A symbol of counter-culture freedom today, the Volkswagen Beetle’s origins are actually found in 1930s Germany. Produced for 65 years, from 1938 to 2003, with more than 21.5 million examples built, the rear-engined, air-cooled icon of 20th-century transport was originally called the Type 1.

It was born from a desire for German residents to have access to an inexpensive, robust, and simple “people’s car.” While legendary engineer Ferdinand Porsche is often credited as its designer, it shares overwhelming similarities with a 1925 design from Béla Barényi, as well as taking heavy inspiration from a mid-1930s Czech Tatra 97.

The name Volkswagen translates to “people’s car,” and the Beetle, which didn’t get that name until 1968, really found its feet after World War II when its simple, dependable platform, cheap purchase price and running costs, and rugged reliability made it wildly popular the world over. Powered by a small, horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine, what started with just 1131cc eventually grew as large as 1584cc, while disc brakes, power steering, impact-absorbing bumpers, winding glass windows, 12-volt electrics, and other advances made their way onto the Beetle.

During the 1960s, they became an icon of the counter-culture hippy movement, and their familiar styling (which was left largely unchanged for the entire 65-year production) meant Beetles were a common sight on the roads, no matter where on the planet you were. Their simple bones also meant they were easily upgraded, and Beetles were being raced competitively as far back as the 1950s, including at the famed Bathurst touring car race.

The Volkswagen Beetle transcends car culture to often be regarded as one of the most important vehicles of all time.