By production of the final VW Beetle, there were 130 variations on its
carburetor (Courtesy of Ray Glass).
The pancake engine was designed to increase trunk space above the engine.
This was made possible by relocating the cooling fan to the front of the
crankshaft.
The popular name of the VW emblem which bore gear teeth around it during
the Nazi era was/is "Cogwheel."
False. Ben Pon did bring one VW to the U.S. and VW further perpetuated the
myth out of a misunderstanding. However, the second car was actually a 1/40th
scale model brought by factory General Manager Heinz Nordoff. Nordoff showed
the model, along with some posters on NBC’s Today Show, hosted by Dave
Garoway. At that time, both NBC & the Today Show were only 2 years old.
The attempt at providing ventilation to the Beetle's interior was nothing
but 2 notches in the door glass (top) that appeared when you rolled the
glass down just a little. On January 6, 1951, that notch was replaced with 2
openable flaps located in the body side panel between the fender and door.
Its rather useless direction of air earned it the name
"crotch-cooler." They lasted until October 1, 1952 when VW added
vent windows to the doors.
The king pin front suspension gave way to ball joints in 1966.
NOVEMBER’S New Questions
When did VW finally provide a rear window defroster as standard equipment?
During what model years was the Super Beetle built?
When did the seat backs get 2 locking mechanisms to prevent forward
movement?
For what model year did the Beetle get push button door locks?
When did the VW engine go from "stale air" to "fresh
air"?
When did the VW terminal block, on the Beetle, go from 8 to 10 fuses?