1955 Volkswagen EA48 Prototype

The Volkswagen EA48 Prototype, built in 1955, was VW’s first serious attempt at a car smaller than the Beetle. At just 3,380 mm long, it was nearly identical in size to the later Mini and was intended to slot beneath the Type 1 in Volkswagen’s growing lineup. The project was led by Gustav Mayer, who had previously worked at Lloyd, one of Germany’s specialist small car makers.

Mayer’s design was a simple two-box saloon with front-wheel drive, powered by a 600cc air-cooled flat-twin engine. The prototype was basic and unfinished in some respects—it lacked rear side windows and had no opening trunk, though both would have been added if the car had reached production.