Founded in 1937, Volkswagen began life under the Nazi-controlled German government, but it was after WWII that the brand successfully started producing cars, thanks to the British army's intervention. The German automaker quickly recovered from its dark origins to become what it is today; one of the largest and most valuable automotive manufacturers in the world, occasionally battling against global giants like Toyota, Ford, Honda, General Motors, and more.
Today, Volkswagen is popular for being the brand behind iconic classic cars like the Volkswagen Beetle and the Type 2 microbus. After all, the German automaker owes its success to the aforementioned models. Thanks to passionate engineering, Volkswagen continued producing other legendary cars like the Golf and Corrado that went a long way to serve as a foundation for modern Volkswagens that thrill, serve and inspire millions of people globally.
Most classic Volkswagens revolutionized the industry and still hold their value. Here are 10 classic Volkswagens that'll soon be worth a fortune.
10 1991-1995 Volkswagen Corrado VR6
While the standard Corrado was fantastic, it's the VR6 variant that elevated the Corrado nameplate to high-performance standards. Marketed as Corrado SLC (sport luxury coupe) in North America, it boasted a 2.8-liter VR6 engine that produced 179 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque.
Powerful, comfortable, and stylish, the Corrado VR6 defined Volkswagen's sports coupe brilliance during the 1990s. It's a shame the automaker made it difficult to purchase the Corrado by limiting its production to 97,521 only. Today, they are quite rare, making them highly desirable to collectors and enthusiasts. Averaging $17,128 on the used car market, their prices are on an upward trajectory.
9 2003 Volkswagen Golf R32
In 2003, Volkswagen introduced the high-performance Golf R32 as a new addition to the MK4 Golf range. This beauty of a hot hatch featured a 3.2-liter VR6 engine – borrowed from the Audi TT – that churned out 237 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque.
On top of that, the R32 was the world's first production car equipped with a dual-shift gearbox, helping the car jet to 60mph in under 6.5 seconds. Unfortunately, the R32 had a short production life despite gaining instant popularity back then. With about 5,000 units produced for the US market, these R32s continue to hold their value, and used examples are hard to come by.
8 1984 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI
While the classic VW Beetle was iconic for its looks, the 1984 Volkswagen Rabbit GTI gained a cult-like following for its performance. Before its introduction in the US, the Volkswagen brand was associated with small, cute, and boring cars, but the GTI revolutionized the landscape and took America by storm. It was quick, affordable, and super fun to drive.
Earlier GTI models came with a 108-hp 1.6-liter engine that combined with a close-ratio 4-speed manual transmission to propel the car to 60 mph in about 9.0 seconds and on to a top speed of 113 mph. Power later increased to 110 hp, and a 5-speed manual became standard. Today, the original Rabbit GTI is highly sort after by collectors, with good condition examples fetching over $50,000.
7 1950-1964 Volkswagen Beetle
Although Volkswagen created the Type 1 Beetle in the late 1930s, it was until the 1950s that the German automaker mass-produced the car for European and North America markets. It was an instant hit. Cute, lovable, and revolutionary, the VW Beetle was a head-turner with its rounded styling and huge headlights.
It set the standards for other rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive cars that followed later, including GM's Chevrolet Corvair in 1959. The classic Beetle continues to amass fans and enthusiasts worldwide despite being in production for over half a century. Demand for decent-used and rare examples is on the rise, and so are prices. Early Beetles made between 1950-1964 are the most desirable.
6 2001-2003 Volkswagen New Beetle RSi
The Volkswagen New Beetle is what you get when you add performance and modern technology to the classic Beetle. Introduced in 1998, reviewers and buyers swooned over it. It recaptured past glories of the old Beetle, only this time, in a modernized package.
A few years later, the German automaker introduced the high-performance RSi, featuring a 221-hp 3.2-liter VR6 engine that sent power to all wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission. A carbon fiber-trimmed interior, Recaro bucket seats, and bright orange leather rounded off the car's interior upgrades. Limited to 250 units only, the Volkswagen New Beetle RSi costs between $40k-$50k, with low mileage examples fetching around $70,000.
5 1967 Volkswagen Type 2 (Microbus)
While the Volkswagen Beetle took the world by storm, the German automaker had yet another hit on its hands – the 1950 VW Type 2. Based on its lesser brother, it featured the now classic rounded design, oversized VW logo, huge headlights, several windows, and a rear-engine configuration.
But it wasn't until the 1960s that the Type 2s soared to global popularity, eventually becoming the legitimate forerunner to today's passenger and cargo vans. With the first-generation T1's prices over the roof, the 1967 T2 is an affordable alternative today whose prices will skyrocket soon.
4 1979-1984 Volkswagen Jetta
Despite the Golf's success in North America, Volkswagen realized the hatchback body style lacked some appeal to fans of the traditional three-box design. But instead of creating a new car from the ground up, Volkswagen basically added a trunk to the Rabbit to produce the sturdy and larger VW Jetta sedan.
And like other Volkswagens that preceded it, the Jetta became the top-selling European car in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Earlier models came with a 76-hp 1.6-liter engine. Although not the most powerful sedan back then, the Jetta A1 marks a defining moment in the automaker's history, making it highly desirable today.
3 1961-1969 Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia Type 34
Introduced in 1955, the Karmann-Ghia is arguably the most beautiful Volkswagen car ever produced. Mechanically based on the Beetle Type 1, the Karmann-Ghia boasted Karmann's hand-shaped bodywork and styling by Italy's Carrozzeria Ghia. But Volkswagen was not done yet.
In 1961, the automaker introduced the Karmann-Ghia Type 34 based on the Beetle Type 3. It was Volkswagen's most expensive and luxurious car during the 1960s until the Porsche 914 came along in 1969. A timeless classic, the Volkswagen Karmann-Ghia Type 34 is unconventionally scarce today as only 42,505 units saw the light of the sun.
2 1990-1991 Volkswagen Golf (Mk2) G60
While the original Golf was impressive, the second-generation model (MK2) improved upon its predecessor's weaknesses. It was larger, more practical, safer, and more agile. One of the best hot hatches from the '80s, the Golf MK2 achieved all this without killing the driving fun.
While the standard Golf harnessed 112 hp from the 1.8-liter engine, Volkswagen upped the ante with the limited production Golf G60 model. Based on the Rallye Golf, the supercharged G60 produced 160 hp, but reliable sources claim it could produce more than 200 hp. Limited to 71 units, the G60 is one of the rarest Volkswagens ever made, making it highly desirable despite its skyrocketing prices.
1 1973-1976 Volkswagen SP2
Brazil's closure on imports in the 1970s was sort of a blessing in disguise as the South American country saw a bunch of unique locally-built cars pop up. Among those cars was the gorgeous Volkswagen SP2. Based on the Volkswagen Type 3, it featured a rear-mounted air-cooled engine.
With only 3 years of production resulting in around 10,000 units, not many people know the SP2 exists. Rust ended up sending many to the junkyard early, the reason only a few are left plying Brazilian roads. Because only a few got sneaked out of the country, the SP2 has become a collector's item. Prices start at $28,000 in the US with those in excellent condition fetching around $50,000. Prices are only bound to go up.