The best air-cooled cars: when they said that air-cooled engines are like marmite, they weren’t lying. As soon as someone mentions air-cooled engines, you automatically think of the Beetle or Porsche, but they’re not the only best air-cooled beasts around—there’s plenty more where they came from.
Air cooling has been around since the 1930s. From Porsche to Fiat, and Honda to Chevrolet, these marques embraced the air-cooled concept. As you can tell by the name, the air-cooled engine relies on a constant flow of air to cool it. Designed to run at high speeds and long periods, air-cooled engines won’t give you too much earache, so you don’t have to worry about neighbours complaining it’s too loud.
If you’re an air-cooled diehard, you’ll be gagging for one of these. For more on how to value and sell your current car before upgrading, check out our internal guide to car valuations.
Volkswagen Beetle
Where do we start with the Beetle? We couldn’t talk about the best air-cooled cars without mentioning the Volkswagen Beetle. It’s the ‘People’s car’—as iconic as they come. Early Beetles with their 1100 cc air-cooled engines delivered just 25 hp yet could carry five people at 100 km/h using under 7 L/100 km. Its rear-mounted air-cooled motor even inspired the Porsche 911 that followed.
Citroën 2 CV
France’s answer to the Beetle, the Citroën 2 CV launched post-war with a 600 cc V2 air-cooled engine, 9 bhp and surprisingly soft off-road ability. Over 3.8 million were built thanks to its ease of repair and legendary suspension.
Chevrolet Corvair
In the 1960s, the Chevrolet Corvair stood out as the only mass-produced American car with a rear-mounted air-cooled flat-six. Early models boasted 80 hp and either a 3-speed manual or 2-speed auto—smart economy and nearly 2 million produced in total.
Fiat 500
Debuting in 1967, the tiny Fiat 500 packed a 500 cc air-cooled rear engine, 22 hp and could hit 59 mph—ideal for narrow European streets. Nearly 4 million sold before 1975.
Trabant 601
During the Cold War, Eastern Europe’s Trabant 601 used a 600 cc two-stroke air-cooled engine and lightweight body. Over 2 million built—proof that simplicity and reliability win every time.
Do you have a favourite air-cooled vehicle? Or perhaps you’re tempted to switch? If you need to free up funds first, let us help you find the best deal on your current car in seconds: value your car now.
