Why did hippies drive volkswagons?

[Capitalist]

During the late 1960's and early 1970's - The Hippy (Free-Love-Communistic) movement liked to drive around the United States in Volkswagons.

Yet Volkswagon was an automobile created by NAZI Germany and a brainstorm of Adolf Hitler copied from the American Capitalistic Henry Ford's - Model T.

I just find it so IRONIC & HYPOCRITICAL that the peace movement would pick such a car with a dark history to be it's primary mode of transportation.

[pce]

bugs are cheap. easy on the budgie.

[MJM]

Communist I don't think so Liberal left perhaps.
Do you propose everyone walks around unless they're capitalists?Being that all modes of car production are based on Fords ideas.
It's about making a better future not deleting the past(as capitalists try to)

[Son of Scargill]

The VW beetle was actually the idea of Ferdinand Porsche,Hitler just came up with the name and a way of ripping off the working class.His plan was for people to pay installments into the "people's car"project and eventually they would get one for themselves.Of course they got fuck all and Hitler got lots of Panzers and anti-aircraft guns.Typical capitalist!
Regarding hippies though,as pce says,they're cheap,reliable(as long as you keep putting oil in it)real easy to work on,and slow enough to drive while you're stoned out of your head.Ideal for any trip!!
Btw,the original panzers were built using Skoda engines and chassis's(sad anorak fact No.239)

[El Commandante]

Also the VW van had quite a lot of room in the back so you could crash in it, once you've paid for the van you dont need to pay for accomodation, some even have a sink and grill, oooooh :o. Also as SOS said they are very reliable, you still see them running on the road today.

[CommieBastard]

boy do i need one of them...

[El Commandante]

They are so classically cool, they are brilliant vehicles, I would love one, but they are quite pricey now because they aren't made anymore except by specialists. A pity really... I would just be happy with getting any car. I have to make do with my mouth to make the "brum" sound and an imaginary stearing wheel, YAY! Not long till I can drive, I'll warn you all when it happens and if you are sane you will get off the road, muhaha.

[Capitalist]

I agree that Porshe made the Volkswagon.

But the People's Car was an idea that Hitler got from Henry Ford. Henry Ford created the Model T so that everyone could afford and drive a car. Not just the wealthy. What a great Capitalistic Idea!

[CommieBastard]

I think you will find that his reasons were not that everyone would be able to drive a car, more that everyone would be able to give him money. He saw an oppurtunity to widen a market which was unexploited, and he jumped in.

[Kez]

Honestly right, there are these brand new Lada 4*4 cars, they are so nice, well nice body, plus they are lada = 70 years life out of, looks well smart
i'll put a link to it if i can find it
lada riva 4*4

comrade kamo

[Capitalist]

Commie Bastard, you are correct - but what is your point? What is wrong with wanting to be rich?

The point is he still contributed to the betterment of this world. Regardless of his motivation.

My point is that Capitalism creates incentive to contribute to society.

As for Tavaressh Kamo, I can't understand a word of your last statement. What the hell are you trying to say?

[El Commandante]

The El Commandante translation from what may seem like chibberish is, he likes the new Lada 4*4 and I think that is a car that he would like because he likes the style and they last for so long. Also he says that if he can find a website about them he will put in a link so you can all see the car that he likes.

I have a purpose now, I translate rubbish into sense, woooohooo.

[MJM]

I actually own a VW Kombi van,pop top camper,stove,sink,water pump,ice box,sleeps 3 adults.
Green and white, it drives like a tank too come to think of it...

[Son of Scargill]

Quote: from TavareeshKamo on 7:53 pm on Dec. 12, 2001
Honestly right, there are these brand new Lada 4*4 cars, they are so nice, well nice body, plus they are lada = 70 years life out of, looks well smart
i'll put a link to it if i can find it
lada riva 4*4

comrade kamo


Kamo,good choice man.Lada Riva's are great tools off-road.They're a bit agricultural to drive,but a lot better at getting you out of the crap than some of these more modern off-road styled cars.Watch out for the transfer box though,if that goes it isn't cheap to replace.But you can fit a Fiat twin cam engine in them and they go like stink!!
One of the better soviet vehicles,unless you count trucks.They made some great trucks.

[Drifter]

hittler came up with the beetle design, its documented unlesss i'm mistaken
he was a brilliant man in some respects

[Avamatha]

Maybe the irony was the point. Wery often hippies draw peace on the VW's logo. And if not so, I believe hippies didn't really think that where these cars are from. Not all Germans were natzis...

[RedCeltic]

The VW Bus was a cheep mode of transport that the hippies could use to get around with there is no statement or connection made by use of the vehicle. Also, while some hippies set up communes to live in, by and large they where not communists, but simply against war, conformity, racism, sexism, etc.

[CommieBastard]

i really dont get this whole thing about looking back...
so the root of VW was with hitler? well, is hitler still linked with them at the present day? does somethings roots determine it's nature?

Capitalist: i am not particularly making a point, other than something which you had stated was incorrect, i was providing a helpful and constructive comment, and it's good of you to admit you were wrong.
I simply like facts stated as they are...
and you will find that both communism and capitalism provide incentives for innovation and betterment, it's just that communism focuses on social innovation as well as material innovation. which is not to say that commies are bad at the latter, just look at the innovative way in which Cuba found to run cars on sugar, and at the invention of the phage in the USSR, some very important, if ignored, innovations. Capitalism is good for innovation only in certain circumstances: we still use oil because it is more profitable than alternatives, and we haven't run out of oil yet.

[Chancho]

Please don't start lauding Ford as a benevolent philanthropist that wanted to enable all citizens to have access to the Model T. Ford invented mass production - the factory line - for that alone as socialists we should keep him in mind as one of the fathers of unchecked consumption and globalisation.

Remember the story of Ford saying of his Model T - "You can have one in any colour you like, so long as its black" - or something like that? ...

Ford was a capitalist pure and simple - he figured out a way to maximise production, made one model that he could market to the greatest number (also keeping his costs to a minimum), and naturally wanted everyone to have one - but to maximise his wealth, not to realise a dream of a great mobilised populous! If ever there was a pure capitalist...

As for the VW - regardless of those involved, the intention was quite socialist - a classless car that was accessible to most. As others have stated, it was 'the people's car'. The original VWs were the only cars to achieve this stated intention.

But don't you love the sick irony now of the 'New Beetle'? A fashion item loaded with gimmicks that only the very comfortable can afford - appealing to a particular 'class'. Here in Aus, the New Beetle has been a flop and its price has dropped by nearly $10K since it was released. You 'd be pretty pissed off if you bought one when they came out!

[El Commandante]

Something else about Henry Ford, he was a staunch opponent of FDR. He funded the Republican party almost single handedly at some points. He often called FDR a communist and a dictator. He was also a hater of unions, he hired a private army to meet protestors during the depression years. He had goons on the shop fall that would beat union activists senseless. He also had paid members of staff whose sole object was to infiltrate unions and workers and inform on them.

Seems like a nice man to work for!

[CommieBastard]

He also supported Hitler and lead an expedition of rich americans to go over to germany and jolly well sort out the problems there, because after all, just a little talk would be needed to get people to back down...
yeah, right, whatever you say matey...