The people’s car, the birth of a legend, starts the VW story. Hitler wanted a car for the masses. The cars had to be reliable and inexpensive. He called on Ferdinand Porsche, who was employed as his technical director and became known as Dr. Porsche.
He worked on the Volkswagen design from 1906 to 1923, but had no backing from the government, until March of 1933, when Porsche again met with Hitler and persuaded him to continue the project .
It was not until late 1935 that the first prototype Volkswagen was finished. The war nearly ended the Volkswagen and with Hitler committing suicide on April 20, 1945, when Germany was in near collapse.
The factory was taken over by the British army whose efforts and all around ingenuity paid the way for Volkswagen’s future success.
A new town council was born who renamed the town Wolfsburg. Major Ivan Hirst of the British army was put in charge. He brought the factory out of ruins and the car design was complete.
Only a few cars were built in 1947. X-Opal general manager, Heinz Nordhoff, really got things moving. He officially took over in 1948, but it wasn’t until 1950 that luxury car importer Max Hoffman of New York City sold 352 Beetles marketing the colossal success in the United States.
On Feb. 17, 1972, the VW Beetle became the best selling car of all times, as it passed Ford’s legendary Model T.
The Beetle numbered 15,007,034 had been produced. On May 15, 1981, the 20,000,000th Beetle was assembled in Pueblo, Mexico. The Beetle remained alive in Mexico until production ended in 2003 with the last 3,000 Beetles dubbed Ultimate editions.
The little car that has become an American icon lives on here in Somerset in the form of Central Kentucky Volkswagen Club.
Beginning in September 2008, the club began and continues to grow.
“We are Volkswagen lovers who want to preserve these cars. Like our motto says, ‘It’s not a hobby, it’s a love affair,’” says club president Randy Edwards.
Edwards, who has owned more than a dozen VWs, says the club is a dream come true for himself.
Vice president Sergio Corona, whose ’69 Beetle is lovingly known as ‘Jessie,’ has been a VW owner for more than 20 years.
“All our club owners will tell you a VW story. Most got bitten by the ‘bug’ early and never got over it,” reports Corona.
Club members are looking to add to their numbers and their first show will be on Valentine’s Day, Saturday, Feb. 14, at Somerset Mall.
VW enthusiasts are invited to the show and see one club member’s own ‘Herbie, The Love Bug.’
Membership information will be available at the show from 10 a.m. till 9 p.m., and also on the club’s Web site:
www.centralkyvwclub.com
