1935 Volkswagen Maggiolino

Overview

Unfortunately, the only remnants of the
original Maggiolino prototype were photographs. From these photographs,
designers were able to calculate the exact measurements and sizes and
recreate the original prototype. According to Werner Zinke, the
individual responsible for the recreation, every detail was identical
to the original.

The Maggiolino project began in 1934 when Adolf
Hitler desired a 'car of the people' to be built that was economical
and provided ample speed. Ferdinand Porsche was tasked with designing
and building the mechanics of the vehicle. By 1936 three prototypes had
been created, two were sedans and the third was a cabriolet.

With
the onset of the Second World War, the factory that had been created to
produce the Maggiolino was tasked with building military vehicles.