| The Volkswagen Beetle, or the Type 1 as it was | | | | othercombinations and variations are possible. |
| officially known until | | | | While the engine platform is over 40 years old, the |
| 1967, is an economy class car. It was originally | | | | Beetle's engine isflexible enough to handle the mixing |
| designed by Ferdinand | | | | and matching of more souped up ortweaked parts, |
| Porsche for Adolf Hitler's commission for what the | | | | going beyond the original limitations of the stock |
| latter called the | | | | Beetle, making the car no stranger to motorsport |
| "People's Car," (Volk-Wagen in German). The idea | | | | events and street racingcompetitions. A particular |
| was to have a caravailable at an affordable price for | | | | Beetle sub-style known as the Baja Bug is alsofound in |
| every German household. The officialproduction | | | | off-road competitions. |
| started in 1938 and ended in 2003. | | | | Other customizers opt to stick to the vintage Beetle |
| The original design was equipped with an air-cooled | | | | look. Since the |
| 4-cylinderhorizontally opposed cylinder or "flat four" | | | | Volkswagen produced different incarnations of the |
| located at the rear as opposed tothe front like most | | | | Beetle, parts vary fromyear to year. The market for |
| vehicles. Another trademark is the design of thebody, | | | | classic stock VW Beetle Parts ranges backto the |
| which probably gave the vehicle its namesake. | | | | very first model produced in the 1960's, allowing |
| Throughout the years,some upgrades to the model | | | | collectors torestore and maintain their vintage Beetles |
| have been produced, but the architectureremains | | | | on good running condition. |
| mostly in line with the original Type 1 signature design. | | | | In 1998, Volkswagen released the New Beetle, a retro |
| Due to the inherent versatility of its engine platform | | | | themed car basedon the company's Golf platform, but |
| andcustomization opportunities, the Beetle is one of the | | | | borrowing the design of the its bigbrother so to speak. |
| longest and most produceddesign among automobiles. | | | | Unlike the original, the New Beetle had afront-mounted |
| As far as modification goes, VW Beetle Parts, beit | | | | engine as opposed to the Beetle's traditional |
| OEM or aftermarket parts, are heavily sought after by | | | | rear-mounted one. |
| many Beetleenthusiasts. Certain set styles were | | | | It remains to be seen if the New Beetle will have the |
| already popular amongst the car'scult following, such | | | | samecharacteristics as the original. |
| as the Cal Looker, Resto Cal, and Rat Rod, but | | | | |