The VW Beetle was in continuous production for just shy of sixty years since it emerged from the rubble of WW2 (1946 VW CC here). Although German production of the Käfer ended in 1978, the Vocho (little Volkswagen) continued to be produced in Mexico until 2003. And it became an institution, the best selling car for much of its long production run. Although the Beetle is quickly fading from the highways and main streets of Mexico, a short walk in the back streets of Tulum uncovered a number of them.
The VW was first introduced in Mexico in 1954, and to prove its mettle, seven of them were entered in the grueling Carerra Panamerica race. All seven of them finished the 3221 km course, although there were rumors that they were fitted with Porsche engines (later disproved).
In the early sixties, VW were initially assembled from CKD (knock-down kits), and then at a VW plant in Xalostoc. But production really geared up in 1967, when the giant new plant in Puebla came on line. As in Brazil, Mexican VW have always been somewhat different than the German ones, generally a few years behind in the changes to larger windows and such. Although I can’t identify the years, these two are quite elderly; probably from around 1968-1971.
The one on the left has a VW1500 badge, and this one has a badge that was never used on German VWs.
What really put the VW on the map was being approved for taxi cab use in Mexico City. Until just the past few years, the Vocho was omnipresent in the capital’s crowded streets. When we visited there in 1983, the air quality in Mexico City was horrible, and all those VWs without any smog controls played their part. It wasn’t until 1991 that they finally were required to fit a catalytic converter (still with a carb though), and fuel injection in 1993. The Mexican taxis had no front passenger seat, so there was really only room for two in the rear, which at least was easily accessible. Due to regulations, the very last VW taxis will be coming off the streets at the end of 2012.
The VWs I saw were either being lovingly preserved, like this 1992.
Or still hard at work, like this obnoxious one blaring its endless advertising spiel. Now that would be a tough job.
Here’s another one obviously enjoying the attentions of its owner.
This one sports an unusual custom taillight assembly, and has old-style hub caps adapted to the later style flat wheels.
In later years, Mexican VWs were offered in very spartan versions, to keep prices low after the 1994 Mexican economic crisis (Image: wikipedia). After Beetle production ended in Germany in 1978, Beetles were imported from Mexico for some years.
The last Beetle in the world rolled off the Puebla assembly line on July 30, 2003, number 21,529,464. It, and a few other commemorative models were treated to the Wolfsburg emblem on the front trunk lid. A fitting tribute to the most-produced car ever.
VW Love. Old-style hubcaps like my old VWs have a powerful attraction. What is it about these things that is so enduringly attractive? I learned to drive in one, and owned two myself.
Mexican VWs are more like the ones we knew up here. That brand new 2003 Bug is some kind of weird time warp. Thanks for all these sweet examples.
Curious how the most-produced car in history is so unlike nearly all the other cars ever made. Air-cooled boxer engines in the rear didn’t exactly catch on.
Those pix certainly do bring back memories of the 1961 and 1967 red VW bugs we had, plus my parents’ light turquoise 1966 bug.
Every now and again, I get nostalgic for old Bugs. From the earliest I can remember to well into my 30s, there was one in the family. I clearly remember when my parents bought a brand new 69, in Powder Blue. I wanted the Forest Green, but they wanted the cloth seats, and the blue one was the one on the lot which had them. A few years later, the dog ate the cloth seats, and they ended up with vinyl anyway. The most evocative memory is the unique slightly rattly “thonk” sound the brake pedal makes when it bounces of its stop as you step off of it…
Then, I actually drive one. And am reminded of what utterly unpleasant little spitboxes they are. I could see owning one if it was what was available and I needed something RIGHT NOW. But I simply can’t fathom actually wanting one.
I drove a ’71 bus for 4-5 years as a daily (owned it for eight), and followed that with a ’64 Type I sedan, which was my daily for six years. I was young(er), and “comfort” wasn’t as important to me then. Have driven a ’00 TDI New Beetle for the past twelve years, and don’t miss the idiosyncrasies (and monthly valve adjustments) of an Old Beetle a bit on my daily commute.
¡However!
When Son Number Two and I towed a ’63 home a couple summers ago, I had an ear-to-ear grin the whole trip. Can’t wait to have it (and my ’62 sunroof) on the road to enjoy *when I want to*, not because it’s my only transportation.
If you want a cushy ride and a “no maintenance required” experience, old Beetles are *not* for you. (c:
Thanks for the writeup, Paul. The Mexi Beetle scene has always been a bit “different” from here in the US or Europe, but interesting none-the-less. With regulations forcing the Vocho out of taxi service (the same regulations make it very difficult for a private individual to purchase one being retired), there are many that are going straight to the breakers and crushers.
The last Old Beetles were produced in the same plant with the (then) New Beetle, albeit on a line set up in one corner of the plant, with a high level of hand assembly. If I remember right, spare parts production recently ceased as well (including the venerable 1600 ‘upright’ engine).
An enjoyable trip south of the border. Does every house and business have bars on the first floor windows?
For a while there were companies that specialized in importing Mexican VW’s and legalizing them for sale in the US. I guess that died out with the supply of new Bugs.
And some MexiBugs have come in through other means. About 10 years ago I saw one at the Carlisle PA swap meet. I asked the seller how he had legalized the car. He said “It has a New York title as a 1969 VW.” I asked how he did that. His only response was “It has a New York title as a 1969 VW.”
This was sometimes done by transferring a “new” Beetle body and running gear onto a “vintage” pan (VIN number is on the tunnel under the rear seat), thus keeping the original title.
“Grandfather’s axe,” indeed!
Ed and Mad Hungarian: That’s exactly what they did in importing those Mexican Bugs; they utilized an old pan and VIN and transferred the rest of the Mexi-Bug onto the pan. There was a nice road test/road trip article in one of those classic VW magazines in the early 2000’s. The owner of the new Mexi-Bug came down from the upper midwest to pick up his new old Bug and drove it back home. His new car ran like a clock on the way home with nary a problem. Made me want to go out and buy one myself, but having bought a brand new 2000 New Beetle TDI made it a moot point.
As an aside, I note here that Ed has a 2000 New Beetle TDI, too. After going on 13 years next May, mine is still going strong. I am just impressed in the overall outstanding quality that the folks in the Puebla New Beetle invested in their car line. I can’t speak for the German built modern VW’s, but my NB is the best built and most reliable car I’ve ever owned. And 52 mpg to boot. I can only imagine the quality of the old Bugs built there was just as outstanding.
Mine is a bit over twelve years old and has had *every* early 2000s VW quality problem you can google (it’s a long list)…
Would not have been as much of an issue but for the fact that VW “service” makes a root canal sound pleasant. It took four trips (1.5 hours one way to the dealership) to get a glow plug harness replaced (told ’em what it was the first time, and they kept replacing other stuff on my dime) – no loaner car, either. They nearly grenaded my engine by a shoddily done timing belt replacement, too. I now use independent garages for the work I can’t or won’t do myself.
Other than that, the engine and drivetrain have been virtually trouble-free at an average 45mpg. I’m starting to have some electrical gremlins on occasion, but thankfully no other real problems to speak of the past few years, other than refreshing all the suspension bits (stiffer Audi TT bushings bolt right in!) plus a new stainless exhaust (Middle West salt finally ate through all the weld joints after 11 years).
I’m reminded anew as I restore my two early 60s Beetles how well designed they are – it’s very evident the amount of refining that went into virtually every component in the car. There’s a reason the Old Beetle developed a reputation for being an Honest car.
Cutting the VIN out of the floorpan and welding it into another one is one of the oldest tricks in the book. As a side note, all Mexican VW’s retained the swing axle rear suspension last seen here in the US in ’68. Great article! See any VW Transporters there?
I know that they are way different but I think that todays car that does it all in the same way the beetle did would either be the scion or cube. Not a hatch but dropping that rear seat let the beetle do things larger cars would not. I have that same feeling today in my little square bodied Japanese cube.
Love the one in the very 90’s dark green, such a temporal mish-mash.
Never owned one myself. but many friends did. I have done brake jobs on them and replaced a clutch for a friend. A very fun basic car. However, there was that exhaust valve issue from an undercooled cylinder that took some of the fun out of it.
Ah, number three cylinder rears its ugly head! The oil cooler somewhat blocks airflow to this corner, and if you’re not careful with valve adjustments, this is the one that “lets go” first.
Truly a car you could fix with a screwdriver and a pair of pliers. I had an 80 Mexican beetle for about 10 years. It ran fine at 7,000 feet plus altitude on the terrible gasoline of those years. Absolutely a go-anywhere car. I put a lot of miles on it driving on unbelievable dirt roads. Who needs an SUV?
Owned 3 Bugs, last one was a 1970 convertible. Also owned a 1986 Jetta, 93 Eurovan and a 2000 Passat which had many problems. As a result of that and VW “service”
no more VWs ever. That aside some years ago we had a manufacture’s rep in Mexico who worked with Telmex, the major telephone company in Mexico. He reported that they
were using VW for service vehicles with an extension ladder strapped on top
Has anyone out there ever owned/seen one of these. The VW Brasilia was based on a beetle floorpan and had a body that resembled the VW 411.
They were sold in Mexico in the 70s until replaced by the VW Caribe (Golf, Rabbit) around 1981. I drove a well-used 76 model for about 5 years.
Excellent visibility and much roomier than a beetle.
Their biggest drawback was poor weatherstripping (nonexistent in the 79-81 models). I’d find up to an inch of standing water on the floor of my car after a rainstorm. When the floorpans rotted out, I got a local welder to put in old metal Marlboro cigarette signs. Then I drilled about 10 holes in the floor to let the water out after rainstorms.
That solved the standing water problem but turned the car into a bidet on wheels when you hit a puddle at 60 kmh.
I’ve seen two Brasilias, one at a VW show in Florida and one at a VW show in California.
Odd but neat little cars. I wouldn’t mind one sitting next to my Bug and Bus in the driveway.
The rear quarter shot of the dark green one really shows how great these little cars can look. I’ve loved them since I was a kid and my aunt had a light blue ’74 Standard Beetle (that ultimately became a Baja Bug). I used to watch her feet when she shifted gears, and compare where the shifter moved to the pattern on the ashtray. Later on, when I learned to drive, my memories of her driving that car made it easy to drive, as I just mimicked her actions. Oh, the places we went, and the memories we made in that car, it’s a flashback to a much younger me whenever I ride in one.
I seldom didnt have an old VW in the family fleet. The first was a ’67 German home market Deluxe Sunroof sedan, with front disc brakes (like the Ghia), yet 6volt electrics.
The latest is a Hecho en Mexico 1974 Thing. Yes, they are crude and noisy by today’s standards, but Paul’s F-100 is cruder, and probably not any more quiet or comfortable. There is something about these old machines that nothing modern can touch.
My favorite Beetle sighting south of the border was a bright-red VW-based delivery van for Coca-Cola.
San Felipe, Baja California, 2004
Well, I work for the NZ Pepsi distributor, so wanted to hate that on sight, but it’s actually pretty darn cool!