1. Photos
  2. Volkswagen
  3. Volkswagen Beetle
  4. I (Typ 1)

Volkswagen Beetle I (Typ 1) gallery (1938–2003)

The original Volkswagen Beetle (Typ 1) became the longest-running and most manufactured car of a single platform in history.

All photos 488 I (Typ 1) 2 1938–2003 New Beetle (Typ 9C) 109 1997–2011 A5 339 2011–2019
volkswagen beetle pic #98150 1600 x 1200 3 1970
volkswagen beetle pic #98149 1280 x 960 2 1970

The original Volkswagen Beetle (Typ 1 / Käfer) was designed by Ferdinand Porsche in the 1930s. Its mechanical concept was built around a central backbone chassis, a rear-mounted air-cooled flat-four engine, and rear-wheel drive. The iconic rounded silhouette became a globally recognized cultural icon. Available body formats included a two-door sedan and a Karmann-built convertible.

Air-cooled engine displacements expanded over the decades from 1.0 to 1.6 liters. Over its 65-year production history—concluding in Puebla, Mexico in July 2003—a record total of 21,529,464 Beetle units were manufactured.