"Dave Plowman (News)" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Roger Chapman wrote:
The Beetles antecedents are rooted in the late 30s even if the
British public didn't get the chance to own one until 1946 and the
power output of the early examples was even worse - somewhere in the
low 20s IIRC.

You make it sound like the Beetle remained unchanged throughout its
life. It didn't - it was constantly being improved.

As far as I am concerned we have been talking about the early 60s Beetle
but I did refer to the power output of the earlier Beetle just above
your unjustified comment.

Why are you so concerned about power output? It means very little taken
out of context. But no matter.

If you really want an example of a car which was well past its sell by
date, look at the Ford Popular - a pre war design virtually unchanged
right up to the '60s. And it was arguably old fashioned when first
designed...

If Wikipedia is to be believed you are wrong on several counts
including, crucially, the date 103E production ended.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Popular

Enjoy your quibble over a year. ;-)

The 103E of course had a flat windscreen and poor visibility (but not as
poor as the Beetle) and I presume the Popular at least had a fuel gauge,
unlike the Beetle.

Think most would prefer hydraulic brakes to cable ones, independent
suspension, overhead valve engine, 4 speed gearbox and a top speed rather
better than 60 MPH - and acceration that could be measured on a stopwatch,
not calender. Oh - and windscreen wipers that actually worked.

And if you actually read the site you've given, you'd discover the Popular
was basically a pre-war Anglia.

--
*Time is what keeps everything from happening at once.

Dave Plowman London SW

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The early beetle (before 1960) was pretty lethal with cable brakes and a
petrol tank in the front so any increase in power left a lot to be desired.
I was in the Army in Germany and the Army had a fleet of them. We had
several visits to the factory because we used to patrol the East/West German
border which was not far away. We were told that VW felt a debt of gratitude
to the British Army for rebuilding the factory and provided a new VW to the
major in charge right up to his death. Also VW supplied vehicles to the REME
for their part in rebuilding the factory.
Robbie Ex-REME and Golf Owner!