VW Beetle Designs That Were Scrapped

Eight Beetles That Were Nixed Before Production

Ever since the arrival of the original Beetle was made back in 1938 to provide German workers an affordable and reliable car to drive, Volkswagen knew they had something special on their hands. As far as iconic cars are concerned, the Beetle ranks right up there Aston Martins and Ferraris of the world. It’s sales figures along with its cultural relevance throughout the decades support that. The Beetle is a vehicle that has sold millions and millions of units and is instantly recognized in all corners of the world. Volkswagen dealers had a hit on their hands with the loveable bug.

However, not every VW Beetle was a smash success. For every Beetle that made it to market, there are several others that never made it past the prototype phase. To give you a brief history lesson, we’re breaking down the top eight Volkswagen Beetles that got squashed before they made it to production.

VW Model EA47-12 (1955-1956)

During the time period of 1953 thru 1956, Volkswagen created exactly fifteen prototypes of what was to be the next big thing in VW vehicles. Model number EA47-12 was the twelfth of those prototypes, and the first official attempt by Volkswagen to create a vehicle worthy of taking over the Beetle mantle. Italian car designer Karmann Ghia essentially took the current Beetle and elongated it, making it look more like a traditional compact. It generated 30 horsepower and had a top speed of 50 mph, however, VW decided to bail on Ghia’s concept.

VW Model EA48 (1955)

In the 1950’s, Volkswagen was working in conjunction with Porsche, relying on them for design and engineering work. However, in the case of prototype model EA48, VW decided to take a crack at these things using their own internal resources. Starting completely from scratch, the VW engineering and design team aimed to create a car for the common commuter. However, they did so under the pretense that EA48 couldn’t exceed the Beetle in terms of price or performance. Ultimately, the project was scrapped and EA48 remains nothing more than a prototype.

VW Model EA97 (1960)

What makes model EA97 special is that it’s one of the few Beetle replacement prototypes that had more than a few units in circulation. In fact, the EA97 saw 200 cars built in its likeness, all assembled by hand. Everything appeared to be full steam ahead for the EA97. Then, just as mass production was about to kick off, the executives at VW decided to kill the project. Their thinking on the matter was they weren’t quite ready to try to replace the Beetle just yet. The EA97 also happened to be too closely positioned to the VW Type 3.

VW Type 3 Cabriolet (1961)

The VW Type 3 Cabriolet was to be an upgraded, slightly more posh variety of the traditional bug that drivers knew and loved. It was also a convertible, which was primed to hit big with the summer driver crowd that enjoyed having their radio at full blast with the wind in their hair. There was one slight hiccup that brought the Cabriolet project to a grinding halt; it was far too similar to the Karmann Ghia. Rather than have the Cabriolet compete with the Karmann Ghia for sales, VW decided to scrap it altogether.

VW Model EA128 (1963)

The big draw for the VW prototype model EA128 was that it could seat six people, although it would be a very tight squeeze. As far as potential Beetle replacements go, the EA128 was going for capacity. Perhaps they were going for larger families that required the extra space. The EA128 ran on the same 2.0 liter air-cooled horizontally opposed engine that was used in the Porsche 911. However, just like all of our previous prototypes, the EA128 got nixed before it could make it to mass production.

VW Model EA142 (1966)

It was in the 1960’s that VW started to get experimental with the body styles and shapes of their cars, and the prototype model EA142 was a fantastic example of that outside-the-box thinking. Oddly enough, going outside the box led to a highly boxy hatchback in the EA142. In the rear of the vehicle, the EA142 housed a 1.7-liter engine, which is the only part of the car that VW would end up using later in a different model. That part of the EA142 was transferred to the Type 4.

VW Model EA276 (1969)

There are times with vehicles where one car never makes it to the assembly line, but serves as a rough draft of things to come. That was the exact case with the EA276 prototype. It was boxy, small, and speedy, but definitely not the Beetle replacement that VW execs were looking for. Much of the design and engineering elements ended up being used as the primary inspiration for the VW Golf, which was released in the U.S. as the VW Rabbit.

VW Model EA266 (1969)

The EA266 prototype was unique in that it was a joint creative venture between VW and the Porsche team, which was led at the time by Ferdinand Piëch. Under the hood, the EA266 prototype ran on a water-cooled four-cylinder 1.6-liter engine that was located under the rear seat. Although it never made it to production, people were still impressed by this well-designed, sporty little hatchback.

Fast-Forward to Now with a Brand-New Volkswagen

As you now know, sometimes it takes more than a few practice swings before finally getting a hit. The Volkswagen Beetle is just one of many examples of the trial-and-error process that goes into automobile making. Fortunately, the Volkswagen catalogue of vehicles is as diverse and technologically advanced as it’s ever been. Our current line-up includes the award-winning VW Tiguan, the fuel-efficient VW Jetta, and the all-new all-electric VW ID.4, which recently took home the accolade for 2021 World Car of the Year.

If you’ve been searching terms like “Volkswagen near me” or “ used car dealerships near me,” then look no further than VW SouthTowne, conveniently located at 11000 South 290 West in South Jordan. We have tons of great deals on both new and certified pre-owned Volkswagen vehicles that have undergone a 100+ point inspection. And don’t forget to check out our specials.

Need a repair or routine maintenance performed on your VW vehicle? No problem. Visit the Volkswagen service center, located right here at the VW SouthTowne dealership. Use our Contact Us form for any questions or to make an appointment.

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