I am in the process of reading a book published in 1965 called "Small Wonder". It is the history of the VW auto, and it's design. This may sound dated, but it is an easy reading book of considerable detail and it is very well researched. Herewith:
Dr. Porsche first conceptualized the VW around 1920, even while he was CEO of two different major auto companies. Nobody was interested, cars were for the rich, and buses and motorbikes were for the poor. During this period he created some of the fastest race cars on the planet, like the Auto-Union V-16.
Porsche became a darling of Hitler, with his peoples car. Hitler wanted this car (at least politically - to assure support of the German people). Politics abounded with existing car manufacturers competing for Hitler's attention. Porsche got the contract for his engineering company - he had no factory! The Nazi party created, built and owned the VW factory. No production vehicle ever was "sold" from the Nazi factory.
WW2 destroyed the factory. British occupation forces kept it running - sort of - with no roof, all windows broken and water running down the floor! Politics agaain - they tried to GIVE IT AWAY for nothing to Renault, Peugot, and Rover. Nobody wanted it - except the Russians, and they were in occupation only 5 miles away! The Brits didn't like the Russians and told them to piss off.
That is how close VW was to being a Russian automobile. After the War, the VW 'Factory" had NO dealers, NO importers, NO salesmen, NO service organization, NO spare parts program, NO owners manual, NO sales or advertising department. From this came the worlds most popular car!
Only half done reading this book - I think others might find it interesting.
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