Beetle predecessors/influences/imposters

[KTPhil]

I wanted to start a separate thread which will relate to several existing threads about VW prototypes and the Ganz vehicles.

The focus here is to post photos of cars which either resemble or influenced the body design of the Beetle. I've seen several, posted here, and I'm sure there are more.

Full disclosure: the idea is mainly to debunk the myth that "Ganz invented the VW Beetle" but I also thought it would make an interesting photo survey of similar streamlined cars of the era, both those related to the VW and those that are not.

Starting off is Ganz's 1933 Standard Superior, which started much of the ruckus.

Keep in mind this is strictly a two-seater, and very narrow as well, though this isn't evident from the proportions. See a photo with two aboard and it becomes obvious. Clearly this would not meet the requirements for a 4-5 seater that could reach 100kmh.

But there are others. It would be helpful to dive into the design/build dates to come up with a rough timeline for the body and other design elements, but it's beyond me at the moment. I expect there is so much overlap that it is not clear cut, anyway.

Here is a NSU Type 32. See the link below for a more thorough discussion of this car and its relatives:
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=670365
I borrowed from the thread for photos and notes; sorry to repeat but it informs this thread. It's a worthy read at 8 pages.

And there is the Zundapp Type 12:

And the here is the Porsche type 7, the Wanderer prototype of 1930. The sweep at the rear is similar.

This is identified as the Type 32 prototype:

Benz took a shot with their 120 H in the early '30s:

And here is a Tatra 77 prototype:

Later there was the 1937 Lancia April:

And still later the 1939 Hanomag:

So hopefully this puts to rest the leap from "similar bodywork" to "inventing the Volkswagen Beetle."

[Splitdog]

Nice, Phil. I take back about a tenth of what I said about you.
_________________
CH³NO²

Z = z² + C

Der Blitzkrieg Kafers

#notacallooker

[Tram]

[Splitdog]

You cared enough to reply. And I love you for it.
_________________
CH³NO²

Z = z² + C

Der Blitzkrieg Kafers

#notacallooker

[finster]

also the steyr 50 from the late 30s

and hansa 400

skoda popular sport 1935

I would have chosen the small tatra V570 of 1933 which is the lawsuit one

_________________
"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut

nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect...

[finster]

and copying the beetle:-
DKW f9 prototype 1939

renault 4cv prototype 1942

_________________
"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut

nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect...

[mark tucker]

I wish i had pics, but I dont. but toyots had a car, the publica.. yup car for the public..it looked like a bug but squished down a little, fenders more like type 3 or a mix of type 1&3 ...it had a air cooled opposed....2 cylinder... and almost as slow a a vw diesel rabbit truck..or poop falling out of a dogs butt. we had one back in the early 70's it may of been a 59 but my brain is telling me it was a 61....we did have a 61 or 2 giha....so...my brain my be mixing them up a tad. it was painted flightline orange.with a brush..and it flowed out oh so smooth.

[Tram]

Subaru 360- talk about a scary ride, esp. when piloted by my crazy Korean college buddy who owned one!

_________________
Немає виправдання для війни! Я з Україною.

[Q-Dog]

1934 Chrysler Airflow. It is a front engine large car, but the shape is there.

_________________
Brian

'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle

[finster]

the shape and styling of the beetle was following the thoughts of the time - streamlining was the trend and perpendicular was old fashioned. plus having a rear mounted air-cooled engine means you aren't going to need a boxy radiator up front. and basically the porsche design team were surrounded by examples of this trend. you can see the evolution in porsche thinking with the old school boxy first zundapp body design - basically an ordinary saloon with a box at the back for the engine and a pressing replacing the rad. must have taken them 10mins to come up with that!

which quickly evolved into the more 'modern' driving zundapp prototype which still had a traditional shaped nose - basically a mini wanderer

then by the time they're working on the nsu they've realised the fake rad can be smoothed away like on this skoda 932 of 1932

_________________
"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut

nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect...

[KTPhil]

This old photo was just posted here. Two bug-shaped cars visible. Anyone know what they are?

[Lingwendil]

Bugs
_________________
73 super beetle thread http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=649622 Back on the Road!

Modify your Kadrons for SVDA http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8115884#8115884

Cast iron VJU4BR8 SVDA reference thread- https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

Need replacement filters for original Kadron aircleaners? WIX #42087 is a perfect fit, as is Napa Gold #2087!

[finster]

the split window one to the left is a hanomag and the oval one next to the vert is a ford 'buckel' or humpback taunus

_________________
"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut

nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect...

[Abscate]

[iowegian]

[finster]

^^ which influenced a range of pre-war peugeots

_________________
"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut

nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect...

[Floating VW]

[oprn]

That was the styling of most everything back in the late '30s and through the '40s American and in Europe. The only thing that made the Beetle special was that VW never upgraded it to stay with modern styling. In the mid '70s to well into the '80s every small car looked a Rabbit, now you are hard pressed to tell the difference between a Jetta, Honda, Toyota or small Ford.

It's all just styling trends and the players all copy each other.

Can you tell one SUV from another without reading the name tags? They all look like pregnant potato beetles.

[Rome]

Mr. finster, do you think the man in your photo could be young Ferry Porsche?

[finster]

^^ yes mr rome (keeping it formal) that is ferry porsche
_________________
"we're here on Earth to fart around" kurt vonnegut

nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect...