Here Is Why The Original Volkswagen Beetle ‘Ijapa’ Floats On Water (Video)

Here is why the original Volkswagen Beetle hatchback, officially called the Volkswagen Type 1, floats on water. 

Known as Ijapa in Nigeria, original Beetle was a unibody car built on a steel bottom that leaves nothing exposed beneath it. 

Theoretically, original Beetle should float on water as it was well put together and practically airtight. 

Several print and TV ads of the 1960s and 1970s depicted the airtight and floating capabilities of the Volkswagen Beetle. 

Austrian-born automotive engineer and founder of the Porsche AG, Ferdinand Porsche (3 September 1875 – 30 January 1951), is best known for creating the original Volkswagen Beetle hatchback.

The need for a people’s car (Volkswagen in German) was formulated by the leader of Nazi Germany, Adolf Hitler, who wanted a cheap, simple car to be mass-produced for his country’s new road network.

The original Volkswagen Beetle, officially called the Volkswagen Type 1, is a two-door economy car with distinctive rounded rear-end. It is easily one of the most recognizable cars in the history of automobiles.

Popularly known as Ijapa (Tortoise) in Nigeria, the original Volkswagen Beetle, was a unibody car built on a “steel bottom, leaving nothing exposed beneath it”.

• See Also : Justin Bieber’s “Floating” Rolls-Royce With Hidden Wheels Is A Head-turning One-off Coupe

Theoretically, the original Volkswagen Beetle should float on water or flooded rain water as it was well put together and practically airtight.

One of several print and TV ads of the 1960s and 1970s depicted the airtight and floating capabilities of the Volkswagen Beetle in the short clip below.

In all, 21,529,464 units of the original Volkswagen Beetle were built, of which 330,251 Cabriolet – making it the longest-running and most-manufactured car of a single platform ever made.

The iconic two-door, rear-engine economy car was a favourite amongst the average middle class Nigerian citizenry due to its efficiency and affordability. It was one of several iconic cars that ruled the Nigerian highways in the 70s and 80s.

• See Also : LAGOS Launches ‘Floating Clinic Boat’ For Emergency, Medical Outreach Services