1955 VW Beetle

The 1950s were an exciting time for VW as by then its production numbers were increasing year on year. By 1955, the Beetle had lost its Split rear window, which was replaced with an oval-shaped window for improved visibility. The engine had also increased from 1131cc to a whopping 1192cc and gave five more horsepower - which was quite a jump when there were only 25 to start with!
April 1955 saw the one millionth Beetle produced and this special numbered Beetle was finished in gold with unique upholstery and headliner, and to really give it a bit of 1950's bling, all the chrome and trim was covered in diamanté beads. The car can still be seen today on display in the museum at Wolfsburg. Ok, I've gone off on a tangent there, but the Fifties was a decade marked by rapid change for VW and a time when the Beetle model saw many improvements. Checking the changes throughout the lifespan of the Beetle can be mind boggling, and one of the hardest things about restoring a Vintage VW is tracking down the correct original parts. So maybe the next time you see an old buffer polishing his stocker you can nod in an appreciative manner at the time and effort put in to its restoration.

For the full story on this car make sure you pick up a copy of the September 2009 issue of VolksWorld

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