Volks Police

Wheelspin is grateful to author Simon Glen for permission to reproduce photographs taken by him and used in his book Volkswagens of the World

Ever since its civilian production started in earnest, after the war, Volkswagens have been used by a host of police forces worldwide. Ever single model had been pressed into service by cops in just about every country's police force. Naturally, the story begins with the Beetle.

The type 18A Cabriolets

The whole initial reason for building the beetle in 1945-6 was to supply the civilian authorities with cheap cars ; including the military police. But soon after their became a need for custom bodied police cars ; and the demand was meet ; firstly by Hebmüller; more famous for their well proportioned 2 seater coupes.

Hebmüller Police car

What police forces wanted was a 4-door beetle, and Hebmüller began as early as 1946 on a prototype. This was to be the first run of Type 18As, all 4-door cabriolets designed specifically for police duty. The Hebmüller used strengthened sills reinforced with underside steel rails to prevent chassis flex once the roof was removed and 4 holes made for the doors. The Hebmüller had a folding canvas roof, hinged to the outside of the car above the rear wheels, most 18As had four canvas doors; while some later models received 4 steel doors ; giving much improved weather protection. The prototype had the windscreen from the Beetle saloon, production models got the thicker squared off windscreen from the civilian Hebmüller. The paint finish was a drab green throughout, with no chrome work.

Hebmüller received Beetle saloons direct from Wolfsburg and enjoyed a close working relationship with VW. However a factory fire in July 1949 crippled the company, and by 1952 Hebmüller went out of business. Both production of the 4 door cabriolets and the civilian convertible stopped. No record was kept as to how many Hebmüller 18As were produced.

The Papler Police Beetle

In 1950 the firm of Papler started making cabriolets for German Police forces, taking over from Hebmüller since that company was in trouble. Despite the fact that Papler did not benefit from such a close relationship to VW (most were made from existing Beetle saloons ; rather than supplied from Wolfsburg), they produced what many regard as a better model of Type 18A than Hebmüller themselves. Over 200 Papler 18As were built, all came with steel doors and a canvas hood that a much neater affair, being tidily hinged to the inside of the bodywork.

The Papler Police Beetle © Simon Glen, reproduced with grateful permission

In Austria, the firm of Austro-Tatra built over 200 Type 18As, based on designs from the Porsche works. These had 4 steel doors, like the Papler, and judging by the photos I have seen, some had the canvas hood hinged on the inside (like the Papler), while some had roofs hinged to the outside (like the Hebmüller).

The Beetle

The classic Type 1 saloon has also seen extensive use by the world's police forces. Karmann supplied custom adapted police cabriolets to the German police until 1960, although these were designated Type 18A, they were 2 door Karmann cabriolet conversions. Featured is a picture of a Bug used by the New Brunswick police in Canada, now in private hands. Also shown is a Rhineland police soft-top from the 1960s. Naturally, the Mexican police use their own home grown product, as reported in October's Wheelspin. In an officer's own words, "We can't go very fast, but we can get through the tightest places," said Munoz, whose patrol car is a 1999 Volkswagen Bug, a lime green Herbie with a big rack of blue and red police lights strapped to the egg-shaped roof, hanging slightly awkwardly over the edges on both sides. "This is Mexico's sedan," Munoz said before putt-putting down the cobblestone boulevard. "It's like a symbol for us; it's the most practical for battle in the streets, and it lasts a long time."

A 1960 Rhineland Police car

Another form of Canadian mounted police - A New Brunswick Cop car

Police Vans

A Split Screen Incident Room © Simon Glen, reproduced with grateful permission

A Rhineland Bay window Bus

Since its outset, the Type2 has been in use by police forces, mainly in Germany and Switzerland. Pictured are a first generation van fitted out by the Hanover factory as a mobile incident room. The bay was also extensively used, one example having a door in the bay nose which would swing open to reveal the hidden speed radar! The third and fourth generation transporters likewise were pressed into police service.

Yet more VW cop cars here.