Just ran across another interesting clip...

Not only did Tatra (Hans Ledwinka) have a patent infringement suit pending against Dr. Porsche before the war started (rear engine, swing axle, air-cooled, flat four). That wasn't the only car which was "very" beetle like. But Hitler said and did nothing about those cars, since they were German. Mercedes Benz also had two, inexpensive rear engined models in 1935/36, but they were water-cooled inline fours, but still think old Adolf had anything to do with the shape of the "People’s Car"? The prototype mid-engine red roadster in this clip I'm including is pretty cool too.

Hitler considered the Tatra T-97 to be "too similar" (big surprise!) to his own pet KdF-Wagen project which was to be produced at the new Volkswagen factory in Wolfsburg, Germany. Even though the Tatra T-97 was listed at more then five and a half times the KdF-Wagen's targeted selling price and had been for sale since 1936 at that price. In 1938 Hitler ordered Tatra to remove the T-97 from the Berlin Autosalon, and banned them from import or for sale in Germany because of their close resemblance to Porsche’s KdF-Wagen which was going to be introduced at the 1939 Autosalon.

When Hitler was informed by Dr. Porsche that he (Porsche) was going to settle with Tatra Motors on the suit, since he himself was honest enough to "fess up" that he had copied some of the Tatra designs from Ledwinka, Hitler informed him to; "…do nothing for now, I will take care of the problem."

Hmmmm, I doubt Dr. Porsche knew that Hitler's complete take over of that nation and the Czechoslovakian Tatra company was the solution in the works.

Goto:

Vintage Mercedes Round-Up - Video - Jay Leno's Garage

 

So WWII came about because of a copyright issue

 

Naaaah, I don't think so. But cute take on the patent suit. I do doubt that Dr. Porsche knew Hitler's intent as per the Czechoslovakian state. But weren't those two Mercedes Benz econo cars just too "beetle like" to be believed?

 

Dang I wanted to blame the lawyers!, but you are correct the first two cars are very beetle like.