A brief history on the Volkswagen Beetle

The People's Car an advertisement from 1939

Did you know that Ferdinand Porshce is the designer of the Volkswagen Beetle, which was originally called Kafer. Kafer is the German word for Beetle. When the project was originally launched, Hitler referred to it as the KdF-Wagen. KdF stands for Kraft durch Freude, which means 'Strength Through Joy'. Then it became known as the Volkswagen Type 1. Finally it was known as the lovable Volkswagen Beetle.

Hitler was responsible for giving the order for the Volkswagen to be produced in 1933. He wanted a car to be available to the people for the average price of a motorcycle. This car was designed to transport two adults and three children.

Only with the financial backing of the Third Reich was the Volkswagen able to be mass produced for the public. However, before this began, war broke out and the order was given to produce the Volkswagen for military use. Later it went into public production, at the end of the war.
The Growth of the Beetle.

Between 1938 to 2003 there were 21,529,464 Beetles produced. 15,444,858 were built in Germany. In 1945 the Volkswagen factory was dismantled and shipped to Britain. No British car manufacturers showed interest in the production of the Beetle, but the factory was put to use manufacturing the car for the British military. By 1946 the factory was well on it's way to mass production once again. It surpassed it's one millionth car by 1955.

In Small Wonder, Walter Henry Nelson wrote about the Beetle;

"The engine fires up immediately without a choke. It has tolerable road handling and is economical to maintain. Although a small car, the engine has great elasticity and gave the feeling of better output than it's small nominal size."

1955, the one millionth Beetle

In the 1950's the rear window of Volkwagen Beetle went through two radical changes.  The small oval two piece rear window was first replaced by a single oval rear window, in 1953.  A larger full width rear window replaced the smaller single oval window in 1957.  

In the 1960's Volkswagen Beetle sales took off.  The witty ad campaigns and the reputation of the Beetle's reliability and sturdiness helped these sales boom.  Today the Beetle is know as the world's best selling car design.

This is the orginal rear window design.

 

 This is the final design of the rear window on the original Beetles.

The People's Car.
The Volkswagen Beetle was started by Hitler to be 'The People's Car'. Looking at the way it has changed over the years and the fondness people have for the cute car; would stand to prove Hitler's goal was actually reached.

The Beetle has been modified by it's owners so many ways, that there is not enough room to show them all. The colors of the Beetle are as the colors of the rainbow. This little car has a devoted following from all over the world. 

Beetle Mania

Car Logos Meaning

History of Logo Design

Cars are the universal status symbol and just as many car manufacturers have interesting histories behind their names, many company logo’s quite often have unusual stories too. Sometimes it may be the town of manufacture or a previous incarnation that inspires the design, on other occasions it’s the strange viewpoint on the world taken by a particular designer that creates an iconic image.

Alfa Romeo
Made in Milan and use the city’s coat of arms, which feature a red cross on a white field and a serpent eating a man and evolved during the crusades.
 

Abarth
The Italian car manufacturer, who in 1971 were incorporated into Fiat. The founder Carlo Abarth was born on the 15th November 1908, which made his astrological, sign scorpio. Hence the badge, it also incorporates the colours of the Italian flag and the red and yellow of the racing world.

Audi
Comprises four interlinked rings which represent the four companies that in 1932 combined to form the Audi name. Audi, DKW, Horch and Wanderer

Bentley
The British manufacturer started out building aircraft engines during World War One and so naturally used stylised wings as part of its logo.
 

BMW
The Bavarian company uses the colours of the Bavarian flag and its circle with a cross comes from the fact that the early company manufactured engines for aeroplanes during the Second World War and the logo is representative of a propeller.

Buick
Their logo is made up of three shields that area meant to represent the three initial marques that Buick originally manufactured. The Le Sabre, Invicta and the Electra. 

Cadillac
The company was named after a famous French explorer who discovered Detroit, the logo is based around Antoine Laumet de la Mothe, Sieur de Cadillac’s  coat of arms.
 

Chevrolet
The famous Chevy bowtie has two conflicting stories attached to it, founder William C. Durant maintained it came from a wallpaper design in a French hotel he once stayed, while his wife said that he saw it in a newspaper whilst on holiday in Virginia in 1912.

Citroen
The inverted chevrons on the Citroen logo were from an earlier company that founder Andre Citroen ran that manufactured gears for engines. The double << were meant to represent the interlocking teeth of gear cogs.

Ferrari
The Italian World War One flying ace, Count Francesco Baracca, first used the internationally renowned prancing horse on the side of his aircraft and was symbolic of the Calvary Regiment with whom he. In 1923 the Counts mother persuaded Enzo Ferrari to use it on his racing cars for luck. The yellow background on which the horse dances is representative of the town of Modena where Ferrari grew up. 

Maserati
The Maserati logo is another marque that takes its design from the town of its manufacture, Bologna, Italy. The trident is part of a well-known sculpture in the centre of town.

 

Mercedes
The tri-star was came from a doodle that Grottlieb Daimler drew on a post card he send his children from Cologne, showing them where he was staying. When the Daimler and Benz companies merged in the 1920’s the wreath from the Benz logo and the Daimler tri-star were joined too.
 

Peugeot
Again derived from the town where the brand was first manufactured, in Peugeots case it was Belfort. Bartholdi whose other famous icon was the Statue of Liberty conceived the logo.
 

Pontiac
The original logo used on the Pontiac brand until 1956 was a native American in full headdress meant to represent Chief Pontiac who led an unsuccessful revolt against the British. On later models a stylised arrow was used, harkening back again to the Indian Chief who inspired the company’s name.
 

Porsche
Porsche were founded in 1931 in Stuttgart and created a logo that closely resembles that of the town.

 

Renault
The French companies diamond logo came from a design feature on the bonnet of their early cars. A boss that was originally fitted to surrounded the hole through which air escaped when the horn was pressed.
 

SAAB
The SAAB logo, a mythical birds head is from the coat of arms of the company’s founder Count Von Skane and the Swedish province of Skane where the company was formed.

 

Vauxhall
The company took its name from the Faulk Le Breant’s family house, a fourteenth century mercenary of employed by King John. Le Breant’s emblem features a griffin and along with Faux Hall, Manor House in Luton, the nearby car company took its name and badge.

Your man's secrets

Parts of these poll facts have came from a survey of 5000 men researched by David Zinczenko.

Secret 1:
They think about your relationship more than you give them credit or would ever imagine. How much more? The survey found that 60% spend at least an hour a day thinking about you, including how to make things more special like bringing you flowers,planning a special date night ect. Men are not multi-tasked like women so when they are thinking of us that is often all they are doing at the moment. My husband calls me sometimes two or three times a day just to check on me. Later he tells me he thinks of me at work. I can tell cause when he gets home we meet with a kiss. Tip: Give your husband a great picture of you to keep near him at work, he will start missing you.

Secret 2:
THEY WANT MORE ROMANCE! Men are geared toward romance. They love you and romance is their connection with the one they love. After 500 men were polled "there wasn't one man who didn't wish his wife would throw him the romantic gestures women love so much." "Why?" " Those gestures show him you are thinking of him and it's boosts his confidence in your attraction to him. Women like bouquets and told their beautiful, try bragging on him and surprise him with a little thoughtful gift as well.

Secret 3 :
They're as insecure about their appearance as we are!

Nine out of ten men polled confessed to being unhappy with at least one body part. They are wired to make sure nobody out does them physically or mentally. Your man may be a strong hard worker and it's been a long time since you rubbed his muscles and stroked his hair and told him how impressed you are with your handsome strong man. Men are not as visibly intimidated as women around other strong handsome men, but they worry too about some other hunk catching their ladies eye. It would do him good if you were romantic in a crowd of people, it shows your commitment and desire is more than just private.

Secret 4 :
They want to talk- not just about feelings. Don't always just unload your feeling on him. It's hard to do after a hard day, but that tends to overwhelmed a man and make him nervous. Men rarely express their feelings boldly, we have to slowly talk them out of him. Don't ask him, " How do you feel ?" He might want to change the subject. Talk about his day and his opinion. Challenge him to think, when he starts to think his feelings start slowly seeping out from his heart.

Secret 5:
They like cuddling too!!!!Most men that were polled said they don't get enough of it. Research shows that men need three times more touching than women do that includes hugs, kisses and snuggling not just sex. Hugs and kisses are proven stress busters. Send him to work with a kiss and he will be more jived and studies show he will live longer if he is kissed everyday.

DID YOU KNOW? More than 75% of men believe in soul-mates!

We blame alot of our split up homes on the men, but if we would dare to tap into these secrets and show our HUSBAND ( not the guy at work) what a sexy, handsome, strong hunk he is, our marriages will be stronger and more fulfilling than ever before and he will be turned on to you forever.

10 biggest mistakes men make in love

10 biggest mistakes men make in love, and yet have no clue what they did wrong

1. This may sound kind of dorky to many, but remember you guys who struggle with women and self image, you need to see yourself as a royal prince, demonstrating strength and confidence! I can't imagine a woman not wanting a man who is going to be her "knight in shining armor"...and most men want a beauty to rescue... Yet it is a fact, many men try and appear strong when they really are fearful. Men need to get at the root of those fears and overcome them. "Wild at Heart" is a great resource to assist with that, authored by John Eldredge.

2. Be romantic in an original, classy and surprising fashion. Keep a sense of balance, don't overdue it....some guys get so head over heels crazy about a woman it can be kind of gushy and icky...remember to stay cool, containing any overly excited feelings you may be experiencing. If she doesn't appreciate your efforts, she's not going to appreciate you and she may not be worth pursuing further. I think the last thing most guys want is a high maintenance chick, regardless of how pretty she might be.

3. Be a gentleman. Remember to open doors and show some manners such as "please" and "thank you". Don't offer to order for her at a restaurant unless you are having the same thing or are sharing something, but always remember, ladies first. You don't have to make her wait in the car till you come around and open the door for her but you should always unlock and open her car door, before your own.

4. Make decisions; plan, put your foot down if necessary. A woman sees a man who always answers, "I don't care," or "it's up to you," as indecisive, uninterested, unmotivated and lacking leadership qualities. If you don't agree with a plan or a position on a topic, speak up. Choosing to be 'non-confrontational' rather than true to yourself can be construed as a sign of weakness.

5. Provide. Be the bread winner, the conquering hunter who puts the food on the table. I know this can be a lot of pressure for a guy these days and something a man as a man, wants to do anyway. Providing gives a woman a sense of security. Many women may want to work and if she does so, better due to desire rather than necessity. With this ideal scenario, not only is the man feeling good about himself, so is the woman about her man as provider.

6. BE honest, genuine, sincere. DON'T be macho, overbearing or braggish (it IS obnoxious). Be willing to open up and contribute to a conversation and rather than evade a question or subject; don't make something up for the sake of having something to say....It's ok to express something like, "I'm clueless about this subject, so I really don't know how to respond." Some guys can be SO reserved until they feel comfortable; this however can be perceived as suffering from one or all of the "three D's"...dense, dull, depressed. Having an air of mystery is a good thing however and I suppose discernment may be the key here since my contrasting might seem confusing. Playing a little 'hard to get,' can work in a mans favor, particularly in a courtship stage of a relationship. An element of mystery is sexy, which may make some women crazy and spark further interest since I think by nature, we as women can be kind of nosy, wanting to know all.

7. Learn her love language(s) and discover what yours is too while you're at it. Many people have more than one...Another book, "The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman is excellent...the languages include physical touch (yea, I know, 99% of you guys out there are probably thinking, 'well duh - that's a no brain-er!'), acts of service, words of affirmation, quality time, and receiving gifts. Beware of those who fit into the category of "receiving gifts" as a primary love language, it's likely she's "high maintenance" so you'll need to be one who enjoys giving gifts too (which translates into, SHOPPING!!!).

8. Take it slow. I know there are many women out there today who don't even know what that means so a guy has an additional challenge when faced w/ a physically aggressive woman! My point is this though: The person you end up committing to for life, you want them to not only be your lover but your BEST friend. Be cautious about giving too much of yourself to someone who is not a potential candidate for this role.

9. Know how to "keep her on her toes" with your wit; know how to keep things "light," have (or cultivate?) a good sense of humor. Women often fall in love with physically unattractive men because a guy can make her laugh.

10. Don't be too much of a computer geek. Learn how to be "Mr. Home Improvement" but not neglecting quality time w/ her. Love adventure, be courageous, be spontaneous, show persistence and be willing to step out of the comfort zone and embrace opportunities to learn and experience new things. 

Top Love quotes

The Power of Love
Love means...

   1. ...having to say your sorry,
      over and over and over and over again!
   2. Love is a fire.
      it will either warm your heart
      or burn down your house,
      you won't be able to tell which one it is until it's too late!
   3. A man is truly married when he is able to
      read between the lines and
      understand everything his wife is NOT saying!
   4. Love:
      a temporary insanity,
      curable by marriage...
   5. It's a wonderful thing,
      as time goes by,
      to be with someone who looks into your face,
      when you've gotten old,
      and still sees you as they did in the beginning.
   6. An archeologist is the best husband any woman can have; the older she gets, the more interested he is in her.
   7. A man is already halfway in love with any woman who listens to him.
   8. Men are from Earth. Women are from Earth. Deal with it.
   9. When we got married I told my wife "If you leave me, I'm going with you. And she never did.
  10. All marriages are happy. It's trying to live together afterwards that causes all the problems.
  11. There is a place you can touch a woman that will drive her crazy. Her heart.
  12. To love is to suffer. To avoid suffering one must not love. But then one suffers from not loving. Therefore to love is to suffer, not to love is to suffer. To suffer is to suffer. To be happy is to love. To be happy then is to suffer. But suffering makes one unhappy. Therefore, to be unhappy one must love, or love to suffer, or suffer from too much happiness. I hope you're writing this down.
  13. Women are like telephones;
      They like to be held and talked to,
      but if you push the wrong buttons you might get disconnected!
  14. See, the problem is that
      God gives men a brain and a penis,
      and only enough blood to run one at a time.
  15. Whatever you may look like, marry a man your own age - as your beauty fades, so will his eyesight.
  16. I love being married. It's so great to find one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.
  17. Hearts will never be practical
      until they are made unbreakable.
  18. I would rather fight with you
      than make love to anyone else.
  19. You are the only person
      that can make my heart beat faster
      and slower at the same time.
  20. If your not willing to sound stupid,
      you're not worthy of falling in love.