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The oldest VW Beetle in the world: historic chassis is running again!
A restored W30, the oldest VW Beetle in the world, impresses in Hesse Oldendorf with its unique history and technology.
The oldest VW Beetle in the world: historic chassis is running again!
In a garage in Hessisch Oldendorf, the world's oldest VW Beetle is experiencing a second heyday. Traugott Grundmann, a passionate collector, has brought the W30 back on the road, and the sight of it makes classic car fans light up. The W30, with serial number 26, is considered a unique piece of automotive history that has significantly shaped the future of the VW Beetle. It was built in 1937 on behalf of Ferdinand Porsche with support from Mercedes-Benz, and only 30 of these prototypes were made for large-scale road testing. Many of these vehicles were scrapped during the Second World War, making the W30 in its current form truly unique.
The Beetle has just 23 hp, and at a speed of 80 km/h the ride becomes bumpy, but the TÜV still certifies that the vehicle has a possible top speed of 100 km/h. Many an exciting story could be told about the approximately 56,000 kilometers that the chassis of this old prototype has covered. It is also noteworthy that the authenticity of the chassis was confirmed and the TÜV could not find any other frames or bodies.
A complex reconstruction
Rebuilding the W30 took Grundmann almost eight years. When he acquired the chassis in 2003 in exchange for a swimming car, he first began restoring a 1938 VW Beetle before moving on to the W30. The body was completely rebuilt, and Grundmann received support from a life-size drawing from today's Volkswagen chief designer Andreas Mindt. Parts were sourced not only from Germany, but also from Great Britain, France and Poland, and many components came from other manufacturers.
The W30 has a mobile hazard warning light instead of a permanently installed one, and Grundmann rarely takes the car for long journeys. The rain has no place when driving this historic vehicle, and instead his activities include visits to VW Beetle and classic car meetings. This unique Beetle not only demonstrates the technical precision of the time, but is also an example of the patience and commitment that went into such comprehensive restorations.
A piece of history on wheels
The history of the W30 is inextricably linked to the development of the VW Beetle, which was designed as a “car for the people” and was built over 21 million times from 1945 to 2003. A title it held as the most produced car in the world from 1972 to 2002, until it was overtaken by the VW Golf. Production of the Beetle itself, which was equipped with an air-cooled four-cylinder boxer engine and rear-wheel drive, ended in Germany in 1974 but continued in Mexico until 2003.
The W30 is currently valued not only in classic car circles, but also in a newly designed permanent exhibition on the “Cap San Diego” in Hamburg, where the Beetle tells part of its great history. The W30, considered the forefather of all later Beetle models, remains a living piece of automotive history and a lasting reminder of how the “Volkswagen” project came to life in the turbulent 1930s.
For Traugott Grundmann and the lovers of the W30, the car is not just technology or history - it is a true treasure that will continue to inspire many people in the future.
Wikipedia's entry about the VW Beetle provides information about...