SuperBeetles | Factory

European 1303 Super Beetles are transported by an overhead rail system.

Welding 1303 bodyshells at Wolfsburg.

Bright colours in final assembly Hall 12 at the Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg as another completed body on the 1303 line is lowered onto its respective chassis. About 15 minutes later, the completed vehicle was driven off the end of the line.

1303 bodyshell at the factory awaiting pnael installation.

Automated spray painting of a 1303 bodyshell at Wolfsburg, January 1973.

VW 1303 assembly lines at Wolfsburg around 1973 or 1974.

The 15 millionth Beetle, produced on 15 February 1972, in storage at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC - one of many historic vehicles in their collection.

Fully painted 1973 model year VW 1303 Super Beetle bodies arrive in the fitting out hall and commence final assembly, most likely at the Volkswagen factory in Wolfsburg.

A 1973 model year VW 1303 heads a line of bodyshells at Volkswagen Brussels. The factory, located in Vorst in the south-west of the city and which had been Audi Brussels since 2007, recently closed ending almost 76 years of continuous car production including iconic brands and models like Studebaker, Packard, Karmann Ghia, Porsche 356, Volkswagen and Audi.

Super Beetle Number 15,007,034 manufactured February 17, 1972 surpassed the production record set by the Model T Ford. Photo courtesy of Juan Pablo Reyes.

Sign on the Karmann plant were all Volkswagen Super Beetle convertibles were made - Photo courtesy of Jarko Aikens.

Completed VW Golf convertibles and VW Scirocco models parked in the main yard of the factory while Super Beetle cabriolets on a train await to start their journey to the port of Emden for shipping to North America - Photo courtesy of Jarko Aikens.

Fitting the heated rear window glass and frame. A nerve-wracking job for most of us, but routine for the Karmann craftsmen on the assembly line - Photo courtesy of Jarko Aikens.

Once the bodies were joined with their chassis they continued their journey and fitting out through the factory - Photo courtesy of Jarko Aikens.

Karmann guide Mr Juhe gives a tour group a glimpse of 1303 Super Beetle cabriolet roof and top assembly - Photo courtesy of Jarko Aikens.

Freshly painted bodies emerging from the paint shop, including a black 1303 Super Beetle cabriolet, two Golf cabriolets and a Scirocco - Photo courtesy of Jarko Aikens.

Karmann, Osnabrück, 23 November 1979. Chassis preparation for the Beetle cabriolet bodies - Photo courtesy of Jarko Aikens.

Forschung und Entwicklungsabteilung (Research & Development Department) Wolfsburg, January 1973 - Image 1.

Forschung und Entwicklungsabteilung (Research & Development Department) Wolfsburg, January 1973 - Image 2.

On the VW 1303 body fitting out and trim line at Wolfsburg in March 1973.

Images courtesy of Volkswagen Factory Pictures

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