In 1949, Ben Pon, a Dutch businessman, arrived in New York with precious cargo – two Volkswagen Type 1 models, later known as the Beetle. Pon was one of the first to attempt to sell a Volkswagen to Americans and now, 70 years on, 17 million have been sold.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane.
1949 Volkswagen Beetle
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
In post-World War II Europe, the Volkswagen Beetle was well on its way to being one of the most popular vehicles on the continent. Its efficient packaging and air-cooled engine helped it win a fan base. The 25-horsepower Beetle shown here is identical to the one Pon first imported to the U.S. in 1949.
1949 Volkswagen Beetle
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
In post-World War II Europe, the Volkswagen Beetle was well on its way to being one of the most popular vehicles on the continent. Its efficient packaging and air-cooled engine helped it win a fan base. The 25-horsepower Beetle shown here is identical to the one Pon first imported to the U.S. in 1949.
1949 Volkswagen Beetle
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
In post-World War II Europe, the Volkswagen Beetle was well on its way to being one of the most popular vehicles on the continent. Its efficient packaging and air-cooled engine helped it win a fan base. The 25-horsepower Beetle shown here is identical to the one Pon first imported to the U.S. in 1949.
1949 Volkswagen Beetle
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
In post-World War II Europe, the Volkswagen Beetle was well on its way to being one of the most popular vehicles on the continent. Its efficient packaging and air-cooled engine helped it win a fan base. The 25-horsepower Beetle shown here is identical to the one Pon first imported to the U.S. in 1949.
1949 Volkswagen Beetle and 2019 Volkswagen Beetle
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
In post-World War II Europe, the Volkswagen Beetle was well on its way to being one of the most popular vehicles on the continent. Its efficient packaging and air-cooled engine helped it win a fan base. The 25-horsepower Beetle shown here, alongside the 2019 Beetle, is identical to the one Pon first imported to the U.S. in 1949.
1949 Volkswagen Beetle and 2019 Volkswagen Beetle
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
In post-World War II Europe, the Volkswagen Beetle was well on its way to being one of the most popular vehicles on the continent. Its efficient packaging and air-cooled engine helped it win a fan base. The 25-horsepower Beetle shown here, alongside the 2019 Beetle, is identical to the one Pon first imported to the U.S. in 1949.
1954 Volkswagen Type 2 Bus
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
Telefunken, a German radio company, painted their logo on the side of the Volkswagen Type 2 Bus and used it as a delivery van. This is the Panel Delivery version of the Bus, which features a modified version of the Beetle’s floorpan and the same 30-hp flat-four engine.
1954 Volkswagen Type 2 Bus
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
Telefunken, a German radio company, painted their logo on the side of the Volkswagen Type 2 Bus and used it as a delivery van. This is the Panel Delivery version of the Bus, which features a modified version of the Beetle’s floorpan and the same 30-hp flat-four engine.
1954 Volkswagen Type 2 Bus
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
Telefunken, a German radio company, painted their logo on the side of the Volkswagen Type 2 Bus and used it as a delivery van. This is the Panel Delivery version of the Bus, which features a modified version of the Beetle’s floorpan and the same 30-hp flat-four engine.
1954 Volkswagen Type 2 Bus
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
Telefunken, a German radio company, painted their logo on the side of the Volkswagen Type 2 Bus and used it as a delivery van. This is the Panel Delivery version of the Bus, which features a modified version of the Beetle’s floorpan and the same 30-hp flat-four engine. The Type 2 went on sale in 1950 and the sixth generation of the model is still available today.
1963 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
German coach builder Karmann built this Volkswagen coupe, adding sporty style to the German automaker’s lineup. Like the Type 2 Bus before it, the Karmann Ghia used the same engine as the Beetle, a 34-horsepower four-cylinder, for the 1963 model year.
1963 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
German coach builder Karmann built this Volkswagen coupe, adding sporty style to the German automaker’s lineup. Like the Type 2 Bus before it, the Karmann Ghia used the same engine as the Beetle, a 34-horsepower four-cylinder, for the 1963 model year.
1963 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
German coach builder Karmann built this Volkswagen coupe, adding sporty style to the German automaker’s lineup. Like the Type 2 Bus before it, the Karmann Ghia used the same engine as the Beetle, a 34-horsepower four-cylinder, for the 1963 model year.
1963 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
German coach builder Karmann built this Volkswagen coupe, adding sporty style to the German automaker’s lineup. Like the Type 2 Bus before it, the Karmann Ghia used the same engine as the Beetle, a 34-horsepower four-cylinder, for the 1963 model year. The Karmann Ghia was on sale from 1955–1974.
1967 Volkswagen Type 2 21-Window Bus
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
This is a copy of the highly sought-after 21-Window “Samba” version of the Volkswagen Type 2 21-Window Bus. It features a white-on-orange paint scheme. In the U.S., 23-window variants were known as the Sunroof Deluxe. Instead of a sliding door, the Samba as two pivot doors.
1967 Volkswagen Type 2 Window Bus
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
This is a copy of the highly sought-after 21-Window “Samba” version of the Volkswagen Type 2 21-Window Bus. It features a white-on-orange paint scheme. In the U.S., 23-window variants were known as the Sunroof Deluxe. Instead of a sliding door, the Samba as two pivot doors.
1967 Volkswagen Type 2 Window Bus and 2019 Volkswagen Atlas
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
This is a copy of the highly sought-after 21-Window “Samba” version of the Volkswagen Type 2 21-Window Bus. It features a white-on-orange paint scheme. In the U.S., 23-window variants were known as the Sunroof Deluxe. Instead of a sliding door, the Samba as two pivot doors.
1967 Volkswagen Type 2 21-Window Bus and 2019 Volkswagen Atlas
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
This is a copy of the highly sought-after 21-Window “Samba” version of the Volkswagen Type 2 21-Window Bus. It features a white-on-orange paint scheme. In the U.S., 23-window variants were known as the Sunroof Deluxe. Instead of a sliding door, the Samba as two pivot doors.
1973 Volkswagen Squareback
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
Like the modern crossover, the Squareback wagon sought to prove that smaller vehicles would still haul a family. This ’73 has storage under the hood and in the back. The model has 65 horsepower and was one of the first vehicles to have fuel injection technology.
1973 Volkswagen Squareback
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
Like the modern crossover, the Squareback wagon sought to prove that smaller vehicles would still haul a family. This ’73 has storage under the hood and in the back. The model has 65 horsepower and was one of the first vehicles to have fuel injection technology.
1973 Volkswagen Squareback
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
Like the modern crossover, the Squareback wagon sought to prove that smaller vehicles would still haul a family. This ’73 has storage under the hood and in the back. The model has 65 horsepower and was one of the first vehicles to have fuel injection technology.
1973 Volkswagen Squareback
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
Like the modern crossover, the Squareback wagon sought to prove that smaller vehicles would still haul a family. This ’73 has storage under the hood and in the back. The model has 65 horsepower and was one of the first vehicles to have fuel injection technology.
1973 Volkswagen Squareback, 2019 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack, 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
Like the modern crossover, the Squareback wagon sought to prove that smaller vehicles would still haul a family. This ’73 has storage under the hood and in the back. The model has 65 horsepower and was one of the first vehicles to have fuel injection technology.
1973 Volkswagen Squareback, 2019 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack, 2019 Volkswagen Tiguan
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
Like the modern crossover, the Squareback wagon sought to prove that smaller vehicles would still haul a family. This ’73 has storage under the hood and in the back. The model has 65 horsepower and was one of the first vehicles to have fuel injection technology.
1973 Volkswagen Thing
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
This Thing wasn’t designed to be part of the Addams family. The original concept was meant to be a military vehicle European nations. Called the Type 181, that model was off-road friendly. By the time the vehicle came to the U.S., the 46-horsepower convertible was marketed as “Thing.”
1973 Volkswagen Thing
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
This Thing wasn’t designed to be part of the Addams family. The original concept was meant to be a military vehicle European nations. Called the Type 181, that model was off-road friendly. By the time the vehicle came to the U.S., the 46-horsepower convertible was marketed as “Thing.”
1973 Volkswagen Thing
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
This Thing wasn’t designed to be part of the Addams family. The original concept was meant to be a military vehicle European nations. Called the Type 181, that model was off-road friendly. By the time the vehicle came to the U.S., the 46-horsepower convertible was marketed as “Thing.”
1977 Volkswagen Dasher
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
The Dasher was designed to be a more premium model than the Beetle. Known as the Passat in Europe, the Dasher came in sedan, hatchback, and wagon variants. It was front-wheel drive and powered by a water-cooled four-cylinder engine that achieved 78 horsepower. Volkswagen produced the car for sale in the U.S. as the B1 from 1973-1981. It was the sister model of the Audi 80.
1977 Volkswagen Dasher
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
The Dasher was designed to be a more premium model than the Beetle. Known as the Passat in Europe, the Dasher came in sedan, hatchback, and wagon variants. It was front-wheel drive and powered by a water-cooled four-cylinder engine that achieved 78 horsepower. Volkswagen produced the car for sale in the U.S. as the B1 from 1973-1981. It was the sister model of the Audi 80.
1977 Volkswagen Dasher
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
The Dasher was designed to be a more premium model than the Beetle. Known as the Passat in Europe, the Dasher came in sedan, hatchback, and wagon variants. It was front-wheel drive and powered by a water-cooled four-cylinder engine that achieved 78 horsepower. Volkswagen produced the car for sale in the U.S. as the B1 from 1973-1981. It was the sister model of the Audi 80.
1977 Volkswagen Dasher and 2020 Volkswagen Passat
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
The Dasher was designed to be a more premium model than the Beetle. Known as the Passat in Europe, the Dasher came in sedan, hatchback, and wagon variants. It was front-wheel drive and powered by a water-cooled four-cylinder engine that achieved 78 horsepower. Volkswagen produced the car for sale in the U.S. as the B1 from 1973-1981. It was the sister model of the Audi 80.
1977 Volkswagen Dasher and 2020 Volkswagen Passat
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
The Dasher was designed to be a more premium model than the Beetle. Known as the Passat in Europe, the Dasher came in sedan, hatchback, and wagon variants. It was front-wheel drive and powered by a water-cooled four-cylinder engine that achieved 78 horsepower. Volkswagen produced the car for sale in the U.S. as the B1 from 1973-1981. It was the sister model of the Audi 80.
1979 Volkswagen Super Beetle
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
The Super Beetle marked the end of the original Beetle era. It was the last of original generation to be sold in the U.S. The Type 1 continued to be manufactured for sale at the company’s Puebla, Mexico plant until 2003, 65 years after it for launched. This model is owned by Volkswagen and has less than 1,000 miles on its 48 horsepower four-cylinder engine.
1979 Volkswagen Super Beetle
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
The Super Beetle marked the end of the original Beetle era. It was the last of original generation to be sold in the U.S. The Type 1 continued to be manufactured for sale at the company’s Puebla, Mexico plant until 2003, 65 years after it for launched. This model is owned by Volkswagen and has less than 1,000 miles on its 48 horsepower four-cylinder engine.
1979 Volkswagen Super Beetle
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
The Super Beetle marked the end of the original Beetle era. It was the last of original generation to be sold in the U.S. The Type 1 continued to be manufactured for sale at the company’s Puebla, Mexico plant until 2003, 65 years after it for launched. This model is owned by Volkswagen and has less than 1,000 miles on its 48 horsepower four-cylinder engine.
1981 Volkswagen Scirocco
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
The less-sexy Scirocco succeeded the Karmann Ghia in Volkswagen’s lineup. It was a Giugiaro-designed coupe that started production in 1974 and ended its run in 1982, only to be revived in 2008. The Scirocco’s production ended in 2017. This 74-hosepower model had fewer than 1,000 miles on it.
1981 Volkswagen Scirocco
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
The less-sexy Scirocco succeeded the Karmann Ghia in Volkswagen’s lineup. It was a Giugiaro-designed coupe that started production in 1974 and ended its run in 1982, only to be revived in 2008. The Scirocco’s production ended in 2017. This 74-hosepower model had fewer than 1,000 miles on it.
1981 Volkswagen Scirocco
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
The less-sexy Scirocco succeeded the Karmann Ghia in Volkswagen’s lineup. It was a Giugiaro-designed coupe that started production in 1974 and ended its run in 1982, only to be revived in 2008. The Scirocco’s production ended in 2017. This 74-hosepower model had fewer than 1,000 miles on it.
1982 Volkswagen Jetta Mk1
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
Volkswagen offered the Jetta as a sedan alternative to the Golf/Rabbit. The first generation of the model delivered European design and fuel efficiency. Soon after its debut in 1979 the model became the best-selling European car in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Its 76-horsepower engine was paired with either a five-speed manual or three-speed automatic transmission.
1982 Volkswagen Jetta Mk1
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
Volkswagen offered the Jetta as a sedan alternative to the Golf/Rabbit. The first generation of the model delivered European design and fuel efficiency. Soon after its debut in 1979 the model became the best-selling European car in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Its 76-horsepower engine was paired with either a five-speed manual or three-speed automatic transmission.
1982 Volkswagen Jetta Mk1
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
Volkswagen offered the Jetta as a sedan alternative to the Golf/Rabbit. The first generation of the model delivered European design and fuel efficiency. Soon after its debut in 1979 the model became the best-selling European car in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Its 76-horsepower engine was paired with either a five-speed manual or three-speed automatic transmission.
1984 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
The 1974, Volkswagen became selling the Golf MK1 as a front-wheel-drive, long-range replacement for the Beetle. It was known as the Volkswagen Rabbit GTI in the U.S. The Golf is still produced today for sale around the world.
1984 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
The 1974, Volkswagen became selling the Golf MK1 as a front-wheel-drive, long-range replacement for the Beetle. It was known as the Volkswagen Rabbit GTI in the U.S. The Golf is still produced today for sale around the world.
1984 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
The 1974, Volkswagen became selling the Golf MK1 as a front-wheel-drive, long-range replacement for the Beetle. It was known as the Volkswagen Rabbit GTI in the U.S. The Golf is still produced today for sale around the world.
1984 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI and 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
The 1974, Volkswagen became selling the Golf MK1 as a front-wheel-drive, long-range replacement for the Beetle. It was known as the Volkswagen Rabbit GTI in the U.S. The Golf is still produced today for sale around the world.
1984 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI and 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
The 1974, Volkswagen became selling the Golf MK1 as a front-wheel-drive, long-range replacement for the Beetle. It was known as the Volkswagen Rabbit GTI in the U.S. The Golf is still produced today for sale around the world.
1998 Volkswagen Beetle “New Beetle”
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
The Beetle returned as a modern car in 1997. It contained some of the quirky attributes that played on the heritage of the model including a dashboard-mounted flower bud vase. The New Beetle was in production until July 2019 as the automaker began to shift toward more electric vehicle production.
1998 Volkswagen Beetle “New Beetle”
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
The Beetle returned as a modern car in 1997. It contained some of the quirky attributes that played on the heritage of the model including a dashboard-mounted flower bud vase. The New Beetle was in production until July 2019 as the automaker began to shift toward more electric vehicle production.
1998 Volkswagen Beetle “New Beetle”
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
The Beetle returned as a modern car in 1997. It contained some of the quirky attributes that played on the heritage of the model including a dashboard-mounted flower bud vase. The New Beetle was in production until July 2019 as the automaker began to shift toward more electric vehicle production.
2019 Volkswagen Atlas
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
Production of the Volkswagen Atlas began in 2017 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The three-row SUV was brought to market as a 2018 model. The Atlas is known as the Volkswagen Teramont in China, the Middle East, Russia, Mexico, and Rwanda.
2019 Volkswagen Atlas
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
Production of the Volkswagen Atlas began in 2017 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The three-row SUV was brought to market as a 2018 model. The Atlas is known as the Volkswagen Teramont in China, the Middle East, Russia, Mexico, and Rwanda.
2019 Volkswagen Atlas
Photo courtesy of Volkswagen AG
Production of the Volkswagen Atlas began in 2017 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The three-row SUV was brought to market as a 2018 model. The Atlas is known as the Volkswagen Teramont in China, the Middle East, Russia, Mexico, and Rwanda.
