VW Beetles through the ages

The first Beetle was exported to the U.S. in 1949, and sales started slowly, reaching only 390 by 1951. While Detroit was still caught up in annual model changes, alterations to the Beetle came only slowly.

After six years of production, the small two-piece window was replaced by a slightly larger single oval window. In 1957, an even larger full-width window was installed. For the 1958 model, the dashboard was redesigned, and the turn signals moved to the tops of the fenders. No tailfins, two-tone colors, or Continental spare tire kits.

NEXT: Trend-setting Beetles: 1958-1966