New Volkswagen Beetle Car

Hitler wanted the design project for the Beetle started and gave the job to Ferdinand Porshe, later to become very well known for the "Porsche" cars that bore his name. Hitler specified some criteria, including a top speed of 62 mph (100 kmh), at least 42 miles to the gallon fuel consumption, able to transport at least 2 adults and 3 children and to be able to sell for less than what was at the time the equivalent of 86 pounds (UK currency).

Thus began the history of the VW Beetle, arguably the most famous car in history.

The big question was the engine to be used and the placement of the engine, and in 1935 an Austrial engineer came up with a design for a flat four engine, Porshe having previously decided that the engine should be rear mounted. This engine was an air cooled engine, and was cheap to build, and this engine powered hundreds of thousands of beetles for the next 40 years.