Index

VW TRIVIA

- By Herschel D. -

MAY’S – ANSWERS

  1. Q: After VW's first director-General, Heinz Nordoff came in board in 1948, he set about upgrading the construction of the VW. In a few short years every part of the Beetle got redesigned even though the car looked nearly the same. By what year was that accomplished?
    A: 1952, only some chrome side trim, and the pieces that hold the trunk weather seal were unchanged!

  2. Q: There was a toy VW made many years ago that was constructed of sheet metal, was a bump and go toy, and had a transparent engine lid that revealed a glowing "spark plug" and a revolving fan belt. Can you name the maker?
    A: Bandai of Japan made it in the 1960's.

  3. Q: When did the Beetle go from having door handles featuring a pull out release, to being the push button type?
    A: In 1961.

  4. Q: What well-known actor starred in a VW commercial many years ago that featured him being surprised about finding a second trunk in the back of a Type 3 instead of the engine being visible?
    A: Dustin Hoffman!

  5. Q: Years ago a company made a conversion kit that allowed a Beetle to look like certain models of vintage Fords. What year models of Fords did they copy?
    A: 1937 and 1940. I do not remember the maker of the kits, but they were sued by Ford for trademark image and driven into bankruptcy.

  6. Q: When did the Beetle get a sealed steering that doesn't need lubricating?
    A: 1965 was the first year that the VW 's had a permanently sealed steering gearbox that didn't require periodic grease filling.

 

JUNE’S – NEW QUESTIONS
  1. In what year did the Beetle Sedan get cooling vents added to the engine lid along with the ones that were already in the body above the lid?
    2.
  2.  
    3.
  3. What was the life span of the VW's creator, Ferdinand Porsche?
  4. The first ever Porsche had a lot of VW parts in it. When was it made?
  5. VW ran a TV commercial that featured a cartoon Beetle running around and getting compared to the over chromed glitzy American cars of the time, who was he?
  6. Was the WWII Kubelwagen a 2 or 4 wheel drive?
  7. You should know this! What car did the VW Beetle beat the production record of?

Answers and new questions next month. - Herschel