The Volkswagen Typ 1, or “Beetle”, originated at the opening of the 1934 Berlin Motor Show. Adolf Hitler wanted to offer the Germans an affordable car model that ordinary citizens could afford. The goal was to increase number of cars on German roads. The criteria was that the car had to fit a family of five, and that the car could handle 30-degree hills and highways at a speed of one hundred kilometers per hour. The car had to also withstand winter conditions and the consumption had to be no more than eight liters per hundred kilometers. A family car that enables all this should cost no more than a thousand reichsmarkts.

The task was taken on by the Austrian Ferdinand Porsche, who had experience in the design of NSU and Zündapp, among others. For the first ever Volkswagen, Porsche stole influences and technical innovations especially from the Czechoslovak Tatra, whose production stopped after the German occupation of the Czechoslovakian Sudetenland in 1938. The same year, the production of the Volkswagen Typ 1 began.

The Beetle became a success. In addition to its design, its characteristic features include a base plate with a separate body, a four-cylinder and four-stroke, air-cooled boxer engine. The suspension was implemented with torsion bars.

The rear-mounted engine and large 15-inch wheels for the era made the Beetle as a good car to drive also in the snow. Introduced under the name Kansanauto, the family car also became popular in Finland, where Beetles were imported from 1950. Also in Finland, 48 Beetles were assembled in Heinola at the Wihuri factory.

This ‘1959 Volkswagen was sold as new to gentleman named B.Malmsten in Espoo. The first owner kept the car for 35 years, until he sold it to his mother in August 1994. Since then, the car has been owned by two car enthusiasts, the current owner for the last ten years.

The car’s original service and instruction manuals are preserved. Refuelings have been recorded in a checkered booklet over a long period of time.

The car has been preserved in neat, original, unrestored condition. According to historical information, the body is unwelded and the paintwork original except for the left rear fender.

The interior has original, light fabric upholstery in excellent condition, with green vinyl parts.

Beetle starts, runs and drives great and is easy and effortless to drive.

The car is registered as a historic vehicle, the next Mot/Tüv inspection is in June 2027.

Car is located in Kirkkonummi, 40 minutes from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. Views by appointment.

Worldwide shipping with generous rates.