MLH celebrates World Volkswagen Day in partnership with The Volkswagen Beetle Owners Club

The name Volkswagen became synonymous world-over thanks to its ingenious design that took the world by storm. Volkswagens were somewhat like street furniture in every “nook and crevice” of the world and one could say that if there ever was a road built in the world, in all probability a VW would have travelled on it.

Built on the underpinnings of ‘people’s car’ or ‘strength through joy,’ the vehicle which was not up the street to many, the VW Beetle, indeed conquered the world with over 21 million examples that reached the very top in car production in later years.

The Bug captured the hearts of many and remained a fashionable Icon throughout the ‘Rock and Roll’ years of the 50s which followed through to the ‘Flower Power’ era through to the 70s with the ‘Afro’ hairstyles and the ‘Whale tail’ jeans with the invasion of the Orange Bug that carried on through to the 80s. 

Digging deeper into the VW on home soil, the Beetle could be considered somewhat a political statement whilst looking at the renowned personalities who took the plunge in owning and driving a Beetle. 

Many hard-winged politicians who fashioned the future of Sri Lankan politics owned a Beetle. There are numerous photos of past events that shook this country which include a Beetle in the foreground.

One such photo is of a blockade of procession utilising a VW Beetle which was owned by an ardent politician of that time. Many other photos are evident of left winged orators who owned Beetles as well; doctors or lawyers to eminent personalities who carved their names in the recent past history books of Lanka would have owned a VW Beetle at one time or another of their lives.  

For many families, it was their first family car. It was the childhood pride to many family members and to most who have treasured them having become ‘hand-me-downs’ to follow-on generations. This is evident in the many split and oval glass beetles that emerge at the events organised by the VW Beetle Owners’ Club.

To the simplicity and robustness of this little gem, the Beetle continued to be a daily runner in most cases having outrun its contemporaries thanks to its ‘never say die’ ingenuity which would have brought on the honour of conferring a day to the make.

So how come 22 June?  It was on 22 June 1934 that work on the first prototypes of the ‘People’s Car’ that became the Volkswagen Beetle was started by Ferdinand Porsche, but it would take until 1936 before the first prototype was completed. 

This was the start of what was to be the star of stars or as some called it the ‘Revenge of Hitler’ that brought about simple family transport to many from all corners of the world.

In retrospect of this day, The Volkswagen Beetle Owners Club held a VW Parade to be held on Sunday 26 June, bringing out the Bugs in their shinning glory to proceed in parade form along the streets of Colombo ending up at the historic Mount Lavinia Hotel. The club also invited all other Volkswagen models to join in, making this event a truly ‘Strength through Joy’ one.