This 1949 Volkswagen Beetle Is FAMOUS! Here's What It's Like To Drive...

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[richsarchet]

Makes my 40 HP 1962 Bug look like a hot rod! And the luxuries I have...Automatic choke, a left side mirror, seat belts, working turn signals, a radio and a glovebox door.

[abqcrutch]

Mom & dad both owned beetles in the 60s. Dad commuted 35 miles to LA. In mom's beetle, the driver's door didn't latch properly and I'd watch my mom open the door while driving and slam it closed. I'm 5yo, of course I had to try it, sitting in the front passenger seat with no seatbelt. I opened the door a little too far and fell out of the seat. I was holding onto the door handle when mom slammed on the brakes and I ended up in the footwell with a goose-egg on top of my head from where I smashed into the dash. I'd forgotten about it until I watched your vid. Thanks guys!

[kompostmozart]

Grüße from Germany 😄 I‘m feeling you, we have one from 48 and it‘s really hard to learn the unsynched shifting for not-old people these days. Actually upshifting is quite easy, downshifting is the real pain, especially because you don‘t drive these cars on a daily basis. Nice video, appreciated in the homeland 💪🏼

[Audi_cab.]

Here in Germany this First Type of Beetle is called the „Brezel Käfer“ Couse of its unique Rear Windows.

Greetings from Germany! Keep up the good work!

[nicogi]

Kase's smile says it all! Great video guys :)

[henryhawthorn]

I’ve heard that the earliest VW Beetles had no fuel gauge, but instead had a deep stick to measure the fuel level, just like it’s done in measuring the oil level in the engine. I also heard that in the earliest Beetles, if the engine started to sputter because it was low on fuel, that there was a knob that the driver would turn in order to release an extra reserve of gasoline. In the video I didn’t see any fuel gauge, but just a speedometer, and an odometer. So it’s probably true that the earliest VW Beetles had no fuel gauge. You just can’t get any simpler, and basic than those early cars. I didn’t know that it didn’t have any side view mirror, not even in the driver’s side.

[robtanner]

Thanks for taking time to show some respect to the OG VW

[hmmhmmmmhh]

Kase and Tommy testning a true classic, does not get much better than that!

[wilmarbarrick]

I'm just impressed they're 2 under 30s that know how to drive a stick in the U.S.A.

[johnwjeromejr]

I had a bright red VW bug (standard bug, not the SuperBeatle). 60 HP may not sound like much, but, due to its super light weight, it was quick off the line and had a "killer" 2nd gear that was much quicker than that of other economy cars of that era. The engine had high displacement (1.6 liter) for the stated horsepower and curb weight which contributed to its feeling of peppiness.

[lunabouch]

My first of 4 Beetles was a 1960 that I bought with my graduation from high school gift of $100 in 1971. It was definitely well used and had some issues but it was my first car and will never be forgotten.

[crittercherry]

Skinny tires: I was going through a really old magazine one day and came across a VW Beetle ad, mostly about the tires. The main line read: The secret to less tire wear, is less tire. Remember, tires went fast back then. Good tires, even faster.

[KyleJewell]

I got my dad a 1957 small window beetle. They are so fun to drive

[Stuka]

I have driven quite a few bugs. From an early 60's model, to a 70's super, to a late 90's mexican market car. They are all fun cars to drive. All very slow, but fun cars.

[gregamos]

Very cool! I’ve owned two different VW’s. Loved them both.

[michaelbressette]

The angle of the rear wheels is why I liked this model I don't remember any other car that had this design.
That beetle is gorgeous.
The one aspect of this car I hated so much was the close proximity of the brake to the clutch & for anyone with large feet <MOI> makes it exceptionally hard to drive & I noticed the driver did the same thing as I use to do engage both brake & clutch at the same time.
I really like that whiney hissy sound as the speed increases & upshifting.
At the end that nice teensy weensy clunk sound on shifting from first to second. I forgot about that sound when the gear was slightly out of sync.
A real jewel this beetle is.
Thanks for sharing this event with us.

[WillysCJ]

To put in perspective my lawn tractor has the same horse power. Those skinny tires and rear engine helped in winter snow not to mention other bad road conditions. There are old Land Rover guys that still swear by the skinnier tire. I do like them on some rough roads.

[rik]

Owned a '58 (36 hp) and a '66 (50 hp). Yes they were slow even by mid 60's standards. The engine was very loud on the inside of the car at highway speeds and the heater/defroster was miserably weak unless you were on the highway. The engines would last over 100, 000 miles driven flatout at 60-65 mph unlike their import competition (Renault, Fiat, and the British) which would clap out at about 60, 000 miles or less. German Bosch and French Ducellier electrics were as reliable as American electrics of the era (Delco, Autolite, etc) and miles ahead of Lucas (British) and the even worse Magneti Marelli in Fiats and other Italian cars.

[patrickchubey]

I'd sooner have the 49 bug than the id4.

[robervin]

Omg our iconic duo brothers review a iconic vehicle