Tubeless Tires in 1957

The 1957 Volkswagen Beetle received tubeless tires for the first time. The horizontally opposed, overhead-valve four-cylinder air-cooled engine had a light alloy block and finned cylinders. It displaced 72.7 cubic-inches and produced 36 SAE horsepower. They had a four-speed manual transmission, worm and nut steering, and hydraulic drums at all four corners. Another new addition to the Beetle was the adjustable striker on each door. The front heater outlets were moved toward the rear which was done to improve heat distribution. The Volkswagen Beetle was available as a 2-door sedan, 2-door sedan with a sunroof, or as a convertible sedan. Pricing ranged from $1500 - $2000. By Daniel Vaughan