. A well-maintained 1955 Volkswagen Beetle can exceed US$ 70 (about R$ 391) in market value!

The story of the iconic Volkswagen beetle

Although the Beetle has preserved its iconic shape over the years, it has always known how to react sensibly to social and technical developments.

Using only minor design modifications, it has adapted, inside and out, to the spirit of the times and the discoveries of modern automotive technology.

Beetle was born from the ambition of dictator Adolf Hitler and the talent of Ferdinand Porsche

For those who don't know, the original model was born from the ambition of the dictator Adolf Hitler and the talent of Ferdinand Porsche, who in the early 30's defined the bases of the project. Although there were still no hydraulic brakes, rubber engine mounts were a considerable advance for the time.

the Volkswagen (Volk means people and wagen car in German), should be “a functional and reliable automobile, although with a relatively light construction.

It should offer space for four people, reach speeds of up to 100 km/h with an air-cooled, opposed-cylinder (boxer) engine and be able to overcome climbs with 30% inclination”.

After numerous attempts and tests, a four-cylinder boxer engine (985 cc and 22,5 hp) with air cooling was used, which remained as the basis of the engine until the end of the model's life, in 2003.

The engine continued to be modernized over the years, with: automatic mixture enrichment (1965); 1.6 hp 50 engine (1970); electronic ignition (1988); catalyst (1990); electronic injection, and hydraulic valve lifters and Lambda probe (1993).

The beginning of exports, in October 1947, was the first step towards the international expansion of the model. The first 56 exported units of the compact were shipped to the Netherlands.

In January 1949, the first Volkswagen Beetle crossed the ocean to the USA, pioneering the entry of the German brand into the American continent. Uncle Sam's country would be responsible for buying almost 11 million of the 21 million Beetles produced.

It didn't take long for the convertible version to arrive in July 1949. And demand kept growing: if 100.000 units were produced in 1950, three years later the number jumped to half a million, and to 1 million in 1955 .

On February 17, 1972, a special milestone was reached: Beetle 15.007.034 rolled off the assembly line to dethrone the Ford T as the most produced automobile on the planet.

In Brazil, it never ceased to be a niche car.

In Brazil, it never ceased to be a niche car, despite production being closed twice, with a cycle between 1956 and 86, and a survival caused by the Beetle Itamar between 1993 and 96, in Mexico the little sedan continued uninterruptedly. until 2003.

The final Mexican version, baptized “Última Edición”, represented the end of one of the most brilliant chapters in the history of the automobile. There were 21.529.464 copies placed on the streets in 20 different countries. But the story was not over yet.

Five years before the death of the original Fusquinha, in 1998, the New Beetle was born, a project led by the USA by designer J. Mays and also produced in Puebla, Mexico).

Despite its retro features, now more correctly known as a coupe, it featured a platform (shared with the Golf IV) and much more modern engines, to the point of including an RSi version (limited to 250 units) equipped with a 6 V3.2 with 224 hp. The engine became front and transverse, as well as the traction was made front. As a starter, 2.0 liter gasoline and 1.9 turbodiesel engines with direct injection were available.

Volkswagen announced at the 2018 Los Angeles Motor Show the end of production of the model

To the sadness of Beetle lovers, Volkswagen announced at the 2018 Los Angeles Salon that it would end production of the model. Its farewell edition, coupe or convertible, brings elements alluding to the Mexican “Última Edición” Beetle, and only one engine: 2.0 turbo 176 hp gasoline, with six-speed automatic transmission.

Has the end not yet come? Unless rumors are confirmed that the Beetle will come back to life as an electric model, a possibility admitted by Volkswagen itself. As we've seen at other times, there's always an Itamar to resurrect the good old Beetle.

Volkswagen wants to sue Chinese automaker for shamelessly manufacturing an electric copy of the iconic Volkswagen Beetle

The Chinese industry has not yet abandoned some old habits, and the multinational Volkswagen was not at all flattered by the electric car manufacturer ORA, which is part of the Great Wall Motors group. The brand presented a clone of the Beetle at the Shanghai Motor Show. Named ORA Punk Cat, the vehicle has the same traits as the iconic VW car.

It is possible to notice that the ORA was inspired – not to say that he blatantly copied – the traits of the Volkswagen Beetle in his new Punk Cat. The hood with a curved design, the rounded headlights and the rear design, complete with oval taillights, refer to the old beetle.