In the bustling heart of West Germany, nestled amidst lush green plains and intersecting waterways, lies the city of Wolfsburg – home to the world-renowned Volkswagen factory. The 1970s marked a crucial period for the automobile industry, with Volkswagen at the helm, leading with innovation and a vision for the future. This trip down memory lane revisits the Volkswagen Factory in Wolfsburg in 1970 through a series of captivating color photographs, painting a vivid picture of an era that redefined the motor industry.
These photographs offer a glimpse into the colossal Volkswagen factory, often referred to as the powerhouse of Germany’s post-war “economic miracle.” Amidst the hum of machinery and the synchronized dance of assembly lines, the first thing that strikes you is the sheer scale of operations. Imagine a facility sprawling over 6.5 square kilometers, buzzing with thousands of dedicated workers meticulously piecing together what would become a global symbol of reliability and German engineering prowess.
The vibrant photos show rows upon rows of the iconic Volkswagen Beetles in various stages of assembly. Brightly colored car bodies can be seen suspended from overhead conveyors, descending slowly towards the factory floor where awaiting chassis are lined up, ready to be married with their upper counterparts. It’s a symphony of precision and efficiency, a testament to Volkswagen’s attention to detail and commitment to quality.
A fine set of colour photos but credit should be given to the photographer Bruce Thomas from Australia. He took these pictures on 11 August 1970 at the start of the 1971 model year and the very first examples of the 1302 ‘Super Beetle’ can be seen on the production lines.
Australian photographer Bruce Thomas recorded these superb colour images of the production lines at Volkswagenwerk Wolfsburg on 11 August 1970, the start of the 1971 Model Year.
Models shown in the photos he took are the brand new 1302 Super Beetle (possibly week 2 of series production) plus the VW 411, VW Type 181 and even a Audi 100.
Some of the 16 photos he took are missing from this article. To see the full set, see this link to a post I put up on Facebook some time ago – https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.821210122885174&type=3