75westy
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Registered: 05-2003
Location: Slaughterville OK
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 VW History
The Time Line:
1875 - September 3rd, Ferdinand Porsche was born.
1931 - Porsche invented the "Torsion Bar", Porsche drew first sketches of the Beetle.
1934 - Adolf Hitler contracts Porsche to develop the Beetle or KdFWagen.
1935 - Berlin Auto Show, Hitler announces that Porsche will design the People's Car.
1936 - First road test on prototypes.
1937 - Thirty prototypes called series 30 were complete.
1938 - Land was forced to be sold in Wolfsburg so that the Vw factory and city of KdF Stadt could be built. May 28th, ceremony for to mark the laying of the cornerstone of the VW factory. This would become the largest auto factory under one roof.
1939 - KdFWagen official appeared at Berlin auto show. Germany goes to war....
1940 - Kubelwagens were built, German army amphibious vehicles.
1942 - Schwimmwagens were built, amphibious army vehicle.
1944 - Allied bombing destroyed more that two/thirds of the Wolfsburg factory.
1945 - May, the war was over. Time to restart... British forces take control of Wolfsburg area and rename the city back to Wolfsburg. Porsche was called to be interrogated for connections to Nazis. He was cleared, but then imprisoned in France with son Ferry for 2 years.
1946 - 1785 cars were constructed mostly by hand, they were used as army light transport
1947 - Wolfsburg produced some 19,000 cars, an exported to Holland. Two handmade convertibles were constructed. Ben Pon starts selling VW's in Holland, and proposes the Transporter idea to Colonel Charles Radclyffe but was turned down.
1948 - Heinz Nordhoff was appointed chief executive to operate Wolfsburg. 20,000th Beetle produced. 3 Hebmuller prototypes were developed. Wilhelm Karmann Sr. modified a Beetle into a convertible. Henry Ford considered buying VW but then turned away... (The Beetle would go on to out sell the Ford Model T.)
1949 - January 17th, First official Beetle was bought in America by Ben Pon. Max Hoffman became first importer. Hebmuller start production, but shortly later the Wulfrath plant was destroyed by fire. 696 would be reassemble with salvaged parts by hand until 1953 when Hebmuller closed out.
1950 - Type 2 Transporter vans and Micro Buses went into production. 100,000th Beetle produced. 1000 Convertibles produced. Porsche celebrated his 75th birthday and finally visited the Wolfsburg plant. He broke down and cried at the site of Beetles on the Autobahn. His dream was reality.
1951 - January 10th, Porsche died.
1952 - Westfalia company begin converting VW vans into campers in Widenbruck, Germany. First official gathering of owners and their Beetles. the VW pick-up was put into production. Wilhelm Karmann died at age 82. Canada saw it's first official Beetle.
1953 - VW plant opened in Sao Paolo, Brazil. 500,000th Beetle produced.
1954 - The fist Karmann convertible was built. EMPI was started. There were 2 four seater Ghias built, but the project was reviewed and then dropped.
1955 - April, Volkswagen of America was originally formed. 1 million Beetles produced. Karmann Ghia officially went on sale.
1956 - April 19th, the last Transporter was built in Wolfsburg, production moved to Hannover.
1957 - Karmann Ghia convertible went into production. 2 millionth Beetle produced. Double cab pick-up went into production.
1958 - Volkswagen of America became a direct subsidiary of Wolfsburg.
1959 - Transporter received a fully synchronized transmission. 3 millionth Beetle produced.
1960 - Volks-Liner, a 17 foot wooden boat powered by a 36hp Beetle motor, was introduced. Only a few were produced. high roof Kombi were introduced. 4 millionth Beetle produced.
1961 - Sept., The Type 3 was unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto show. Dec., 5 millionth Beetle produced.
1962 - Squareback and Fastback go into production. Heinz Nordhoff locates Volkswagen of America headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Oct.,6 millionth Beetle and 1 millionth Transporter produced.
1963 - Sept., 7 millionth Beetle produced.
1964 - June, 8 millionth beetle produced. Dec., 9 millionth Beetle produced. Last year that Wolfsburg would produce the American Beetle. All Beetle in America would be produced at Emden plant.
1965 - Sept., 10 million Beetles produced!
1966 - First official year that VWoA imported the Type 3. April, 11 millionth Beetle produced. Dec., 12 millionth Beetle produced.
1967 - Last year for split windshield Type 2.
1968 - April, Heinz Nordhoff died.
1969 - The "Thing" is unveiled at the Frankfurt Auto Show.
1970 - Last year you could buy a convertible Beetle in standard format, only convertible Beetles in Super Beetle format were available. The Super Beetle was produced.
1971 - The "Thing" went into production at the Puebla Mexico VW plant.
1972 - Feb. 12, Beetle #15,007,034 rolled of the assembly line breaking the Ford Model T record for total production record.
1973 - The "Thing" was imported to the US. The first car ever imported from Mexico to the US.
1974 - June, Beetle #11,916,519 was the last Beetle produced in Wolfsburg. Beetle production in Wolfsburg ended forever... Jan., Karmann Ghia produced ended. Golf and Scirocco were introduced.
1975 - Last year for the "Thing". Total sales were just 25,000. The last year for Super Beetle. Rabbit begun production.
1976 - The Vintage Volkswagen Club of America was formed. Polo and Golf G.T.I. unveiled at Frankfurt Auto Show.
1977 - Last year for the standard Beetle in the US. Only Super Beetle convertibles remained.
1978 - Jan., Last official German built Beetle was produced at the Emden VW plant.
1980 - Jan. 10th, Karmann finished producing the convertible Beetle. The last 4,572 conv. Beetles were sold in the US. Jetta, Vanagon and Rabbit Pickup were introduced.
1981 - 20 millionth Beetle was produced in Puebla Mexico.
1982 - Quantum was introduced to the US. Last year of production of the air cooled Volkswagen in Germany.
1983 - Second generation Golf was introduced in Europe.
1985 - Rabbits became Golfs in US. Second generation Golf and Jetta introduced in US.
1997 - A 1966 Beetle, owned by Albert Klein, was driven 1 million miles. Fox was introduced in the US.
1992 - Vento was introduced. No 1992 Transporter sold in the US.
1993 - Fox production ended.
1994 - Jan., Volkswagen unveiled the Concept One at the Detroit International Auto Show.
1995 - Sharan Van was introduced in Europe.
1997 - Camper conversion done by Winebego instead of Westfalia. VR6 introduced in the Eurovan
1998 - Jan,. Volkswagen unveil the production model New Beetle at the Detroit International Auto Show. Volkswagenism becomes a "cyber" religion.
1999 - Volkswagen releases next generation line up. Volkswagenism administration complete pilgrimage to Wolfsburg, Germany.
Last edited by 75westy, 6/5/2003, 12:57 pm
--- If it aint aircooled it aint chit!!!!
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