On this day in 1972

The 15,007,034th Volkswagen Beetle rolled out of the Volkswagen factory in Wolfsburg, Germany, surpassing the Ford Model T's previous production record to become the most heavily produced car in history.

The Beetle, or the "Strength Through Joy" car, as the Germans initially called it, was the brainchild of Ferdinand Porsche. He developed the Volkswagen on orders from the German government to produce an affordable car for the people.

Developed before World War II, the Beetle did not go into full-scale production until after the war. It became a counter-culture icon in the U.S. during the 1960s largely because it offered an alternative to the extravagant American cars of the time.

I personally learned to drive a manual-shift transmission in a 1974 Sun Bug, a special edition Beetle. With a massive 96.66 cubic inch engine cranking out an impressive 46 hp, my german muscle car was eager to take on Geo Metros and Yugos at every stoplight. Ok, maybe it wasn't the most powerful or quickest car on the road. And it lacked a few luxuries such as heat in the winter. I clearly remember driving on snowy roads with left hand on the steering wheel while I used my right hand to scrape the frost off the INSIDE of the windshield. And it might not have been the most reliable car, as I had to learn to pop-start the car by myself on a regular basis. A feat made simpler once you remember to park with the car on a hill. But my friends will always speak warmly of our high school nights spent cruising for chicks in the Bug. The sunroof wide open and the beautiful sewing machine sound emanating from the rear end.