Since 1955, Volkswagen has been one of the top-selling vehicles in the United States. Over the past 60 years, the company has come up with some innovative ideas, yet not every vehicle is destined to remain on the production line forever. Here are a few of the Volkswagens that people around the country would love to see back on American roads.
1. The Thing
There are two kinds of people in the world: those that think the Volkswagen Thing is a work of art and those that can’t stand the sight of it. Regardless of which type you are, there’s still a certain ambiance, allure, and versatility to this four-wheel drive, box-on-wheels convertible that graced VW showrooms in the 1970s. When it disappeared forever in 1980, many people didn’t seem to mind, but a modern rehash would truly turn some heads.
2. The Eos
Produced from 2006 until 2015, the Eos was a convertible from Volkswagen that didn’t live up to its billing. However, it wasn’t necessarily the Eos’ fault. It had great styling, a retractable hardtop roof, and plenty of tech and convenience features that VW’s most popular cars have today. Many critics point to a lack of advertising as the beginning of the end for the Eos, with most of the German automaker’s attention put solely on top sellers like the Passat, Jetta, and Beetle. After just one year out of production, many VW fans are already sad to see it go.
3. The Microbus
If you’ve ever been to a beach or a Grateful Dead concert, chances are you’ve seen the legendary VW Microbus. Produced in the 1950s and 1960s, this iconic bus was originally built to give panoramic tours in the Alps, but when it reached American markets, it became the symbol of hippies and revolution everywhere. As recently as 2015, Volkswagen announced it may bring the Microbus back to the United States as a modern-day hippie mobile, complete with a 100 percent electric engine. Details are scant at best, but if all goes as said, you may still live to see the reincarnation of the VW Bus.
4. The Rabbit
Due to increased pressure to increase safety standards on the Beetle, VW scrapped the car in 1978 and replaced it with the small, cute, and efficient Rabbit. The intention was to market an economical car that was great on gas, especially with the gas crisis of the late 1970s. Unfortunately, the Rabbit never really caught on, and by 1984, it had been replaced by the VW Golf, which is still in production today. Even with an awful sales record, many Rabbit and Rabbit convertibles are still found at VW rallies and car shows. It’s doubtful whether it will ever return, but the knowledge gained by Volkswagen helped the automaker build more popular cars for the American market.
Today, the VW lineup is nothing short of spectacular. With safe, reliable, and fuel-efficient vehicles, Volkswagen remains one of the most profitable and largest automakers in the world. Only time will tell if we’ll ever see some of these vehicles again.
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