Bubble

The story goes as far back as 1931. In that year, Ferdinand Porsche started his own design office, which took on assignments from a number of car factories. It was the start of the development of the "bubble"

Difficult to launch

But the real adventure started for Volkswagen when Heinrich Nordhoff became boss in 1948. It was still a small, unknown factory with cars the experts gave little market opportunities. Nordhoff wanted to make the brand a major car brand, and made completely new plans for production and marketing. He wanted to bet on 2 basic models. There were to be products of high quality and good follow-up by the car buyers. In order to achieve the ambitious goals, he also had to invest in exports to other parts of the world – including the USA. The launch was difficult. The first car they took across the Atlantic had to be sold to cover the hotel bill. Interest in the car was frighteningly low. A series of impressively good marketing campaigns meant that the people's car later managed to capture large market shares on the American continent.

Volkswagen Type 1

Why was "Bobla" such a great success over such large parts of the world? It was relatively cheap to buy, was very reliable and made little demands on its owner. The car had a long life and therefore became a very popular used car, and there are probably many young people who have owned a Bubble during their university years. The fact that it was also delivered as a convertible from the start did not make it any less popular. The little people's wagon also became a star in the films about "Herbie". The first film came out in 1969 and the car gained cult status all over the world. It also did well as a sports car, winning a number of car races. The bubble was improved rather than changed throughout the 50s and 60s until the Volkswagen Golf came in as a successor in 1974.

High nostalgia factor

Today, there is still great interest in old folk wagons because they evoke good memories. Some cars take part in races for vintage cars and others line up at exhibitions or are simply used as - used cars.

Facts Volkswagen Type 1

Length: 407 cm
Width: 154 cm / height 150 cm
Top speed: 115 km/h
Engine: 1192 ccm, 34 hp

Do you see that?

See what's special about this ad?

Advertisement from Chr. Opsahl, Drammen, 29 May 1951

In this advertisement from 1951, the Volkswagen Type 1 is presented as the "People's Car". It was planned to give the car a Norwegian designation with its own Norwegian logo.

See

Exciting car history from Anders de Lange's archives

Many say that it hardly ever rained when you were a child. The truth is that it rained just as much, but it is the sunny days that stuck in the memory.

Public carriages in rainy weather bring back many memories. In the "old days" people didn't have big SUVs. They went on a road trip in public transport. Exotic trips to Valdres and Telemark. The largest luggage was safely placed on the roof rack. It rained almost every day, so the tent and bags on the roof were wrapped in plastic. Everything was held tightly in place by a so-called "octopus", - an eight-armed rubber band with metal hooks at the ends. After a few miles on the road, the plastic always started to flutter - Short, frequent "flap-flap-flap". The triangular windows were in the ventilation position. Mother had just left the window open because she had lit her third cigarette. In the back seat, all the children sat unsecured, shrouded in cigarette smoke and the smell of petrol, together with a wet dog. The entertainment was making lines with your finger in the fog on the side windows.

Because it always rained

I took the liberty of taking some photos of nostalgic folk wagons last Saturday. The small car encounter was announced on social media in Veteran VW Club for people who were on their way home after the car crash at Espa earlier in the day. The place was Nebbenes kro in the northbound run of the E6. As I approached Nebbenes, the gates of heaven opened. It was not possible to stay outdoors. Everyone had probably sought shelter indoors at the inn, or left.

Public carriages in rainy weather bring back good memories

As I moved on, I hoped that all the old folk wagons would stay dry in the rain. Maybe everyone got a hangover on the way south? Because the terrible rainy weather followed me all the way home. When I came in the door, my wife said, “How strange! It started raining just a few minutes before you got home…”

It is often said that you bring the weather with you.

Good summer!