1967 Classic Volkswagen Beetle 1:32 Scale Diecast Model Yellow by Kinsmart

Fifty years ago, on February 17th, 1972, the 15,007,034th Volkswagen Beetle was produced in Wolfsburg, Germany, surpassing the production record that had previously only been held by the Ford Model T. In celebration of that record-breaking achievement, Volkswagen released the commemorative World Champion special edition, which was sold through March that year. Today, we salute the humble “Bug” and the legacy that it built as one of history’s most significant automobiles.

When the first Beetle rolled off the production line, it was simply called the Volkswagen— “the people’s car”—but its distinctive shape inspired nicknames across the globe: Beetle, Käfer, Vocho, Coccinelle, Fusca, or Maggiolino. Series production started in 1945, and 21.5 million first-generation cars were sold, making it the most popular car manufactured off a single platform of all time.

The Beetle was a masterpiece of innovation and economics—it was compact, but practical, and inexpensive to buy and maintain. The car’s curved exterior not only gave it a groundbreaking look, but was aerodynamic, too. Rear-wheel drive and its small stature gave the Beetle excellent handling, particularly when compared to the American land yachts of its day, and the innovative air-cooled engine required less maintenance and was easy to fix.