History's Best Selling Vehicles of 1938

Extra! Extra! Step right up to inspect the definitive collection of first-rate vehicles releases from 1938. Discover the genuine articles of American ingenuity that captured the public's fancy and won nationwide acclaim during this historic era.

1. Volkswagen Beetle

   Released in 1938 by Volkswagen

   On May 26, 1938, a pivotal moment in automotive history occurred not in a showroom, but in a field near Fallersleben, Germany. On this day, Adolf Hitler laid the cornerstone for the massive new factory that would produce the 'People's Car.' The ceremony marked the official launch of the state-driven project for the 'KdF-Wagen' (Strength Through Joy Car), the vehicle that would later become universally known as the Volkswagen Beetle. This event was a major propaganda spectacle, symbolizing a promise of mass motorization for the German people. While the outbreak of World War II would delay this promise for nearly a decade, this date signifies the Beetle’s formal, industrial birth.