Photo Gallery VW Buses On Parade
Sixty-thousand visitors came to Hanover over the weekend to admire the over 5,000 examples of the Volkswagen bus on display.
One-hundred-fifty buses took part in a parade to commence the weekend-long celebration. Here, an example of the first generation of VW buses, recognizable by its split window, which gives them the nickname "splitties."
Dutch car dealer Ben Pon had the first idea for the bus. While visiting a VW Beetle factory in 1947, he saw the chasses being used to carry heavy objects ...
... Drawings he made shortly thereafter would lead, three years later, to the first VW buses.
The festival was held in Hanover. The VW factories there for commercial vehicle production employ more than 15,000.
The vehicles have been used for nearly everything. Policemen, firemen, hippies, campers, undertakers, and -- here -- airline companies have put their logos on the bus's flat sides.
In total, the vehicle has had five generations and sold over 10 million times. The first two generations had softer, round edges, while the most recent three have been much boxier.
VW Beetles and buses share the unique engine sound because their engines are based on the same design.
Forty-four-thousand gathered at the festival on Saturday for a live performance of the British rock band, The Who.
