Production Years: 1934-1936
Country: Germany
Number Produced: 4,298

Like many other far-sighted European manufacturers, Mercedes and Daimler-Benz focused on the concept of a “people’s car” or “Volkswagen” during the years after World War I. Designer Hans Nibel’s 130H was presented at the Berlin Auto Show of 1934 with a rear-mounted, water-cooled 1.3 liter engine. Though the engine was small, it created an “oversteer” condition. It was not a commercial success, but its ideas evolved into other cars, such as the VW Beetle, of which thirty prototypes were built in 1937.