The Evolution of the Beetle: 1950–1977 in Print

From the "Split-Window" era of the early 1950s to the Super Beetles of the 1970s, the Volkswagen Type 1 became a global icon through the power of world-class design and marketing. This gallery celebrates that journey, featuring rare technical illustrations from the European "Economic Miracle" and the revolutionary 1960s US campaign by Doyle Dane Bernbach (DDB). These "Think Small" ads changed advertising forever by choosing brutal honesty and minimalist wit over flashy sales pitches—proving that the Beetle wasn't just a car, but a personality.