VW Beetle Cars: Hebmuller Cabriolet, Export Beetle Split-Window

VW Beetle Cars

What is your favourite car of all time?

This is one of many illustrated classic car guides I've created for the community. I hope you enjoy it and if you would like to find out more about the classic VW Beetle art featured in this guide please click here.

This guide covers six classic Volkswagen Beetle models produced between 1949 and 1966. Included are the characteristic Split and Oval window models and Cabriolets by Hebmuller and Karmann. Volkswagen produced its on-millionth Beetle in 1955, its five-millionth in 1961 and its ten-millionth in 1965. The VW Beetle had become the most popular and recognizable car in the world.

1949 Hebmuller Cabriolet

Designated the Type 14, the Hebmuller cabriolet followed the lines of Colonel Charles Radclyffe's convertible of 1946 (Radclyffe was responsible for light industry in the British zone of Germany, and VW had come under his overall control). Introduced alongside the Export saloon in 1949 as a two-seater cabriolet, the Hebmuller's trademark was its sloping rear deck and disappearing (almost) soft top, which clearly enhanced the fundamental shape and character of the Beetle. Sadly, only around 750 Hebmuller cabriolets were produced as the company suffered a serious fire at their works in 1949 from which it did not fully recover. Only around 60 examples of the Hebmuller are known to exist today.

1951 Export Beetle ( Split-Window )

Production of the Export or deluxe saloon began on 2 June 1949 and the model was officially launched to the public on 1 July. Although the factory continued to offer the standard model for many years. The Export saloon was the result of Nordhoff's desire to improve the model, realising that success was dependent on volume sales in the export markets, something that would have been impossible to achieve with the agricultural cars of previous years. Over the standard car, the Export Beetle enjoyed an incredible attention to detail, its facelift eventually securing it a place at the top of the best seller charts around the world.

1953 Beetle ( Oval-Window )

The split-window, that had been a prominent feature of the Beetle since the pre-war prototypes, was replaced in March 1953 by a larger oval window in the interests of safety. The oval version increased rear visibility by nearly 25 percent. It lasted until 1957, when the heavily revised "big-window" model was introduced. For "Oval" cars, the bodywork remained the same as the earlier model, as did the rear lights and registration light.

1954 Karmann Cabriolet

Volkswagen did not envisage that demand for the expensive Beetle cabriolet, launched to the public on 1st July 1949, would be particularly heavy, so the whole project was farmed out to specialist coachbuilders. The Karmann conversion ( Type 15 ), produced at Osnabruck provided stiff competition for the Hebmuller convertible since the car was a full four-seater. With strengthened chassis, the model was heavier than the saloon by 265lb (120kg). Its nose followed standard lines but as the folded soft-top masked the engine air intakes there were louvres for this purpose in the engine cover. 331,847 Karmann cabriolets were produced in 31 years of production.

1959 Karmann Cabriolet

Cabriolets produced after July 1957 used a much larger back window than the earlier models, (still made of glass) and horizontal rather than vertical louvres on the engine lid. Until 1951, semaphore indicators on cabriolets were fitted to the front quarter panels, but when ventilation flaps were fitted that year, the semaphore arms were relocated. From August 1960 these were replaced altogether by the more modern front quarter panel, the badge, as on all pre-1961 cars is rectangular and reads "Karmann Kabriolet".

1966 Beetle 1500CC

Only a year after the 1300 Beetle was introduced in 1965, the 1500 Beetle was announced. Offering improved performance, it used a 1493cc engine, with the same dimensions as the Type 2 vehicles, to give 44bhp DIN at 4000rpm (or 53bhp SAE), with improved torque. Other improvements to the 1500 model included the fitment of front disc brakes, whilst at the rear suspension revisions improved road behaviour, particularly the problem of oversteer. The six-volt electrical system remained as did the classic dashboard with separate fuel gauge and decorative alloy mouldings. The "Fifteen", as it is affectionately known, rates as one of the best Beetles ever made and these cars are consequently sought-after by enthusiasts.

Thank you for reading my guide and I hope you found it interesting!

VW Cars: Beetle 1953, 1954, Karmann Ghia Coupe, Type 3

Do You Remember Your First Car? Was It A VW?

VW Cars

This is one of many illustrated classic car guides I've created for the community. I hope you enjoy it. If you wish to find out more about the classic VW auto art featured in this guide please click here.

The Volkswagen Beetle is a motoring phenomenon. In an unprecedented production span of over half a century, nearly 21 million examples have been produced making it a motoring experience shared by an unequalled proportion of the world's population.

This guide features some of the best-loved Beetle models as well as VW's other classics in the form of the Type 2 and Type 3. Karmann and Hebmuller vehicles complete the story which Classic VW.

Beetle 1953

The first export model Beetle was launched on 1st July 1949. Amongst its features were chrome grooved trim and bumpers, cable operated hood release and round horn grilles. The single most distinguishing feature however of these early Beetles was the split rear window, which was used up until March1953, after which it became oval.

Karmann Cabriolet

The Karmann four-seater Cabiolet was introduced in 1949. Designed and produced by Karmann of Osnabruck, it remained in production right up until 1980, two years after the demise of the European sedan. Always based on the Export Beetle and in the main hand-finished, the model often carried a host of non-standard extras.

Beetle 1954

In March 1953 the central dividing rib in the rear window disappeared and the Beetle entered its "oval rear window" period, which lasted until 1958. 1954 saw the first increase in engine power for over ten years when capacity was raised from 1131cc to 1192cc. This was achieved by increasing the bore slightly from 75mm to 77mm. At the same time, the engine got larger inlet valves, compression as raised to 6:1 and the cylinder heads were redesigned. The result was a 5bhp increase in power output to 30bhp @ 3400 rpm and a slight increase in performance. The millionth Beetle was built in August 1955.

Hebmuller Cabriolet

Produced by Josef Hebmuller and Son of Wulfrath, the type 14A as it was called was launched at the Geneva Salon in the Spring of 1949. A handsome two-seater convertible, the car's most striking aspect was that the rear deck looked like (and probably was to begin with) as if it had began life as a Beetle hood. Of 2000 cars originally ordered by VW, less than 700 were built, making the Hebmuller Cabriolet one of the rarest and most desirable of classic Volkswagens. One reason put forward for the model's lack of success was the launch of the Karmann four-seater version, which although not quite so good looking was much more practical.

Karmann Ghia Coupe

In 1955 VW sought a way of adding something special to the range and turned to an Italian styling house to design a "sporting" car based upon the Beetle floorpan. Ghia designed it whilst the Karmann Company manufactured the bodies and the result was the Karmann Ghia, a strikingly beautiful coachbuilt motorcar that has today become a "design classic".

Type 2 Transporter

1950 was an important year for Volkswagen. Production of the Beetle reached 100,000 units and a new plant was opened at Brunswick. It was also the year the Type 2 Transporter was introduced. Originally offered as a closed van or "Kombi" with removable seating and as an eight-seater bus, the model quickly established itself as a successful stablemate to the Beetle saloon. Production rates in five body styles (including a flatbed pick-up truck and an ambulance) reached more than 100,000 a year in 1957. The rear engine position for the Type 2 gave excellent weight distribution and a very clean front end with an inverted V pressed into the rounded prow. The split window and oval headlamps were a styling feature that remained until 1967.

Type 3

VW's first real saloon car, the Type 3 was launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1961 to a warm welcome from the motoring press. It was the first new production car to come out of Wolfsburg in ten years and soon gained the nickname of "Stuffenheck" or "Notchback". Intitially equipped with a 1493cc pancake engine, a top-of-the-range S model was introduced in late 1963. The S featured the twin carburettors, which raised the output to 54bhp and made 100mph possible. In addition to the Notchback, two other Type 3 models were later available. From 1962 the estate or Variant was announced (known as the "Squareback" in America) and from 1965 the sporty looking Fastback. A Karmann Ghia coupe version was also produced.

Karmann Ghia Convertible

By comparison to earlier cars, 1970's Karmann Ghia models featured larger frontal "nostrils" incorporating three slats and a subtly redesigned front end with higher placed headlamps. From 1970 the body was modified to incorporate new front flashers and larger rear lamp clusters. On the mechanical side, the Karmann Ghia kept pace with the Beetle. In 1961 it came with the 43bhp engine with all synchromesh gearbox and a 1300cc engine was offered for the first time in 1966, replaced a year later by the 1500cc with a semi-automatic gearbox on offer from 1968.

Beetle 1961

The year 1961 brought a new engine in the form of the 34bhp unit. With its raised compression ratio and new Solex 28 PICT carburettor, a 13% increase in power was achieved. This improved the top speed to 72mph and 0-50 to 17.7 seconds, a marked improvement on the previous model. Other improvements to the car included a windshield washer system, "quick check" brake fluid reservoir, and a redesigned fuel tank, which although had no extra capacity increased luggage space under the hood by 65%. Inside the car grab handles were introduced for the front seat passengers and longer seat runners allowed more leg-room.

1500 Beetle

New for 1967, the 1500 was another case of the factory following up on what engine tuners had already cottoned on to: the fact that the new 1500cc Camper Van Transporter engine would fit the Beetle. The new unit was more or less the 1300 with bore increased to 83mm to give 1493cc. Compression was up again at 75:1 and valves were bigger to give 44bhp @ 4000rpm. Top speed increased to 80mph and front disc brakes became standard on all 1500s. Externally, the car had altered little, although the engine cover had a shorter lid that appeared squarer at the bottom. The larger flat area at the bottom was to accommodate the larger licence plates required by some countries.

1302 Series Beetle

The 1302 Series, first seen in 1971, introduced the MacPherson strut front suspension giving Beetle owners some 85% more front luggage space. It was about this time that Volkswagen introduced the L and S suffix letters. L meant luxury, and L models therefore came with factory-fitted extras such as heated rare screens. S meant power. In 1971 the 1302S was fitted with the 1600cc power unit that had been introduced into the American market a year earlier and the 1302 came with the old 1300cc engine. The rest of the 1971 range was made up on the basic 1200 and 1300 models, and in the USA a 1600. After 27 years of continuous production saw the Beetle break the Model T Ford production record when the 15,007,034th Beetle left the line.

1303 Series Beetle

As radical as it had been in setting a new style for the seventies, the 1302 Beetle was short lived for 1973 saw the launch of the 1303 Series. Specifically geared to the American market, the body had been restyled yet again and brought in a huge curved windshield, shortened hood and restyled rear fenders with the addition of the biggest rear lights ever fitted to a Beetle. There were four versions, two 1300cc engined - the 1303 and 1303L, and two 1600cc ones - the 1303S and 1303SL. Also, in 1974 an economy model was added to the range named the 1303A with a 1200cc engine and basic trim.

Thank you for reading my guide and I hope you found it interesting!