Heritage icons partner with World Volkswagen Day celebrations to be held on 26 June

The Volkswagen Beetle Owners’ Club has made arrangements to hold the World Volkswagen Day celebration on Sunday 26 June. The history behind this celebration came about with a date being allocated to celebrate the much loved Volkswagen that brought about motoring to the masses with over 21 million examples that was produced in air cooled form and the number continues to grow with the New Beetle in water cooled form.

Most VW Clubs around the globe celebrate this event on a Sunday closest to the date being 22 June. One would wonder on the significance of this date which goes back to the ‘days of the Furor’ who laid the foundation on this day in 1936, at a location which was named KDF Stadt to produce the KDF Wagen which was his concept of a peoples car for all German families having the ability to carry a family of four at a speed of 100 km per hour. This was made reality with the engineering genius of Ferdinand Porsche who developed a prototype that met the requirements and was given the ‘nod’ by the German engineering authorities to go ahead with the project.

Back home, the mighty Bug was introduced as early as 1953 with the importation of an initial consignment of Split Glass Beetles by Clarence Amarasinghe & Company Ltd., better known as Car Mart Ltd., who was very much at the helm of the motoring circuit having introduced the French Peugeot with the sleek 203 model that created a class of its own, very specially amongst the top rung of the civil services, not to mention the police who maintained their brand loyalty with Peugeot for many years to come.

It has been noted of the initial introduction of the Beetle that wasn’t a smooth one as recollected by most that belong to this era, as this was somewhat a novel machine with an engine that sat at the rear of the vehicle and didn’t require water as well.

Nevertheless, a new generation of motorists took the plunge which began the ‘wave’ of Beetle mania in all of Ceylon. It is recalled of the great interest that was shown by the young ‘cadets’ who joined the civil service who had the ability to obtain a loan to purchase a car and the popular choice was the VW Beetle. It must also be mentioned of the many University Dons who took to the wheel of the ‘Mighty Bug’ thanks to the ease of handling on the winding roads which lead them to their campuses.

The popularity of the Mighty Beetle found owners from all parts of this island, may it be from the sunny north to the chilly hill countryside and the south having sold over 3,500 examples within a seven-year span prior to the restriction era that came into effect in 1960. Notwithstanding the restrictions, Beetles continued to find their way to the isle with the introduction of the famous 1,300 model and the sought after 1303 models that have an ardent following amongst both the young and old.

It is no wonder of its worldwide popularity as the sight of a Beetle radiates a smile to most as it seems to re-kindle a sense of joy which in all probability may be in keeping to its origins being the KDF Wagen which meant the strength through Joy Wagon. Given the ardent popularity of the ‘Mighty Bug’, the Volkswagen Beetle Owners’ Club, along with The Mount Lavinia Hotel and the Galle Face Hotel, has made arrangements to hold the Annual World Volkswagen Day Celebration on Sunday 26 June starting at 8 a.m.

The club has also come up with a novel project which may be a first carried out by any motoring club in Lanka, by launching a raffle with the prized winner who would take home a collectors Vintage Oval VW Beetle in ‘pristine’ condition. 

All VW owners regardless of the models are cordially invited to be a part of this unique motoring event and join in the parade and the activities of the celebration. Please contact the Club Secretary Nalin Perera (mobile: 071-7268998).