Puebla(Mexico), July 09: The end is nearing for the old Volkswagen Beetle, the much-loved Love Bug which will shortly go the way of other flower power-era icons like kaftans and The Doors. On Thursday, Volkswagen's plant in Mexico -- the only one in the world which still makes the old-style Beetle -- launches one last retro edition of the plucky bug before bringing down the curtain on nearly 70 years of history.
The "people's car" that was first commissioned by Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler and went on to become a symbol of the hippie revolution will almost certainly be put to rest for good by the end of the month, according to the company.
"There has never been a car like it, but I don't think production will go on beyond" the end of July, said Christine Kuhlmeyer, head of corporate communication at Volkswagen in Mexico.

From Iceland to Malaysia, the original Beetle has attracted devoted fans like no other car. A redesigned, sleeker version called the New Beetle was launched in 1998 but at a price of $20,000 to $25,000 is no longer an everyman's car.

George Memetov, who started up the Classic Beetle Club in the Belarus capital Minsk, considers owners of the original air-cooled, rear-engine vehicle to be a special breed. Bureau Report