Three-some: It could never have replaced the Beetle, but - as Chris Barber reports - the Type 3 was by no means the failure it is often portrayed to be ...

摘要

WE SAW last month how Volkswagen needed to develop its range of models beyond the Beetle (Type 1) and Transporter (Type 2). The Type 3 saloon was first shown at the 40th Frankfurt Motor Show, at the end of September 1961, and was welcomed enthusiastically by both the public and the German press alike. Production and sales began almost immediately, and - as predicted - the car soon became quite popular on its home market, selling over 10,000 before the end of 1961. In January 1962, the first deliveries of the Variant version started, and daily production figures of the Type 3 in Wolfsburg topped 400. The press advertising for the VW 1500 was also very interesting, compared with what had been done before for the Beetle. Try the VW 1500 five ways', said an early brochure: 'As driver, as front passenger, rear right, rear left and rear middle!' (the Beetle was always considered to be a four-seater) Another one stated, 'After a test drive in a Volkswagen 1500, you will not be able to forget this car. Either because you have already bought it - then you find it grows on you every day. Or because you haven't bought it yet ...'