Volkswagen's sendoff to a cultural icon
Herbie. Hippies. Dune Buggies. Beach Buggies. Punch Buggies. No matter your age, chances are, you were blessed with some sort of cultural knowledge of the Volkswagen Beetle.
For us in North America, it's a car that's nearly synonymous with the carefree lifestyle you might find along the California coast. But its origins are quite the opposite.
You see, the lovable bug was hatched from an idealized vision of a 'People's Car' - pursued by one Adolf Hitler. He wanted a car that was practical, affordable, economical and easy to manufacture - and that's what he got. It's worth noting, the idea of a People's Car is older than Nazi Germany, but it wasn't until Hitler's rise to power that the vision became reality.
Despite its concerning origin the lovable Bug was a success. After World War II, Beetlemania spread across the world. By the 1970's, production numbers reached upwards of 15 million, shattering a record held by Ford's Model T for decades.
What's next? Who knows. For now, it's the end of the road for the Beetle. But nostalgia is fickle. Don't be surprised if we see the nameplate hit the production lines once more. Love it, hate it, it doesn't matter. The Beetle has cemented a well deserved place in history and in the hearts and minds of its millions of fans around the world.
All photos courtesy of Volkswagen
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