The top speed of the 1958 Volkswagen Beetle with a 1200 cc engine was 68 mph.
That figure belonged to the Beetle’s basic 1.2-liter flat-four era, when Volkswagen was steadily improving performance without abandoning the car’s simple rear-engine formula. The air-cooled boxer engine remained mounted at the rear and drove the rear wheels through a four-speed transaxle.
The 1958 model was also an important visual update. It gained a larger rectangular rear window, replacing the earlier oval design, and received a revised instrument panel. These changes improved visibility and everyday usability, even though the Beetle’s rounded body and mechanical layout remained familiar.
The 68-mph figure should be read as a period specification rather than a modern test result. Actual speed could vary with body style, gearing, road conditions, wind, load and the accuracy of contemporary speedometers. It is also easy to confuse this car with later, larger-engine Beetles, whose increased displacement and power produced higher published top speeds.