Volkswagen Kaefer: specifications, owner reviews, photos

Volkswagen Kaefer (Käfer) is a passenger car produced by the German concern VW AG, which is by far the richest in the world. And prosperous. And the Volkswagen Kaefer model came out from 1938 to 2003! It's just incredible indicators, given that in our time models are produced five to ten years, and then stop. Well, this is worthy of respect and attention, so this topic should be discussed in more detail.

The beginning of history

During the entire production period, 21,529,464 cars were produced. This is a very large number. The model has a rich history. And about it you need to tell.

In 1933 a meeting took place in the Berlin hotel called Kaiserhof, held between Jakob Verlin, Adolf Hitler, and Ferdinand Porsche. The German Fuhrer put forward his demand - to produce for Germany a reliable, solid and strong car, which at the same time would cost about a thousand Reichsmarks. This idea was offered to Hitler by Ferdinand Porsche himself. He also suggested to the Fiihrer "Tour 12" - a rear-engine car, rather budgetary.

This time the idea was somewhat different. It was planned that the Volkswagen Kaefer (whose name at that time was still unknown) would become a small, but technically sophisticated car with a piston power unit and an independent suspension. This model was supposed to accommodate four adults. The price needed to be made low, and the maximum speed - high (at that time), i.e. 100 km / h.

Project implementation

After the company several attempts to implement the idea, the project decided to transfer to a large and authoritative motorcycle manufacturer - the company Zündapp. The firm just wanted to create something new, more powerful and serious. So the process began. In 1931-32, three prototypes were created. It was two sedans with a closed body and a convertible. Under the hoods they had star-shaped power units with a system of liquid cooling. There were technical shortcomings. And economic inefficiency. So the development of Volkswagen Kaefer was taken up by another Nuremberg company - NSU. However, they also created three prototypes that the initiators of the idea did not like. Although the car turned out very similar to the model that we know today. True, her power was 28 liters. With., And the suspension - torsion-lever.

Despite the setbacks, Hitler rewarded the Porsche representatives who tried to work by attracting other specialists to achieve results. After that, a really serious process started, which ended successfully.

The first batch

The very first Volkswagen Kaefer car appeared in 1937. It was even released serially - the number of models produced was thirty units. The process of translating the idea into reality was accelerated by the Führer. He even visited automotive designers.

The first machines had a blind back wall. Hitler did not like this. Because this shortcoming was removed immediately. And in the first, so to speak, test drive was attended by qualified drivers, who for this purpose released the apparatus of the transport service SS.

In total, the test run of all cars was 2 million kilometers. And in 1938 the project, which was called "Strength through joy," acquired formal outlines. Volkswagen K-fer, photo of which is provided below, had a reinforced bearing flat bottom, a 4-cylinder opposing sludge unit located longitudinally behind the rear axle, and an independent suspension (torsion bar). Design - very streamlined, rounded, "biological." He liked furreru. Adolf Hitler personally took part in the creation of the sketch (it is known that he was a good artist). Of the modifications - 4-door cabriolets and sedans.

Service in the Wehrmacht

The most massive car Volkswagen Kaefer at that time began to gain popularity in the 40s. It was then that the concept of an army car was created. The car was different in that it had a lightweight 4-door body with rear wheel gears, 16-inch wheels and, of course, flat panels. There was an inter - wheel self - locking differential, a clearance of 29 centimeters and a 25-horsepower motor. Until 1945, about 50 435 such models were produced. It was at that time the most massive passenger car Volkswagen Kaefer. Still in the light came out the all-wheel drive version of the model. It could boast of the transmission, which was taken from the amphibious Tour 166 (a massive army car).

After the forties

For ten years, this "Volkswagen" has become quite popular. So the production continued to improve. And in the late 40's, or more precisely, in 1948, the first Beetle-cabriolets appeared on the streets. They gained success and began to be released serially.

And in the 50's, cars that operate on diesel power units became popular. And for those that differed a good volume - 1.3 liters! Up to 100 kilometers per hour the model with such an engine could accelerate in exactly a minute. It was a terrific figure at that time. If we take into account the fact that the car did not have a turbocharger. Volkswagen Kaefer characteristics received improved, significantly improved, if compared with its predecessor.

And in 1967, the power of the power unit was brought to a rate of 54 horsepower. Changed and appearance. The body became somewhat elongated. By the way, five years later it was decided not to let out more sedans Super Beetle. So they began to produce ordinary, standard, plus cabriolets.

Prestigious versions

Volkswagen Kaefer reviews at the time received only positive. The owners did not hesitate to share their impressions with friends, praising the German car. They liked the design, quite high (at that time) power, comfort and relatively low price. So the popularity of Volkswagen has been growing steadily. And because the concern decided to start producing a model that would become more prestigious, stylish. Therefore, in the early 50's, the Karmann studio received an order from the company's representatives to develop a new, more beautiful design. So there was a car on the chassis. It was not a roadster, but a beautiful elongated two-door coupe. And many critics of those years said that its quality is the best in the world. Needless to say, these machines were exported even to those countries where left-hand traffic is organized .

The total circulation of the "prestigious" model was more than 487 thousand cars. And it was a solid figure. Needless to say, even now it is considered a considerable amount.

Käfer in art

Like many other cars, this "Volkswagen" is not only a car, but also a piece of culture. So, for example, we can see this model on the cover of one of the albums of the popular band The Beatles. It's called Abbey Road. And the plate with the number from that car (LMW281F) was abducted more than once. It is also cited as a kind of "proof" of the death of Paul McCartney in 1966 (it is worth remembering the legend of his death).

And this car is also present in books written by Jim Butcher. The series is called Dresden's Dossier. In them, the protagonist is the owner of the blue VW Käfer and rides it constantly.

And in the movie the car was shown often. "In Love Little", "Robbery in Monte Carlo", "Herbie is on the go", "Herbie is going crazy", "Volkswagen-beetle 2", "Crazy race", "Racers" - in all these films the car participated. So this is a famous car.

Interesting Facts

It is useful to know that this car is listed in the Guinness Book of Records! Recorded the maximum number of people who "packed" inside her salon - 36! Really a record indicator. But it was beaten by climbers, who were on the roof and inside ... 57. Amazing data.

By the way, it was this model that became the ancestor of such a subset of machines as buggies - beetles. Although officially in Germany, in the native German language, this "Volkswagen" beetle no one ever called. Also, this model entered the top ten machines that changed the world. This data was published by the world-famous authoritative journal Forbes. And, by the way, it is Käfer - a distant relative of all sports cars, which are currently produced by the concern Porsche.

That's such an interesting story for this car. Rich, rich, full of entertaining and unusual facts. It's no wonder that many people consider this machine to be a real "Volkswagen", and in general - the German legend of the distant years.