Volkswagen Beetle in Mexico
Encyclopedia
The Volkswagen Beetle
was introduced to Mexico
in March 1954, inside the exhibition "Alemania y su Industria" (Germany and its Industry). Four different Volkswagen vehicles were brought to Mexico through Veracruz City
for the first time. Those vehicles were: two Sedans 113 in "Export" trim, a convertible, and a VW Bus in luxury trim.
At this time, the Mexican car market was mostly characterized by American makes and models with large sizes and large engines, which made a huge contrast with the new German entrant. An exhibition was held in the Ciudad Universitaria
in Mexico City; during this event, the vehicles were widely admired by the public. The Volkswagen Beetles displayed there were the model with the "oval window". Former Mexican president Lázaro Cárdenas
made a trip from Michoacán
, just to see this peculiar vehicle. The local press immediately published the news into eight columns under the title "The People's Man" with the "People's Car".
and a car enthusiast resident of Mexico City
, decided to enter seven VW sedans in 1954's Carrera Panamericana
competition. All of the Beetles finished the 3211 km race. While none finished in first place, the VWs all had 4-cylinder 1.2 L engines, as compared with the 8-cylinder engines used by the rest of the competition. Some newspapers reported rumors that the engines were Porsche
instead of Volkswagen
. An expert mechanic from Houston, Texas
, was asked to inspect the cars and certified that they had original, unmodified VW engines. This led to the creation of the company Volkswagen Mexicana, S.A. In the same year, Hohenlohe founded the Distribuidora Volkswagen Central, S.A. de C.V. (Central Volkswagen Distributor), which opened its doors the following year as Mexico's first Volkswagen dealership.
In 1961, the first 250 cars were assembled through Automex (later Chrysler
de México). In June of that year, a six-month contract was signed with Studebaker-Packard
de México to assemble the Beetle from CKD kits imported from Germany. The next year, 1962, the first Volkswagen assembly plant was established in Xalostoc, State of Mexico, under the name PROMEXA (Promotora Mexicana de Automóviles - Mexican Automobile Promotor). Opening in June, the plant turned out 10 assembled units per day. In January 1964, Volkswagen de México, S.A. de C.V. was established. Production from the Xalostoc plant was unable to meet the growing demand, and in June 1965, a new plant opened in the suburbs of Puebla, Puebla
on a 2 million m2s (2,391,980.1 sq yd) field.
rolled off the assembly line at the Puebla plant. In mid-1968, a new 1.5 L engine was introduced, replacing the previous 1.2 L engine. A "VW 1500" badge or insignia appeared on the car's rear deck lid. On June 12, 1968, Mexico's 100,000th Beetle was produced.
For the 1971 model year, three design changes were made: new bumpers, an engine cover featuring two lateral groups of five louvers each and vertical headlights with their characteristic chromed molding, similar to the cover on the 1968 German Beetle. The Mexican Beetle retained the small windows seen in German models from 1958–1964, as well as the five-bolt wheels, similar to those on Brazilian Beetles at that time.
In 1971, the 200,000th Mexican Volkswagen Beetle was produced, and exports to Costa Rica
and Europe began. That year, the Volkswagen Sedán was selected by the "Departamento del Distrito Federal" to serve as a public transportation vehicle, thus becoming the Minitaxi in Mexico City. In 1972, the Volkswagen Beetle received the larger front windows used on German Beetles since 1965, though the rear window remained the smaller 1965–1971 size. The larger rear window, introduced on German Beetles in 1972, did not appear on the Mexican VW until the mid-1980s. Enlarged tail lights, first used on 1971–1972 German models (except VW 1200), were also added.
The 1973 model was highly popular, due to the previous year's improvements, as well as the new four bolt 15" with newly designed flat hubcaps, which replaced the original "bowl type" covers. The fuel filler neck was moved from inside the trunk to the right front quarter panel, just above the fender. Inside, a matte black padded dashboard was introduced, resulting in greater comfort and less eye fatigue. The wiper/washer control was also moved from a button on the dashboard to a lever on the right of the steering column. Later that year, additional improvements appeared, including a four-spoke black steering wheel.
The 1974 models brought further modifications. A 1.6 L engine producing 44 HP SAE (50 PS DIN) replaced the previous 1.5 L. The front fenders were enlarged, new front turn signals (identical to the ones on American spec Beetles) were added, and round, enlarged taillights were introduced, one year after their appearance on German Beetles (except the 1973 VW 1200). The engine cover remained unchanged, except it no longer had an emblem. Inside, the front seats were re-designed, and the interior colour was changed from gray to black. Also, the front hood release lever was relocated inside the glovebox, as on 1969 and later German Beetles.
In 1975, the engine cover was again changed to include four groups of vents, with six on the two inner groups and seven on the two outer groups, as on 1972 and later German models (except VW 1200). In June, the 500,000th Mexican Beetle was produced. There were two limited editions: The Volkswagen Beetle Jeans and the Volkswagen Beetle Sport Jeans featuring special wheels and unique paint colors. Beginning that year, chrome hub caps were reserved for Volkswagen Sedan equipped, unlike the base model which had no hub caps.
In 1977, the most important modification was that the front turn signals were moved to the front bumper, as on 1975 and later European Beetles. With the introduction of the Caribe, some of the colours introduced the new model were available on the Mexican VW. In addition, vinyl upholstery was discontinued, leaving cloth–vinyl upholstery as the only option.
, the Mexican Volkswagen Beetle started exporting to European markets, including West Germany
, Austria
, Belgium
, Holland, Italy
, Switzerland
, and other countries. This exportation model was different from the Mexican market Beetle. Its engine was a 1.2 L 34 CV DIN. From the 1982 model on, the engine cover had no exterior vents. The different engine cover made it similar to German-produced VW 1200, as well as Mexican market Beetles sold before 1970. Also introduced were optional metallic paint colors: Silver Metallic, Copper Red Metallic, Cadmium Blue Metallic and Viper Green Metallic. These colors were also available on the Caribe and the new European market Volkswagen Scirocco, as a reminder of the late 1970s models.
In September 1980 the company produced the one millionth Mexican-made Volkswagen Beetle.
In 1981, the Volkswagen (the manufacturer's model name from this point forward) came equipped with front seats that integrated headrests as a required safety feature and new cloth upholsteries. The new seats had the same design as the Volkswagen type 3 and bus vehicles previously seen in Europe and the United States in the late 60s. On May 15, 1981 the 20 millionth worldwide produced Volkswagen Beetle was manufactured by Volkswagen de México. A commemorative limited edition was sold with Silver metallic paint and the same lower side stripes seen on the Jetta. Around this time, the nickname Vocho came into popular usage in Mexico.
For the 1983 model year, the Volkswagen received new front seats with adjustable headrests, already seen in cars such the Caribe and the Atlantic. A newly added item was the hand brake light on the dashboard. 1983 also introduced a limited edition Aubergine Metallic paint scheme. This also featured its wheels painted to match the body color and seats upholstered in tweed Grey and Aubergine.
In 1984 was the marque's 30th anniversary in Mexico
, for this reason, three commemorative limited editions were launched. The first one was a Volkswagen painted in Alpine White with the side lower stripes already seen in the 20 millionth edition, its upholstery was red velour with sides and door panels in black vinyl. Another limited edition available only in West-Germany was painted in velvet-red (German: Samtrot) with stripes and flower-decor on the sides. This model also sported the same red velour upholstery like the Mexican special edition. The third one, a yellow painted Volkswagen, with yellow velour upholstery The sides and door panels were white; however, elements such as the dashboard, the armrests, the rear ashtray and the interior rubber mat keep its typical black color.
In 1985, exportations to Europe ended, and a grey metallic special edition called the Jubilée Käfer was launched. It had newly designed steel wheels (as seen in some convertible models in the late 70's), and its engine was the 1.2 L 34 CV DIN. This edition was only available in the European markets where the Mexican Beetle was sold. At this time, the Mexican Volkswagen receives the larger rear window from 1972 and later German Beetles.
In mid-1986, a new Limited Edition was launched in Mexico: The Volkswagen Europa Edition 1. This was the first Volkswagen available in Mexico in many years painted in Black color; besides this special painting, this new Limited Edition had chrome hub caps (the norm in the 80's were matt finished hub caps), inside it had seats upholstered in a honeycomb black and white design with Recaro
headrests, plus an AM/FM stereo cassette player radio (usually the only audio equipment available on Mexican Beetles were the eternal Sapphire XI AM monoaural radio) with two speakers and a basket below the dashboard, as well as side and rear special badges. This year, the Volkswagen received a "double diagonal" braking system, already seen in the Caribe, Atlantic and the Corsar, this system was characterized by connecting the right front brake, with the rear left brake, and vice versa. In addition, the Volkswagen received an intermittent modality in its wiper/washer system. However, the metallic colors were no longer available.
In 1987 the company introduced a new limited edition model: The Volkswagen Europa Edition 2. The differences from the 1986 edition 1 were: Its color was Grey Metallic, its front seats had normal headrests, though, they were now upholstered in grey tweed cloth with red and blue thin stripes. Additionally the basket below the dashboard was no longer available, but the Edition 2 gained tinted windows. This was the first Mexican Beetle available with such equipment; however, the auto kept the chrome hub caps and its AM/FM stereo cassette radio.
In the 1991 model year, by governmental disposition, the Volkswagen Beetle featured from now on a catalytic converter
; however, it kept its carburetor
, its electrical system with a generator and the old ignition system. These changes did not affect its power and performance. In the passenger compartment, the dashboard received new light and emergency light switches, as well as a new two-arm steering wheel. Those elements came from the design of the Golf
. In addition, the Volkswagen Beetle had now a new alarm system as series equipment. Externally, this model differed due the rear apron of its central body, which was now more rounded. The function of this feature was to allow more space in accommodating the new catalytic converter within the engine compartment. The exhaust system also had only a single tailpipe, in contrast to the two tailpipes shown in the previous models.
The 1992 model was fitted with Brazilian steel wheels, with a slightly different design than the ones previously seen. These wheels are often, but not always, found in some vehicles produced between 1992 and 1994. On June 23 the Volkswagen Beetle reached 21 million units produced throughout the world At the Puebla plant, Volkswagen launched a new commemorative edition. This new limited edition was characterized by its side and rear anagrams "21 Million", its chrome wheel caps, and tinted windows. Inside, this new model had a light grey velour upholstery with stripes in discrete colors, and an AM/FM stereo cassette player audio system. This version was available in the following colors: Alpine White, Tornado Red, Steel Blue Metallic, Turquoise Green Metallic and Satin Gray Metallic.
For the 1993 model year, the 'Digifant' electronic fuel injection
replaced the carburetor, indicated by an emblem on the cover of the engine reading 1600i. At this time, some of sedans had the velour upholstery from the Jetta GL in gray flannel. An electronic ignition system was introduced, and the engine also received hydraulic lifters and a spin-on oil filter. In the same year, and to replace the "21 Million" edition a new Volkswagen Sedán GL was also introduced as a limited edition; it was also called the Volkswagen Sedán Wolfsburg Edition. This edition was available only in three exterior colors: Steel Blue Metallic, Satin Grey Metallic and Indian Red Pearl. This version featured a black velour upholstery and two outside mirrors.
In 1994, Volkswagen celebrated its 40th anniversary in México. To commemorate the occasion three new Limited Editions from the Vocho were launched:
in 1995, a new Limited Edition was launched: El Volkswagen Beetle Jeans. This new version, painted in Jean Blue, had chromed hub caps, tinted windows, side and rear "Jeans" anagrams, and a blue jean upholstery on its seats.
1996, the same way than 1973, was divided into two different phases on the Mexican Volkswagen Beetle history. On the first one all the characteristic chrome moldings were dropped. However, the door handles, side moldings, stirrups moldings and side mirrors, now had a black matte finish, the window moldings disappear completely. Bumpers and headlight moldings from now were painted the color of the car. The colors and clothes inside were unchanged from the 1995 model year.
The second phase of the 1996 model year was characterized by the complete dropping of all moldings of the Vocho. Now there were two different versions available:
Derived from the Sedán Clásico went on sale in mid-1996, the Liimited Edition Volkswagen Beetle Harlekin, inspired in the Golf Harlekin (sold in North American markets) and Polo Harlekin (sold in European markets). This Beetle was characterized by having different colors in the different body parts, as four different colors: Marine Blue, Green, Yellow and Red.
In 1999, the same way then 1996, there were two different phases: In the first one, the Beetle kept being sold the same way as in previous years (Volkswagen Sedán City and Volkswagen Sedán Clásico), while in the second one, both versions were replaced by a new "unique" version, mostly referred as the Volkswagen Sedán Unificado, which takes the City's upholstery, and the improvements and the metallic colors from the Sedán Clásico. This new Volkswagen Beetle was the last regular version which remained unchanged until year 2003. This year appearred, in addition to the anti-theft alarm and with the intention of lowering the high index of thefts and therefore, the extraordinarily expensive premiums of insurance policies, the Transponder, a device with an entry located in dashboard, which allows the ignition and operation of the car. When it was offline, the car cannot even be started when using the ignition key.
In year 2000, to commemorate the new millennium, two new Limited Editions were launched:
With the model 2001 there were new "tattoos" on windows, exterior mirrors and rear lights, in order to prevent the theft of these parts when the car was parked. These "tattoos" contains the last 8 alphanumeric characters that comprise the serial number
of the car.
In the model 2002 one of the last limited editions was introduced, the Volkswagen Beetle Summer. This was characterized by two special colors: A new shade of yellow, and a new shade of blue original from the European Volkswagen Lupo
. Its chrome wheel caps contrasted with his monochrome scheme. Like other editions, the Beetle Summer had rear and side Summer anagrams.
in 1997. The Chevy Pop replaced the Volkswagen Beetle in its first place on sales in Mexico by offering much more modernity at a price just a little higher than the Vocho, however, the Volkswagen Beetle kept being the Mexican taxi driver favorite, until, in 2002, a decree merged in 2002 under the mandate of Andrés Manuel López Obrador
, then Mexico City
's governor. This decree prohibited the granting of permits for public transportation in the form of taxi
s in Mexico City
to two door cars, restricting even more the marketing of the Vocho in favor of the Nissan Tsuru (third generation Nissan Sentra), which now became the new favorite of taxi drivers in Mexico, so that sales of the Vocho fell even further. These sales figures reached over 40,000 units sold annually in the mid-90's, dropping to just over 10,000 in its last year. It was in the month of June 2003, when the Volkswagen Sedán Última Edición was introduced. A totally nostalgic car, which resembles the past glories of the Volkswagen Beetle
. This Final Edition consisted of 2,999 units for sale to the general public in Volkswagen dealers across Mexico, while one (the last one to be produced), would be immediately shipped to the Volkswagen Museum in Wolfsburg
, Germany
, testifying a historic age which ended on July 30, 2003, when the last Volkswagen Beetle (the unit number 21'529,464) leaves the production line in what was now called "the hall of sorrow", accompanied by a Mariachi
singing the song "Las Golondrinas" (A Mexican folk song that speaks of a farewell). This latter Beetle was headed to the port of Veracruz
where a ship would take it to his final destination. The rest of the units, despiting costs MXP
$ 84,000.00 (an "Unified" Volkswagen Beetle costed MXP $ 74,000.00), moved very quickly from dealerships, leaving many people with the desire to own one of these copies. At this time, Volkswagen presented some advertising with a nostalgic tone. In some of them, they showed a small space to park, and many cars that tried unsuccessfully to occupy it, after what appeared to get a sedan, then showed a sentence saying: "Es increíble que un auto tan pequeño deje un vacío tan grande. Adiós Sedán." ("It was incredible that such a small a car leaves such a large emptiness. Goodbye Beetle"). One of the curious events that occurred was the fact that a group of owners of dealerships, in Mexico, came together to buy one of these cars, which was sent to the Vatican city
as a present for Pope John Paul II.
, during the most part of year 2003. Some chose to "convert" their Vochos into Last-Edition replicas.
Several units of the Last Edition Beetle were exported from Mexico
to, mainly, North America and Europe, where it had become a cult car. Today, a Volkswagen Sedan Última Edición, being the last representative of a lineage of more than 21 million units produced, had increased its value as a collector car at the international level, reaching figures of up to USD $15,000.00 in resale.
Volkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Type 1, widely known as the Volkswagen Beetle or Volkswagen Bug, is an economy car produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003...
was introduced to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
in March 1954, inside the exhibition "Alemania y su Industria" (Germany and its Industry). Four different Volkswagen vehicles were brought to Mexico through Veracruz City
Veracruz, Veracruz
Veracruz, officially known as Heroica Veracruz, is a major port city and municipality on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The city is located in the central part of the state. It is located along Federal Highway 140 from the state capital Xalapa, and is the state's most...
for the first time. Those vehicles were: two Sedans 113 in "Export" trim, a convertible, and a VW Bus in luxury trim.
At this time, the Mexican car market was mostly characterized by American makes and models with large sizes and large engines, which made a huge contrast with the new German entrant. An exhibition was held in the Ciudad Universitaria
Ciudad Universitaria
Ciudad Universitaria , Mexico, is UNAM's main campus, located in Coyoacán borough in the southern part of Mexico City. Designed by architects Mario Pani and Enrique del Moral, it encloses the Olympic Stadium, about 40 faculties and institutes, the Cultural Center, an ecological reserve, the Central...
in Mexico City; during this event, the vehicles were widely admired by the public. The Volkswagen Beetles displayed there were the model with the "oval window". Former Mexican president Lázaro Cárdenas
Lázaro Cárdenas
Lázaro Cárdenas del Río was President of Mexico from 1934 to 1940.-Early life:Lázaro Cárdenas was born on May 21, 1895 in a lower-middle class family in the village of Jiquilpan, Michoacán. He supported his family from age 16 after the death of his father...
made a trip from Michoacán
Michoacán
Michoacán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 113 municipalities and its capital city is Morelia...
, just to see this peculiar vehicle. The local press immediately published the news into eight columns under the title "The People's Man" with the "People's Car".
First steps in Mexico
In response to doubts regarding the Beetle's long-term reliability, Prince Alfonso de Hohenlohe, descendant of a friend of Ferdinand PorscheFerdinand Porsche
Ferdinand Porsche was an Austrian automotive engineer and honorary Doctor of Engineering. He is best known for creating the first hybrid vehicle , the Volkswagen Beetle, and the Mercedes-Benz SS/SSK, as well as the first of many Porsche automobiles...
and a car enthusiast resident of Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, decided to enter seven VW sedans in 1954's Carrera Panamericana
Carrera Panamericana
The Carrera Panamericana was a border-to-border sports car racing event on open roads in Mexico similar to the Mille Miglia and Targa Florio in Italy. Running for five consecutive years from 1950 to 1954, it was widely held by contemporaries to be the most dangerous race of any type in the world...
competition. All of the Beetles finished the 3211 km race. While none finished in first place, the VWs all had 4-cylinder 1.2 L engines, as compared with the 8-cylinder engines used by the rest of the competition. Some newspapers reported rumors that the engines were Porsche
Porsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
instead of Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
. An expert mechanic from Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, was asked to inspect the cars and certified that they had original, unmodified VW engines. This led to the creation of the company Volkswagen Mexicana, S.A. In the same year, Hohenlohe founded the Distribuidora Volkswagen Central, S.A. de C.V. (Central Volkswagen Distributor), which opened its doors the following year as Mexico's first Volkswagen dealership.
In 1961, the first 250 cars were assembled through Automex (later Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
de México). In June of that year, a six-month contract was signed with Studebaker-Packard
Studebaker-Packard Corporation
The Studebaker-Packard Corporation was the entity created by the purchase of the Studebaker Corporation of South Bend, Indiana, by the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan, in 1954.Packard acquired Studebaker in the transaction...
de México to assemble the Beetle from CKD kits imported from Germany. The next year, 1962, the first Volkswagen assembly plant was established in Xalostoc, State of Mexico, under the name PROMEXA (Promotora Mexicana de Automóviles - Mexican Automobile Promotor). Opening in June, the plant turned out 10 assembled units per day. In January 1964, Volkswagen de México, S.A. de C.V. was established. Production from the Xalostoc plant was unable to meet the growing demand, and in June 1965, a new plant opened in the suburbs of Puebla, Puebla
Puebla, Puebla
The city and municipality of Puebla is the capital of the state of Puebla, and one of the five most important colonial cities in Mexico. Being a planned city, it is located to the east of Mexico City and west of Mexico's main port, Veracruz, on the main route between the two.The city was founded...
on a 2 million m2s (2,391,980.1 sq yd) field.
Start of production in Puebla
On October 23, 1967, the first Volkswagen BeetleVolkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Type 1, widely known as the Volkswagen Beetle or Volkswagen Bug, is an economy car produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003...
rolled off the assembly line at the Puebla plant. In mid-1968, a new 1.5 L engine was introduced, replacing the previous 1.2 L engine. A "VW 1500" badge or insignia appeared on the car's rear deck lid. On June 12, 1968, Mexico's 100,000th Beetle was produced.
For the 1971 model year, three design changes were made: new bumpers, an engine cover featuring two lateral groups of five louvers each and vertical headlights with their characteristic chromed molding, similar to the cover on the 1968 German Beetle. The Mexican Beetle retained the small windows seen in German models from 1958–1964, as well as the five-bolt wheels, similar to those on Brazilian Beetles at that time.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
and Europe began. That year, the Volkswagen Sedán was selected by the "Departamento del Distrito Federal" to serve as a public transportation vehicle, thus becoming the Minitaxi in Mexico City. In 1972, the Volkswagen Beetle received the larger front windows used on German Beetles since 1965, though the rear window remained the smaller 1965–1971 size. The larger rear window, introduced on German Beetles in 1972, did not appear on the Mexican VW until the mid-1980s. Enlarged tail lights, first used on 1971–1972 German models (except VW 1200), were also added.
The 1973 model was highly popular, due to the previous year's improvements, as well as the new four bolt 15" with newly designed flat hubcaps, which replaced the original "bowl type" covers. The fuel filler neck was moved from inside the trunk to the right front quarter panel, just above the fender. Inside, a matte black padded dashboard was introduced, resulting in greater comfort and less eye fatigue. The wiper/washer control was also moved from a button on the dashboard to a lever on the right of the steering column. Later that year, additional improvements appeared, including a four-spoke black steering wheel.
1972 1500 Volkswagen Beetle. Rear view. |
1972 1500 Volkswagen Beetle. Front view. |
1973 1500 Volkswagen Beetle. Rear view. |
1973 1500 Volkswagen Beetle. Front view. |
VW 1500 Badge. Used in Mexican Beetles between 1968 and 1973. |
1976 1600 Volkswagen Beetle. Front view. |
1984 Volkswagen 1200L Sunny Bug. Limited Edition exported to Europe. |
An Alebrije Alebrije Alebrijes are brightly colored Mexican folk art sculptures of fantastical creatures. The first alebrijes, along with use of the term, originated with Pedro Linares. After dreaming the creatures while sick in the 1930s, he began to create what he saw in cardboard and papier mache... (Mexican artcraft) in the shape of a Volkswagen Beetle. |
The 1974 models brought further modifications. A 1.6 L engine producing 44 HP SAE (50 PS DIN) replaced the previous 1.5 L. The front fenders were enlarged, new front turn signals (identical to the ones on American spec Beetles) were added, and round, enlarged taillights were introduced, one year after their appearance on German Beetles (except the 1973 VW 1200). The engine cover remained unchanged, except it no longer had an emblem. Inside, the front seats were re-designed, and the interior colour was changed from gray to black. Also, the front hood release lever was relocated inside the glovebox, as on 1969 and later German Beetles.
In 1975, the engine cover was again changed to include four groups of vents, with six on the two inner groups and seven on the two outer groups, as on 1972 and later German models (except VW 1200). In June, the 500,000th Mexican Beetle was produced. There were two limited editions: The Volkswagen Beetle Jeans and the Volkswagen Beetle Sport Jeans featuring special wheels and unique paint colors. Beginning that year, chrome hub caps were reserved for Volkswagen Sedan equipped, unlike the base model which had no hub caps.
In 1977, the most important modification was that the front turn signals were moved to the front bumper, as on 1975 and later European Beetles. With the introduction of the Caribe, some of the colours introduced the new model were available on the Mexican VW. In addition, vinyl upholstery was discontinued, leaving cloth–vinyl upholstery as the only option.
Export to Europe
Beginning in 1978 the Volkswagen Beetle introduced air vents on the front trunk cover to bring fresh air to the interior. The air exited through a couple of rear vents behind the rear side windows. Hub caps disappeared from the equipment list in all models. With the cancellation of production in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, the Mexican Volkswagen Beetle started exporting to European markets, including West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, Holland, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, and other countries. This exportation model was different from the Mexican market Beetle. Its engine was a 1.2 L 34 CV DIN. From the 1982 model on, the engine cover had no exterior vents. The different engine cover made it similar to German-produced VW 1200, as well as Mexican market Beetles sold before 1970. Also introduced were optional metallic paint colors: Silver Metallic, Copper Red Metallic, Cadmium Blue Metallic and Viper Green Metallic. These colors were also available on the Caribe and the new European market Volkswagen Scirocco, as a reminder of the late 1970s models.
In September 1980 the company produced the one millionth Mexican-made Volkswagen Beetle.
In 1981, the Volkswagen (the manufacturer's model name from this point forward) came equipped with front seats that integrated headrests as a required safety feature and new cloth upholsteries. The new seats had the same design as the Volkswagen type 3 and bus vehicles previously seen in Europe and the United States in the late 60s. On May 15, 1981 the 20 millionth worldwide produced Volkswagen Beetle was manufactured by Volkswagen de México. A commemorative limited edition was sold with Silver metallic paint and the same lower side stripes seen on the Jetta. Around this time, the nickname Vocho came into popular usage in Mexico.
For the 1983 model year, the Volkswagen received new front seats with adjustable headrests, already seen in cars such the Caribe and the Atlantic. A newly added item was the hand brake light on the dashboard. 1983 also introduced a limited edition Aubergine Metallic paint scheme. This also featured its wheels painted to match the body color and seats upholstered in tweed Grey and Aubergine.
In 1984 was the marque's 30th anniversary in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, for this reason, three commemorative limited editions were launched. The first one was a Volkswagen painted in Alpine White with the side lower stripes already seen in the 20 millionth edition, its upholstery was red velour with sides and door panels in black vinyl. Another limited edition available only in West-Germany was painted in velvet-red (German: Samtrot) with stripes and flower-decor on the sides. This model also sported the same red velour upholstery like the Mexican special edition. The third one, a yellow painted Volkswagen, with yellow velour upholstery The sides and door panels were white; however, elements such as the dashboard, the armrests, the rear ashtray and the interior rubber mat keep its typical black color.
In 1985, exportations to Europe ended, and a grey metallic special edition called the Jubilée Käfer was launched. It had newly designed steel wheels (as seen in some convertible models in the late 70's), and its engine was the 1.2 L 34 CV DIN. This edition was only available in the European markets where the Mexican Beetle was sold. At this time, the Mexican Volkswagen receives the larger rear window from 1972 and later German Beetles.
Recaro
RECARO GmbH & Co. KG, commonly known as Recaro, is a German company based in Kirchheim unter Teck in the vicinity of Stuttgart, known for their automobile bucket seats...
headrests, plus an AM/FM stereo cassette player radio (usually the only audio equipment available on Mexican Beetles were the eternal Sapphire XI AM monoaural radio) with two speakers and a basket below the dashboard, as well as side and rear special badges. This year, the Volkswagen received a "double diagonal" braking system, already seen in the Caribe, Atlantic and the Corsar, this system was characterized by connecting the right front brake, with the rear left brake, and vice versa. In addition, the Volkswagen received an intermittent modality in its wiper/washer system. However, the metallic colors were no longer available.
In 1987 the company introduced a new limited edition model: The Volkswagen Europa Edition 2. The differences from the 1986 edition 1 were: Its color was Grey Metallic, its front seats had normal headrests, though, they were now upholstered in grey tweed cloth with red and blue thin stripes. Additionally the basket below the dashboard was no longer available, but the Edition 2 gained tinted windows. This was the first Mexican Beetle available with such equipment; however, the auto kept the chrome hub caps and its AM/FM stereo cassette radio.
Price reduction and anti-pollution measures
For the 1989 model year, and in part because of a government decree that required the company to cut the retail price and tax reduction, the Mexican Beetle was relaunched as the Volkswagen Sedan. This new model lost its wheel caps, the body vents it had sported since 1978, and the fittings were of lower quality.In the 1991 model year, by governmental disposition, the Volkswagen Beetle featured from now on a catalytic converter
Catalytic converter
A catalytic converter is a device used to convert toxic exhaust emissions from an internal combustion engine into non-toxic substances. Inside a catalytic converter, a catalyst stimulates a chemical reaction in which noxious byproducts of combustion are converted to less toxic substances by dint...
; however, it kept its carburetor
Carburetor
A carburetor , carburettor, or carburetter is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. It is sometimes shortened to carb in North America and the United Kingdom....
, its electrical system with a generator and the old ignition system. These changes did not affect its power and performance. In the passenger compartment, the dashboard received new light and emergency light switches, as well as a new two-arm steering wheel. Those elements came from the design of the Golf
Volkswagen Golf Mk2
The Volkswagen Golf Mk2 succeeded the Mk1 as Volkswagen's volume seller from 1983 and remained in production until late 1992. In comparison to its predecessor, its wheelbase grew slightly , as did exterior dimensions . Weight was up accordingly by about...
. In addition, the Volkswagen Beetle had now a new alarm system as series equipment. Externally, this model differed due the rear apron of its central body, which was now more rounded. The function of this feature was to allow more space in accommodating the new catalytic converter within the engine compartment. The exhaust system also had only a single tailpipe, in contrast to the two tailpipes shown in the previous models.
The 1992 model was fitted with Brazilian steel wheels, with a slightly different design than the ones previously seen. These wheels are often, but not always, found in some vehicles produced between 1992 and 1994. On June 23 the Volkswagen Beetle reached 21 million units produced throughout the world At the Puebla plant, Volkswagen launched a new commemorative edition. This new limited edition was characterized by its side and rear anagrams "21 Million", its chrome wheel caps, and tinted windows. Inside, this new model had a light grey velour upholstery with stripes in discrete colors, and an AM/FM stereo cassette player audio system. This version was available in the following colors: Alpine White, Tornado Red, Steel Blue Metallic, Turquoise Green Metallic and Satin Gray Metallic.
For the 1993 model year, the 'Digifant' electronic fuel injection
Fuel injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
replaced the carburetor, indicated by an emblem on the cover of the engine reading 1600i. At this time, some of sedans had the velour upholstery from the Jetta GL in gray flannel. An electronic ignition system was introduced, and the engine also received hydraulic lifters and a spin-on oil filter. In the same year, and to replace the "21 Million" edition a new Volkswagen Sedán GL was also introduced as a limited edition; it was also called the Volkswagen Sedán Wolfsburg Edition. This edition was available only in three exterior colors: Steel Blue Metallic, Satin Grey Metallic and Indian Red Pearl. This version featured a black velour upholstery and two outside mirrors.
In 1994, Volkswagen celebrated its 40th anniversary in México. To commemorate the occasion three new Limited Editions from the Vocho were launched:
- Volkswagen Firebeetle. It was painted only in black. It had side and rear anagrams "Firebeetle" surrounded with flames and it had 15" allow wheels. Inside the car there was black cloth upholstery with red stripes, and a AM/FM stereo cassette player radio.
- Volkswagen Beetle Edition One It was painted in Pink Metallic, with an anagram "Edition One" on the engine cover. It had two outside mirrors and chromed hub caps. Its upholstery was a beige cloth with pink embroidery.
- Volkswagen Beetle 40th Anniversary It was painted in a specific beige tone for this model, as well as the "Edition One" it had two outside mirrors and chromed hub caps. It had a commemorative anagram on the engine cover. Its upholstery was a beige cloth with multicolor embroidery.
Economic Crisis and Sales Decline
1995 was a very important year for the Mexican Vocho, because many improvements were fitted into the car, like: New front disc brakes, new automatic front seat belts, new fixed rear seat belts, a new anchor for the rear seat back, and an alternator replaced the generator, among a total of 87 improvements according to Volkswagen. There were three new colors available: Bright White, Verona Red, and Black (this latter color had been previously available in some limited editions, but this was the first time in which this color was adopted by regular models). This year, and looking forward to increase the sales in so adverse economical conditions in Mexico due the 1994 Economic Crisis in Mexico1994 economic crisis in Mexico
The 1994 Economic Crisis in Mexico, widely known as the Mexican peso crisis, was caused by the sudden devaluation of the Mexican peso in December 1994....
in 1995, a new Limited Edition was launched: El Volkswagen Beetle Jeans. This new version, painted in Jean Blue, had chromed hub caps, tinted windows, side and rear "Jeans" anagrams, and a blue jean upholstery on its seats.
1996, the same way than 1973, was divided into two different phases on the Mexican Volkswagen Beetle history. On the first one all the characteristic chrome moldings were dropped. However, the door handles, side moldings, stirrups moldings and side mirrors, now had a black matte finish, the window moldings disappear completely. Bumpers and headlight moldings from now were painted the color of the car. The colors and clothes inside were unchanged from the 1995 model year.
The second phase of the 1996 model year was characterized by the complete dropping of all moldings of the Vocho. Now there were two different versions available:
- Volkswagen Sedán City.- This was a burget version with all the equipment reduced to an its minimum expression, disappearing from the equipment list elements such as: the door armrests, the automatic front seat belts, the rear seat belts, the front disc brakes, and the central bumper black stripe. This version was only available in Verona Red (from 1997 in Tornado Red) and Bright White. Its upholstery was new cloth with vinyl in Grey Frannel. One way to distinguish the Volkswagen Sedán City was that the City had no Sedan black sticker on its bumpers, which was the norm in the rest of the Volkswagen Beetles.
- Volkswagen Sedán Clásico.- This version kept all of the improvements implemented in 1995 to compensate for the loss of moldings, this model was equipped with grey hub caps in matt finish, black velour and black vinyl upholstery, four arm steering wheel (from the third generation GolfVolkswagen Golf Mk3The third-generation Volkswagen Golf Mk3 was a car launched in Europe in November 1991 , and in North America in the spring of 1993. The delay in North America was due to Volkswagen's decision to supply U.S. and Canadian dealerships with Mk3 Golfs from the VW plant in Puebla, Mexico...
and Jetta) and the availability of more colors: Bright White, Tornado Red, Black, and optionally, the Tornasol Silver Metallic, Windsor Blue Metallic, Classic Green Metallic, Indian Red Pearl and Dusty Mauve Pearl (the latter only in 1996).
Derived from the Sedán Clásico went on sale in mid-1996, the Liimited Edition Volkswagen Beetle Harlekin, inspired in the Golf Harlekin (sold in North American markets) and Polo Harlekin (sold in European markets). This Beetle was characterized by having different colors in the different body parts, as four different colors: Marine Blue, Green, Yellow and Red.
 1995 Volkswagen Beetle. The last regular Volkswagen Beetle with chrome moldings. |
Volkswagen Sedán City badge. Used between 1996 and 1999. |
1996 Volkswagen Sedán City. Front view. |
1996 Volkswagen Sedán City. Rear view. |
1996 Volkswagen Sedán Clásico. |
"Unified" 2002 Volkswagen Beetle. Front view. |
 "Unified" 2003 Volkswagen Beetle. Rear view. |
"Unified" 2003 Volkswagen Beetle. Side view. |
In 1999, the same way then 1996, there were two different phases: In the first one, the Beetle kept being sold the same way as in previous years (Volkswagen Sedán City and Volkswagen Sedán Clásico), while in the second one, both versions were replaced by a new "unique" version, mostly referred as the Volkswagen Sedán Unificado, which takes the City's upholstery, and the improvements and the metallic colors from the Sedán Clásico. This new Volkswagen Beetle was the last regular version which remained unchanged until year 2003. This year appearred, in addition to the anti-theft alarm and with the intention of lowering the high index of thefts and therefore, the extraordinarily expensive premiums of insurance policies, the Transponder, a device with an entry located in dashboard, which allows the ignition and operation of the car. When it was offline, the car cannot even be started when using the ignition key.
In year 2000, to commemorate the new millennium, two new Limited Editions were launched:
- Volkswagen Sedán Clásico.- This new Limited Edition takes the moldings, mirrors and hubcaps with chrome finishings. Inside it had an anthracite coloured velour upholstery. The only color available was Indian Red Pearl. It had side "Clásico" anagrams.
- Volkswagen Sedán Jeans.- It was equipped with 15" allow wheels, and it had a new indigo blue jean upholstery. It had side and rear "Jeans" anagrams. Its color was Batik Blue Pearl.
With the model 2001 there were new "tattoos" on windows, exterior mirrors and rear lights, in order to prevent the theft of these parts when the car was parked. These "tattoos" contains the last 8 alphanumeric characters that comprise the serial number
Serial number
A serial number is a unique number assigned for identification which varies from its successor or predecessor by a fixed discrete integer value...
of the car.
In the model 2002 one of the last limited editions was introduced, the Volkswagen Beetle Summer. This was characterized by two special colors: A new shade of yellow, and a new shade of blue original from the European Volkswagen Lupo
Volkswagen Lupo
The Lupo is a city car manufactured by German automaker Volkswagen from 1998 to 2005.-Model history:The Lupo was introduced in 1998 to fill a gap at the bottom of the VW model range caused by the increasing size and weight of the VW Polo. Rivals included the Ford Ka, the Opel/Vauxhall Agila and...
. Its chrome wheel caps contrasted with his monochrome scheme. Like other editions, the Beetle Summer had rear and side Summer anagrams.
Volkswagen Sedán Última Edición
In March 2003 the end of the Vocho production was announced, due to the gradual and continuous decline in demand for this model, which began with the introduction of the Chevy Pop (Opel Corsa B) in Mexico produced by General MotorsGeneral Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
in 1997. The Chevy Pop replaced the Volkswagen Beetle in its first place on sales in Mexico by offering much more modernity at a price just a little higher than the Vocho, however, the Volkswagen Beetle kept being the Mexican taxi driver favorite, until, in 2002, a decree merged in 2002 under the mandate of Andrés Manuel López Obrador
Andrés Manuel López Obrador
Andrés Manuel López Obrador , also known as AMLO or El Peje, is a Mexican politician who held the position of Head of Government of the Federal District from 2000 to 2005, before resigning in July 2005 to contend the 2006 presidential election, representing the unsuccessful Coalition for the Good...
, then Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
's governor. This decree prohibited the granting of permits for public transportation in the form of taxi
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
s in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
to two door cars, restricting even more the marketing of the Vocho in favor of the Nissan Tsuru (third generation Nissan Sentra), which now became the new favorite of taxi drivers in Mexico, so that sales of the Vocho fell even further. These sales figures reached over 40,000 units sold annually in the mid-90's, dropping to just over 10,000 in its last year. It was in the month of June 2003, when the Volkswagen Sedán Última Edición was introduced. A totally nostalgic car, which resembles the past glories of the Volkswagen Beetle
Volkswagen Beetle
The Volkswagen Type 1, widely known as the Volkswagen Beetle or Volkswagen Bug, is an economy car produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003...
. This Final Edition consisted of 2,999 units for sale to the general public in Volkswagen dealers across Mexico, while one (the last one to be produced), would be immediately shipped to the Volkswagen Museum in Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg
Wolfsburg is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located on the River Aller northeast of Braunschweig , and is mainly notable as the headquarters of Volkswagen AG...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, testifying a historic age which ended on July 30, 2003, when the last Volkswagen Beetle (the unit number 21'529,464) leaves the production line in what was now called "the hall of sorrow", accompanied by a Mariachi
Mariachi
Mariachi is a genre of music that originated in the State of Jalisco, in Mexico. It is an integration of stringed instruments highly influenced by the cultural impacts of the historical development of Western Mexico. Throughout the history of mariachi, musicians have experimented with brass, wind,...
singing the song "Las Golondrinas" (A Mexican folk song that speaks of a farewell). This latter Beetle was headed to the port of Veracruz
Veracruz, Veracruz
Veracruz, officially known as Heroica Veracruz, is a major port city and municipality on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The city is located in the central part of the state. It is located along Federal Highway 140 from the state capital Xalapa, and is the state's most...
where a ship would take it to his final destination. The rest of the units, despiting costs MXP
Mexican peso
The peso is the currency of Mexico. Modern peso and dollar currencies have a common origin in the 15th–19th century Spanish dollar, most continuing to use its sign, "$". The Mexican peso is the 12th most traded currency in the world, the third most traded in the Americas, and by far the most...
$ 84,000.00 (an "Unified" Volkswagen Beetle costed MXP $ 74,000.00), moved very quickly from dealerships, leaving many people with the desire to own one of these copies. At this time, Volkswagen presented some advertising with a nostalgic tone. In some of them, they showed a small space to park, and many cars that tried unsuccessfully to occupy it, after what appeared to get a sedan, then showed a sentence saying: "Es increíble que un auto tan pequeño deje un vacío tan grande. Adiós Sedán." ("It was incredible that such a small a car leaves such a large emptiness. Goodbye Beetle"). One of the curious events that occurred was the fact that a group of owners of dealerships, in Mexico, came together to buy one of these cars, which was sent to the Vatican city
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
as a present for Pope John Paul II.
Special features
- Two different color combinations:
- Aquarius Blue with Franell Grey interior
- Harvest Moon Beige with Black interior
- Moldings, bumpers, wheel covers and door handles in chrome finishing
- 165/80 R 15 White wall radial tires
- 5J X 15 body coloured stamped steel wheels
- Complete carpeting in passenger room
- AM/FM stereo CD player with 4 speakers and chromed antenna
- Two exterior chromed mirrors
- Specific noise isolation in passenger room
- Glovebox cover and dashboard inserts in body color
- Carpeted lid for rear trunk
- Carpeted front trunk
- Special commemorative plaque on glove box cover
- Complete cloth upholstery
- Bags on front back seats
- Map's bag on drivers door.
- Chromed VW Logo on the top and Emblem with the coat of arms of the City of WolfsburgWolfsburgWolfsburg is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located on the River Aller northeast of Braunschweig , and is mainly notable as the headquarters of Volkswagen AG...
at the front trunk lid - Tail lights with chrome molding
Additional Notes
As the Volkswagen Sedán Última Edición rolled out from the production lines as a 2004 model, a limited number of "Unified" Beetles were also produced as a 2004 model. After the Last Edition Beetle ran out, the normal 2003 and 2004 Volkswagen Beetles continued being available in most Volkswagen dealerships in MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, during the most part of year 2003. Some chose to "convert" their Vochos into Last-Edition replicas.
Several units of the Last Edition Beetle were exported from Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
to, mainly, North America and Europe, where it had become a cult car. Today, a Volkswagen Sedan Última Edición, being the last representative of a lineage of more than 21 million units produced, had increased its value as a collector car at the international level, reaching figures of up to USD $15,000.00 in resale.
External links
- http://www.sebeetles.com/Unofficial web page with a complete list of Volkswagen BeetleVolkswagen BeetleThe Volkswagen Type 1, widely known as the Volkswagen Beetle or Volkswagen Bug, is an economy car produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003...
and Volkswagen New BeetleVolkswagen New Beetle-Specifications:*Dimension:**Length: **Width: **Height: **Wheelbase: **Curb weight: *Max speed: 177–210 km/h *Acceleration : 6.5-13.2 sec-Body styles:-Engine choices:-Safety:...
Limited Editions]