URBI-ET-ORBI……My Bucket List Journals.: Volkswagen (VW) Model TYPES: Production VW Type Designations- TYPE 1.

This is the second part on the Volkswagen (VW) model TYPES for newbies on the aircooled VW scene. The first part was more on the VW Model TYPES Prototypes and Wartime Production Models while this second installment is on the Production VW Type Designations. This is more on the general understanding of these VW "Type" systems which would be of great help for us to understand and be understood by fellow enthusiasts but more importantly also as an important technical guide in sourcing out VW parts/numbers and to learn more about the history of the VW itself.

b. Production VW Type Designations:

1. VW TYPE 1 (T1, TI): Beetle, SuperBeetle, Ghia, Hebmuller, Thing

In 1945 after the end of WWII, the first production model of the civilian VW “sedan” was built based on Ferdinand Porsche's original “protoype 1″- designated as a ”Type 1″ vehicle.

Ferdinand Porsche (far left) and Adolf Hitler examine a prototype model that will evolve into the Volkswagen Beettle

Subsequent production models from modification and changes to the original Protoype 1 concept were also classed as “Type 1″ and model/version numbers were added to their type designations for distinction:

Beetles (Type 11)

1958 Volkswagen Type 1 Beetle 1.2 liter 4 Speed
from carpictures.us

SuperBeetles (Type 15)- VW 1302 and 1303. These had longer noses and larger back windows.

from urightbrothers.blogspot.com

Ghias (Type 14)

Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia Convertible Type14

Hebmullers (Type 14A)- in 1948, Hebmüller were in talks with British controlled Volkswagen company along with Karmann to create a convertible version of the Beetle. Karmann were to build the 4-seater version and Hebmüller were to build a two-seater roadster version .

Prototype Type 14A Hebmuller

Things (formally designated as Kurierwagens – Type 18)

Kurierwagen in Germany, Trekker in the United Kingdom,
Thing in the United States (1973-1974), and the Safari in Mexico

This VW Type was manufactured from 1938 until it was discontinued in 2003. The One Millionth Beetle

was produced in 1955.The last Beetle to be produced was manufactured in Pueblo, Mexico, No. 21,529,464.

Some variants:

VW Cabriolet: Convertible versions of the Beetle.

Beetle Convertible '50s Edition

Baja Bug: Off-road customizations which turned the old Beetle into new dune buggies for off-road adventures, made for the sandy beach or desert, or other off-roading areas.

A "Baja Bug" Races in the Mojave Desert Race (MDR) Series in Southern California. DevkotlanPhotography.com

Volkswagen New Beetle: Modern version of the old bug. Concept One was the name of the new concept of re-doing the classic VW Beetle. This version has the engine in the front and trunk space in the back, similar to most vehicles now.