Volkswagen Beetle Replacements That Never Went Into Production

Volkswagen didn’t know it when it created the Beetle that it would be creating a worldwide icon. So many people have bought or used a Beetle, from those that got them as cheap utilitarian transport, to those that embraced the fun and now keep them as desirable classics. It’s a status that in my opinion is well deserved.

The Beetle was an incredible worldwide success. Being sold in 46 countries and built in 14, Volkswagen would sell over 21.5 million of them before the last of the modern Beetle rolled off the assembly line in 2019.

VW Beetle In Kit Form, 70 Years Of Volkswagen CKD Export Boxes

Though nothing was guaranteed from the start, the Beetle nearly disappeared during the Second World War, and it was down to the British Army who got it back into production.

But even then, with the success and getting the company into profit and with a very successful product, Volkswagen have tried to kill off the beetle many times. In fact, there are over 70 potential replacements for the Beetle going back as far as 1955.

None of them made it and until the Golf in 1974 there wasn’t a real successor. It still didn’t manage to see off the old car, that lasted until 2003 with 2004 models in Mexico.

Yet the longevity of the Beetle was far from assured. Starting in the early 1950s, Volkswagen considered more than 70 potential replacements and off-shoots of the Beetle – but found that the original offered a unique mix of values that couldn’t be easily replicated. It wasn’t until the Golf hatchback launched in 1974 that the true successor for the Beetle arrived.

Production Of The Volkswagen Beetle Started 75 Years Ago In Wolfsburg

We’ve got some of those prototypes below, I quite like the look of some of them.

1955 / 56 VW EA47 - 12

The 12th of 15 prototypes produced between 1953 and 1956 was EA 47 – 12, The first attempt to create a more modern successor to the Beetle. the first of many to be designed by the Italian design house Ghia and rather attractive it is too.

Of course, that’s why it looks like the Karmann Ghia, but that’s no bad thing.

The car featured an 1192 cc flat four engine with about 30 hp. It got a transverse link front axle, torsion bar rear suspension and a fully synchronised gearbox. Technology that was unique at the time. Whilst looking like it would move reasonably quickly top speed was just 50 mph.

1955 VW EA48

The next prototype was an idea from Volkswagen to build a car positioned below the Beetle. Back in 1953 they started the study and by 1955 they had the EA 48 which was smaller and had lower performance than the Beetle.

The first city car if they’d have built it, BMC got that accolade with the Mini.

The EA 48 was the first car VW designed in house without any help from Porsche. no components were carried over from the Beetle either. They started from scratch and came up with a front wheel drive car with a unitary construction and a front mounted 0.7 litre air cooled flat twin engine with 18 bhp. McPherson type front suspension too. Top speed was around 60 mph.

1960 VW EA97

The E 97 project was apparently abandoned whilst the production line was being prepared by workers at the Wolfsberg assembly plant. Some 200 cars had been built by hand by that point too.

The car was a more traditional notchback shape, a pontoon style. it has a 1.1 litre engine mounted in the rear.

What was wrong with it? Well, word has it that it was too close to the beetle and Type 3. It looks like it would have made a nice car.

1961 VW Type 3 Cabriolet

The Type 3 arrived in 1961 and gave buyers a more upmarket alternative to the Beetle. This attractive convertible had a folding top with a glass rear window.

It seems a shame that this proposal was shelved, but it was so close to the Karmann Ghia convertible it was thought that it would just create internal competition.

That’s a great pity, I think I’d like one.

1963 VW EA128

The EA 128, not pictured, was VW’s vision for a larger, more luxurious four door saloon. it was going to be marketed as a six seater car, though apparently this was going to be a bit tight.

Power was from a 2.0 litre air cooled horizontally opposed engine which they borrowed from Porsche’s 911 which came out in 1963.

1966 VW EA142

As part of the Type 4 development Volkswagen created several different body styles including the elegant EA 412 saloon.

Another rear engined car, sharing the same 1.7 litre engine that was in the Type 4.

1969 VW EA266

The EA 266 of 1969 was somewhat innovative. Rather than taking an existing model or design and restyling it Volkswagen invited Ferdinand Piëch from Porsche in to help develop it.

This little hatchback featured a mid-mounted engine with a water cooled 1.6 litre engine longitudinally mounted under the rear seat. The transaxle directly behind it to save space.

The design seemed to have sporty aspirations and obvious Porsche DNA, but that wasn’t enough and went straight to the museum.

1969 VW EA276

If you think this looks like it could be the VW Golf, then you’d be right. This 1969 EA 276 concept was the inspiration for the 1974 Golf, just look at the overall shape and the body mouldings, wheel, even the colour screams Golf. Or Rabbit if you’re in the United States.

This car was front mounted, but had the flat four from the Beetle, so it was nearly there. Another five years would see the water cooled engine appear and the obvious styling revisions. The Golf does look better, it was worth the extra wait.