1952 vw beetle commercial: oldest EVER!

[5volkswagengolf]

VW-KEVER for ever!!! geweldig he.

[ClassicRockVw]

Vw N.1 in The World!!!!!!!!

[Farricelli]

Thanks for translating this one. I saw another version without translations, and more or less got the gist of it, but now I got the whole message. Good work.

[beetlejuice150]

@Farricelli You're welcome. It takes some time to translate all German commercials, but I'm glad it makes them more fun to watch.

[12101916]

1:18 "space for a car radio", but no car radio included?

[LOGINKPW]

Was this filmed in color originally?

[beetlejuice150]

@LOGINKPW Yes, I think the colours in the film are original, not added later.

[TurboVW2004]

"De dle de dee...two ladies....de dle de de...two ladies...unt I'm ze only man..." in a VW.

[zloi109]

huh, volkswagen supports threesomes?

[zekepig]

Fou Veeeeeeeeee!

[sexywolf99]

why do i suddenly understand german?????

[dicarlo57]

does anyone know how the "semiphore" turn indicators worked? I would presume they were operated by electric servos.

[TheAlmightyPumpShot]

wow there were actually gloves in the glove box

[FamilyOfMan1975]

Ve haff vays oov makink you buy zis Wolksvagen!

- - - - -

(Politically incorrect, but I don't care. It's funny)

[3DPlanets]

Thumbs up if TV Tropes got you here.

[hebneh]

I now remember opening the vent windows in my '71 Beetle, as shown here on this earlier car. With no air conditioning, they were useful although noisy at high speeds, with air rushing in.

I assume the so-called "Export Model" was available for sale in Germany as well, or else they wouldn't have even shown it in this commercial.

And this is too early for a color TV commercial. It was actually made to show in movie theaters.

[anonomous1324]

Anyone else notice the finger pushing the model right at the beginning?

[fairhillnorrie]

VB hasnt changed much.... bloody hell...

[HesseJamez]

@IDontHoldTheTruth

GM with OPEL had link with nazis, too

[Xx0shyguy0xX]

this commercial is older than my dad :o

[ZemplinTemplar]

Almost surreal seeing a VW commercial only 7 years after the war. And yeah, the production values aren't anything special (you can see the finger pushing the model car at the start). Oh, and the presenter's diction is so (stereo)typical "1950s/1960s early television".

[caldragon7]

1:27...I think that's the left turn signal indicator...

[MrKiraly77]

@beetlejuice: I love this commercial, but it cannot be older than october 1952, coz they changed the dashboard then (Zwitter: Oct '52-March '53). Also the small opening glass became standard in oct '52, however 'faltdach' or 'rag-top' modell was introduced in 1950. Nice BTW.

[PTmayotte]

Actually it's from 1952. The later split window (known as Zwitters) had the single glove compartment like the later 53-57 Oval Windows.

[JoshTiger888]

Cable was invented in 1948 so I don't think there are any older commercials for the Beetle.

[1unaticsoup]

It's a 1953 Zwitter.

[frechieguy]

I think introducing VW to the USA was probably the most risky, and most valuable decision they made. I mean, considering at the time some people were still pissed about WW2, introducing a German company to the USA was a very risky move indeed.

[laserstun]

@frechieguy I heard that after WW2 was over, Ford was offered the entire VW plant. Tools, parts, plans, everything. Ford didn't like the design and never thought it would catch on. Whoops...

[cxpage]

It's hard to see but the Wolfsburg crest above the handle on the "hood" and the chrome molding around the windshiel were added in 1951. That's also when the "export" model was introdued so this is from no earlier than 1951.

It is still a great film ,though. Thanks for posting it.

[Snikersote]

I want one from that condition...!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =..( I want to naming ...my pet...!!!! it has a beautiful skin like my granny's scottish angora giant ferrets...i'd never run it, just give some to eat, wash, put in a vitrine, and put somethin to avoid the tires touch the floor... =D

[khms95]

hey that window opened by itself now we kno where herbie came from

[clydeburkey]

can't be the 40 the tv came out in 1953

[mellotrongirl]

love the semaphores, the batwing steering wheel, and the fraulein in the prison-stripes dress.

[ilikeyouallot]

what a car really one of the best cars efficiency in the world, economic, fast.....

with his porsche cousin....

[pancakewafflebacon]

holy shit a glove box!! I get it now...

[alessandra4999]

That is sooooooooooooooooooooooo old. well not sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oooooooooooooooooooo old.

[fastoldvw]

"Und wenn notwendig ist, sogar für drei..Hehehee" Cool Commercial, and it is a 52/53 zwitter model. Hints: round bumpers (52-on), oval dash with no chrome on ashtray(zwitter only), chrome around split windows(zwitter only), Heart rear lights (52-on), 1/4 light windows in doors (52-on), 15" wheels (52-on), non pope´s nose license plate light (52-on)... probably more hints.

[Meagain74]

meine Großmutter und ihre Schwestern...

[SailorVhoorl]

@TheQuestioner132 You bet your ass it was.

[the26thhour]

[Rant]

It shits me when I recall all those oval windowed beetles that got chopped into convertibles to become hire cars on the Gold Coast, back in the early 80's!

8(

[vdubdork67]

Yep-it's a 'Zwitter' or and oval dash split,them beetles built from 10/52 to 3/53.

[srok62]

German is hilarious!

[ponchoyo]

holy shit u can fit 3 people in the back?

[jjtbfour]

Yeah, but notice they took the front seats out for the commercial ;)

[mrceebees14]

Not these day's.

[MrKiraly77]

Actually this must be a 1950 commercial coz the cabriolet came out in 1949 and faltdach modell in 1950. Nice any way.

[mortenbrumme]

It is the oval interior. So it must be after 53 :-)

[VatoCholo3]

it looks like old times people was happier

[orbits2]

not from dead cows in meadows in 1945 in ww2

i think not

[mrceebees14]

"translation"

"The VW Beetle, affordable, dependable, easy to drive. We have all colors and models, the engine is in the back, and you can hide human bodies in the front. Yes, this is Hitler's car, but he is dead, so you can drive it......even if you are Jewish, a Gypsy, a Pole, a dirty communist, a dirty capitalist, or just non-german......or plain dirty. So don't be afraid, no gestapo papers needed to buy this car, just a boat load of money to rebuild the rubble of our cities...thank you!"

[ZoidTheMaster]

@mrceebees14 Just because the commercial is in German and old, doesn't mean it was filmed during the Nazi period.

[WernerRobin]

Zwitter! Ist ein astreiner Zwitter. Diese Käfer sind noch seltener als die älteren Brezel-Käfer!

[ClassicRockVw]

The Vw N.1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kasska]

son unos hermosos zwitters 1953

[ext3reme]

HERBIE =D

[kostis007]

i remember my aunt had one.brakes were all 4 drums(!).braking was worse than a wheelchair

[65vwbluebug]

THis was definately made between 1952 and 1953, as the cars shown have heart light brake light indicators, new in 1952, the Oval styled dash, introduced in early 1953, and chrome trim in the two small rear windows, which is unique only to Zwitters (bugs built between 52'-early53'). Not to burst anyone's bubble but thats the facts.

[teslaphysics]

MMnnnn..... Zwitter.....

Yep. That would be a 1953 Zwitter. Evering Oval, but with the leftover Split window roof.

[Meatpies62]

Don't get all freaked out... a lot of commercials have been mislabeled as 1948. I downloaded a ton of them to look at them, just to find that they are mostly early to mid-50s... it's not a big deal! It's just a commercial, folks.

[beetlejuice150]

You're right! Just a commercial. I like the "Deutsche Wochenschau"-tune music at the beginning of the commercial. And did you notice that the car in the first seconds of the commercial is actually a scale model?

Would they do that nowadays? I love to see these commercials!

[neneavictor]

@Meatpies62

You are right. man. This commercial was not made in 1948 but in 1953. I recognize the features of a 1953 VW in it. Bravo!

[way2muchsense]

@Meatpies62 1948 would have predated the Federal Republic. It is doubtful that VW was making that many cars for the general public during the occupation period. Wolfsburg was in the British Zone, and they were mainly making cars for the Royal Army. So I understand it.

[VladBlok28]

1:27 what is that? the indicator?

[beetlejuice150]

Yes.

[PTmayotte]

@VladBlok28

It's called a semaphore.

[ouchy112]

1:55 lucky guy... lol

[TheLegocorp]

its not 1948 look at the dash and split window its 53

[beetlejuice150]

What details makes you think it's a 1953 commercial. After all, the split window was produced from 1945 until 1953. It could be any year between those years. My information is that this is a 1948 commercial, which could be possible.

[Sincopare]

English translation:A very good car for German war widows.

[Marklin15]

Its a 1953 commercial. You can tell by the new dash and the split window.

[timsflatfour]

Beautiful cars

[033312]

'40 '50 got colour tv

[dad23boys]

Maybe they showed it in movie theaters back then is why its in color I don't know

[MGMLV]

I'll take a dozen of those batwing steering wheels!

[josephostrander]

wow, the signals and gloves ACTUALLY being in the glove compartment was hilarious :D

[gipher030508]

i love beetle and i want to own 1 again!!! sadly our first beetle have to be sold for an upgrade of car:(

[MacHaxxor]

Zig Heil to you too

[atari26003]

Seeing as its bigger BMW fans

The original HERBIE movie

which model of VW Bug Was it?

if u know year too etc

o.o

[starbucksmunky]

The original Herbie movie the bug was a 1953.

And your post makes no sense.

[howardstern5]

I thought Herbie was a 1963 model with a rag top sunroof.

[001chatlos001]

it was a 1963 bug u idiot

[michaelangelopizano]

ive owned three in my life. and im definitely gonna own more

[dmc081]

beetle cars are very good cars they can take any beat n paint is very very thick

[TiberianSiger]

Great video! What's the 95 in the title for?

[beetlejuice150]

it's commercial #95 I added on this account. If I don't add these numbers, I lose track!

Greetingz,

Paul

[godanli]

Great video! My granddad had a 1953 VW Beetle. Three years later, he bought a brand new Volvo PV 444.

[nissan6541]

Man those are some beautiful V dubs.

[makinasilike]

NASTY NASTY NASTY!!!!

[57silver]

a lot of pre 60's european an british cars had these turn signals, we called em trafficators...for some reason

[pietrocr]

yo quiero esas direccionales

[devchev78]

so this Beetle i noticed had the funky turn signals, did those come on the Export Models? like the ones that came to the U.S? i'm curious, cause i'm an enthusiast and ya curious about what came here. cool ad tho!

[nlpnt]

"Export" is a funny term with old VWs- the "Deluxe" model in export markets was called the "Export" model in Germany (!)

US-spec cars came with semaphores up to 1954-55. Late ovals had the "bullet" turn signals located beneath and to the outside of the headlights. These proved vulnerable, so the "peanut" signals on the fender tops came in with the big back window in '58.

[splitzwit]

this is a 1953 zwitter, oval dash and split rear window. push button start was only designed for the 53 model, zwitters were only made between august 52 and march 53 as later that year the oval window was introduced

[omepeet2006]

G'day all, I've checked with Walter Nelson's book "Small Wonder" and must come to the conclusion that it's a 1952 commercial. 1952 was the first year for vent windows, glovebox with lid, two rear lights with brakelamps and direction lightcontrol from the column. It was the last year for the split rear window. Ergo it can't be much else than a 1952 commercial...

[josatinho]

I LIKE 50S BEETLES..

[mooghammondb3]

split window...53 or earlier

[kristian71denmark]

great stuff!

The car in this commercial is of no later date than august 1955 ( the taillights ) and is not a 1952 model either, has the august 1953 model interior, vent windows in the doors and 53' bumbers... so it must be a 1953/54/55 commercial....

[kristian71denmark]

Sorry, didn't se the rearwindow(s)

Is a 1953, no mistake!

[Arnooo93]

Stostanghe wahaha LOL You can learn German from this kinda comm.

[SIXTYoneVW]

Semaphores go up when the lever is pushed and down when its back in place. I myself am a VW Beetle and Bus (pre-1964) Fanatic. I love the vintages

[6of6]

Semaphores! I've only read about them. I wonder if they rised and stayed up until the lever returned or did they go up & down continuously?

[beetlejuice150]

I'm sorry I couldn't tell you. Although I am a beetle fanatic, I never owned a beetle that old...

[nlpnt]

They stayed up continuously until you switched them off.

[6of6]

Ah. Thank you for clarifying.

[pedgewater]

Very Choice.

[NOTAHONDA]

iTS FROM 1953. iTS A ZWITTER SPLIT WINDOW

[ShadeUnderTheTrees]

! That kinda looks like my bug. Only. ...Well. We have a split window. But I believe it's a... '69?

and. Not mine, techincally. My dad's. Whatever.

[SIXTYoneVW]

Split windows ended in 1953. just sayin....

[ShadeUnderTheTrees]

Huh. I could be wrong... Well. See on the back of the bug seen in the commercial? Ours doesn't have those two.. oval designs. Do you get what I'm saying?

By split windows I meant the side windows, where you could flip the front part open. But as I see that commercial again, I see we have the same sort of windows on the side. Sorry for that mix up. :3

[aerolark]

Wie Schöne! Wie Alte!

Ich kann die langwar, kannst du auch?

Drei im ruchseite, wie Grosse bist die VW!

[doginu]

It's a 53 Zwitter Split window/ oval dash. 1yr only starter button on left,ashtray w/o knob, Ribbed semaphores,European bumpers. very cool ad

[boo66]

HALF a year surely! (and I haven't had a VW for 20 years!)

[dawnnaYT]

LOL speaking spanish and everything. cool how those gloves just eject when you open the door.

[sortalong]

ya know i can almost imagine myself sitting in that car when i see this way kool commercial..i miss my RHD 58 ghia i had for a couple years in san diego..loved to blow peoples minds driving around dago especially parking it on a busy El cajon Blvd and jumpin out da right side door trying to ignore the stares

[beetlejuice150]

They show a split window beetle. So it must be a commercial made before 1954!

[lonelymusician]

Good eyes.

[tomprice949]

Wow - this is an early commercial.