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World view becomes one of many - VW 1200 Standard in the (historical) test

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Created in 1963

Text:

Clauspeter Becker

Photos:

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Volkswagen Presse

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Archiv AR

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Volkswagen Presse

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VW 1200 (1963) - no-frills equipment

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VW 1200 (1961) - full speed ahead, thanks to extensive model refreshment

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VW Beetle (1961) - asymmetrical low beam was available from August 1960

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VW 1200 De Luxe (1961) - the test car from 1961 was at least equipped with a retractable roof

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VW 1200 de Luxe 1961 - The solid folding roof available for an extra charge

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VW 1200 de Luxe 1961 - new content old shape - in the course of the year the VW has been completely changed

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VW 1200 de Luxe 1961 - New in the interior is the grab handle above the glove box

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VW 1200 de Luxe 1961 - Well utilized front - under the spare wheel is the jack and the plastic container for disk shower and brake oil

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VW 1200 de Luxe 1961 - Good finish - meticulous saddlery work on seats and door panels

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VW 1200 de Luxe 1961 - Everything in its usual place with the VW Beetle

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VW 1200 de Luxe 1961 - New on the 1961 model are the carburetor with automatic starter and an easily accessible fuel pump

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VW 1200 de Luxe 1961 - View into the trunk

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VW 1200 (1960) - view through the engine

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VW 1300 (1966) - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1965 - The 10 millionth VW and a new VW every 8 seconds

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VW 1200 (1963) - the Beetle takes center stage - Volkswagen Hall at the IAA 1963

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VW 1200 (1963) - Technology made visible at the IAA 1963

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VW 1200 De Luxe (1959) - Beetle ready for delivery, lined up in rank and file

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VW 1200 (1965) - The Beetle was also omnipresent in traffic education in the 80s; recommendation - don't wear dark clothes

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VW 1200 (1960) - Joy on Lake Maggiore

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VW 1200 (1964) - The VW Beetle is so popular because it masters every mountain, even on snow and ice - from a sales brochure from 1964

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VW Beetle (1956) - A look at production

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VW Beetle (1956) - finished Beetles waiting for their customers

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VW Beetle (1963) - a steel crank roof was available from August 1963

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Summary

The VW 1200 Standard was, so to speak, the epitome of the everyday car. Although it lagged behind its competitors and even its brothers in terms of comfort and performance, it scored points with its simple but robust technology and very easy maintenance. This article reproduces the original wording of a test from 1963 and shows the Beetle from back then (mostly as a De Luxe, however) in many historical pictures.

This article contains the following chapters

"Car meter"
800 marks saved
Still original in design today
VW rediscovered
What is different about the Standard?
Technical and test data

Estimated reading time: 14min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The attendant at our local petrol station couldn't believe it. "You're testing a VW now, what a thing!" And he wasn't the only one who found this strange. People simply know - or at least think they do - the VW. For many people, it is the car par excellence, it is a kind of national institution or even a piece of general education. Perhaps this is also the reason why so many people succumb to the temptation to regard - and test - this car as a VW and not just any car. So far, this kind of judgment has been entirely justified. After all, even if the "Beetle" had competitors, with a few exceptions it had no equal.

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