Blast From the Past: Top VW Models of All Time

The Five Volkswagens That We’ll Never Forget

When you’ve been manufacturing cars since 1939, you’re going to rack up quite a bit of history. There’s sure to be some big hits, some misses, and more few rides that fell right in the dead center of the bell curve. Although Volkswagen cars hail from Germany, they are very much considered a global staple in automobiles. There’s hardly a corner of the globe where the VW logo can’t be found. Regardless of whether you live in a sleepy Midwestern town, booming metropolis, or eastern European city – there’s a Volkswagen for you. VW is the go-to destination for people all over the world searching for used cars for sale and modern concepts come to life.

In 2021, we’re looking forward to our big releases like the all-electric Volkswagen ID.4 and brand-new VW Taos subcompact SUV. The future looks bright for VW, but we can’t help but look back at the past and think about some of our greatest hits of all time. If you’ll allow us to wax nostalgically for a moment, here are the top five that have left a lasting impact.

The Volkswagen Beetle

We’re putting the VW Beetle at the top of the list because that’s exactly where it should be. It’s iconic, it’s fun, it’s friendly. It was the star of more than a few “Herbie” movies. When a lot of car manufacturers were going square, the Beetle went in the opposite direction with round corners and soft edges. The design alone made the Beetle stand apart from its competitors, but it was also a fun drive that really captured the attention of consumers starting in the 1950’s and maintained it for three decades running. By the 1980’s, over 21 million Beetles had been produced, proving positive that people loved “thinking small” when it came to their automobiles. The Beetle was discontinued for a while until it came back onto the automotive scene with an all-new look in 1998. For older generations, it was a great swell of nostalgia that perfectly combined old and new. For younger car buyers, it was the most fun you could have riding on four wheels. The VW Beetle – no matter which iteration – is perhaps the most iconic vehicle in Volkswagen’s storied history.

The Volkswagen Microbus

When you think of the VW Microbus, you think of the 1960’s, the music of Jerry Garcia, and peace signs and flowers painted adjacent to the VW logo. The Microbus was yet another attempt to shake up the automotive industry, not unlike the VW Beetle. However, instead of “thinking small,” this time Volkswagen went big, offering consumers the first van in a world where cars and trucks were the norm. You could use it for camping and long trips along the interstate. The VW Microbus was a dream when it came to hauling large parties of people and/or cargo cross country, and became the vehicle of choice amongst the free-spirited crowd during a time of revolution and change. The Microbus represented a time and feeling in American culture that we won’t soon forget.

The Volkswagen Rabbit

Although it was released under a rather innocent name, the VW Rabbit haunted the Detroit automotive industry for several years in the 1970’s and 80’s. Imagine the Beetle, but improved in both its design and how it handled. In fact, the front-drive chassis would go on to be used in several different future releases that included convertibles and speedy little GTIs. The VW Rabbit was the toast of the town when it came to economy cars, leaving all would-be competitors in Detroit scratching their heads over the immense popularity of this ultra-compact German release. The Rabbit and the Beetle had changed the game, and American manufacturers were being left in the dust.

The Volkswagen Jetta

American consumers loved the Jetta because they already were sold on the Rabbit. That’s how it was pitched to consumers back in when it was first released in 1979…a VW Rabbit, but with a trunk. The Jetta represented Volkswagen’s ability to go more premium with its design, leaning on the inspired Giorgetto Giugiaro to make the VW name synonymous with high-quality and luxury. The Jetta was both a gorgeous sedan that people could actually afford, stealing some market share away from the likes of Mercedes and BMW when it really gained popularity in the 1980’s. The modern VW Jetta remains a staple in the Volkswagen line-up of affordable and fun sedans. Finding a VW Jetta for sale should be no problem.

The Volkswagen GTI

Originally launched in 1976 as the Golf GTI (mark 1), this car has gone through endless modifications, adjustments, and improvements…and it’s never been not fun to drive. It’s small, it’s speedy. At one point in history, it was faster than a Porsche (if you can believe it). If you saw the letters “GTI” on the VW, you knew you were in for a good time. With the mark 6 edition of the VW Golf GTI Cabriolet, you could get the vehicle in a convertible version, which made VW one of the most popular summer cruisers you could get your hands on. The VW Golf GTI W12-650 made waves with its top speed of 202 mph. The beauty of the GTI is that there are more than 25 iterations, each one better than the next. It truly represents the constant evolution of VW to always go better, but maybe not necessarily bigger in size. There should be several iterations of the VW Golf for sale – both standard and GTI versions.

Test Drive a Volkswagen Today!

The team at VW Cypress in Houston has plenty of Volkswagen models for sale, both older models and our latest and greatest. Used Volkswagens are renowned for being one of the most reliable cars in the automotive industry. Fun to drive, easy to maintain, and loaded with features. The best way to see our line-up of used cars is to search “VW dealership near me” or to visit VW Cypress, conveniently located at 19550 Northwest Fwy. in Houston, TX. Use the contact form to schedule your appointment for a test drive.

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