Volkswagen Wallpapers

Volkswagen car - photo wallpapers; Megawallpapers.org: Volkswagen AG (ISIN: DE0007664005), or VW, is an automobile manufacturer based in Wolfsburg, Germany. It forms the core of Volkswagen Group and is the world's fourth largest car producer after GM, Toyota and Ford, respectively. The name means "people's car" in German, in which it is pronounced [ˈfɔlksˌvaːgən]. [br]Its German tagline is "Aus Liebe zum Automobil", which is translated as [br]"For the love of the car" - or, "For Love of the People's Cars", as [br]translated by VW in other languages, though in direct translation it [br]reads "Out of love for the car." Adolf Hitler, who had a keen interest in cars even though he did not drive, demanded that Ferdinand Porsche [br]make changes to his original 1931 design to make it more suited for the [br]working man. Hans Ledwinka discussed his ideas with Ferdinand Porsche [br]who used many Tatra [br]design features in the 1938 Kdf-Wagen, later known as the VW K�fer - or [br]Beetle. This is particularly evident when compared with the smaller T97 [br]model which had a rear-mounted, air-cooled, flat-4 engine and rounded [br]body styling. Tatra immediately started legal action, but the matter [br]was not resolved until 1961 when Volkswagen was ordered to pay DM [br]3,000,000 in damages.[br]Changes included better fuel efficiency, reliability, ease of use, [br]and economically efficient repairs and parts. The intention was that [br]ordinary Germans would buy the car by means of a savings scheme ("F�nf [br]Mark die Woche musst Du sparen, willst Du im eigenen Wagen fahren" � [br]"Save five Marks a week, if you want to drive your own car") which around 336,000 people eventually paid into. Volkswagen honoured its savings agreements after World War II; Ford, which had a similar "coupon" savings system, reportedly did not. Prototypes of the car called the "Kdf-Wagen" (German: Kraft durch Freude = "strength through joy"), appeared from 1936 onwards (the first cars had been produced in Stutgart). [br]The car already had its distinctive round shape and air-cooled, [br]flat-four, rear-mounted engine, features similar to the Tatra. The VW [br]car was just one of many KdF programmes which included things such as [br]tours and outings. Erwin Komenda, [br]the longstanding Porsche chief designer, developed the car body of the [br]prototype, which was recognizably the Beetle we know today. It was one [br]of the first to be designed with the aid of a wind tunnel; unlike the Chrysler Airflow, it would be a success. [br]The new factory in the new town of KdF-Stadt, now called Wolfsburg, [br]purpose-built for the factory workers, only produced a handful of cars [br]by the time war started in 1939. None were actually delivered to [br]holders of the completed saving stamp books, though one Type 1 [br]Cabriolet was presented to Hitler on his birthday in 1938. War meant production changed to military vehicles, the Type 81 Kubelwagen (Bucket car) utility vehicle (VW's most common wartime model) and the amphibius Schwimwagen.[br]Cult Status Of The Beetle: Like its competitors, the Mini and the Citroen 2CV, [br]the original-shape Beetle long outlasted predictions of its lifespan. [br]It maintains a very strong following worldwide, being regarded as [br]something of a "cult" car owing to its 1960s association with the hippie [br]movement. Currently, there is a wide array of clubs that are concerned [br]with the Beetle. The fans are quite diverse. Looks include the [br]resto-look, Cal Look, German-look, resto-Cal Look, biggies, Baja bugs, old school, Disney's Herbie the Love Bug replicas, ratlook, etc. Part of their cult status is attributed to being one of a few cars with an air-cooled, [br]horizontally-opposed engine design and the consequent ease of repair [br]and modification as opposed to the more conventional and technically [br]complex watercooled engine design. The original design flat-four boxer [br]design had less than 200 moving parts. In the late 1990s, a group of Volkswagen enthusiasts formed Volkswagenism, [br]a satirical religion based off of owners devoted loyalty to the Beetle, [br]and the company. Under the leadership of founder Jason Gaudet, this [br]"religion" has gained notoriety through radio, television and print [br]coverage from around the world...turning ordinary fans of the car into Volkswagenists. By 2002, over 21 million Type 1s had been produced. [br]On July 30, 2003, the last Type 1 rolled off the production line in Puebla, Puebla, Mexico. It was car number 21,529,464, and was immediately shipped off to the company's museum in Wolfsburg, Germany. In true Mexican fashion, a mariachi band serenaded the last car in the 68-year-old history. The last car was nicknamed El Rey, which is Spanish for "The King". The last 3000 type 1s were called the "Ultima Edicion" or the last edition. In the United States, most notably in California, [br]Volkswagen enthusiasts frequent large Volkswagen-themed car shows, [br]especially in the summer months. Many of these shows feature camping, a [br]car show called a "show 'n' shine", drag racing, parts swap meet, [br]raffles, burnout contests, and other events. Die-hard and loyal [br]"VW-heads" attend these shows regularly, often travelling 500 miles or [br]more to attend their favorite event. There is also a large cult [br]following on the east side, with shows including, Dubs on the Lake, and [br]H2O international. Volkswagen enthusiasts may even meet once a week or [br]bimonthly, such as groups like Schnell Motorsports, at [br]www.schnellms.net .[br]In the winter, a group of drivers of the "split window" bus model [br](1951-1967 Microbuses, trucks, campers, and panel vans) drive from Willits, CA, to Mt. Shasta [br]CA, largely on unpaved back roads. This event is called the "Mt. Shasta [br]Snow Trip Challenge" and is a good example of VW enthusiasts' trust in [br]the durability of their 40-plus-year-old cars.

Volkswagen Subcategories:

Volkswagen Gallery:

« < 1 2 3 > »

Today Most popular

Just Downloaded:

Check it out: Weekly Mailing List:Your email adress:
By submiting this form you can join our weekly mailling list where will you recieve informations about new wallpapers directly to your inbox!