In the late 1950s, Volkswagen began working on a rear-engine prototype that was intended to replace the Beetle. It took three years of development before the prototype, known as the EA97, was completed in 1960. Unlike other experimental Beetle replacements, Volkswagen was so impressed with the design that they hand-built around 200 two-door sedans based on the EA97.

The EA97 featured an elongated, almost pontoon-shaped body and was powered by a 1.1-liter opposed 4-cylinder engine. It had a spacious trunk in the front, adding to its practicality. Volkswagen was so confident in the EA97 that they even started setting up a production line for it. However, as the project neared completion, Volkswagen reconsidered and ultimately decided that the EA97 was too similar to both the Beetle and the Type 3, which was also under development and was eventually released in 1961. Consequently, Volkswagen cancelled the project altogether.

Interestingly, traces of the EA97 can be found in a later Volkswagen model called the Brasilia. The Brasilia was a compact, rear-engine vehicle designed and built in Brazil, primarily for the South American market. Some automotive enthusiasts believe that the design of the Brasilia incorporates elements from the EA97, linking it back to the Beetle replacement concept.

[Image by Charles01 via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY-SA 4.0]