An American Love Story | Volkswagen | Big Game Spot (Extended Cut) 

When this came on during the Super Bowl, my 70yo mom teared up remembering her ‘68 Beetle. My dad started singing the song. And my 45yo brother punched me in the shoulder. Well done, V Dub.

Interesting to start a VW commercial in the 1940s

I am not gonna lie, I got emotional and teared up a little, and no commercial has ever done that to me before. My passion for VWs run deep and this feels like a perfect representation of that love. My ‘69 beetle has been with me since I was a 15 year old. It’s more than a car to me. It’s a family member, that old trusty friend you can always rely on and brings you a smile.

MY SON RICARDO SERRANO , a NEW ACTOR, from MEXICO, in HIS FIRST BIG COMMERCIAL, I am so PROUD,

Back when I was in TV news, I did a piece on the first New Beetle sold in the town where I worked. I got so lucky and it was a colorful guy who gave me great sound bites. This spot reminded of a marketing line I stole and used in the piece. It seems fitting for this spot: “The engine’s up front, but its heart is in the same place.”

I am blown away and wiping away tears. My father repaired VWs my entire childhood as a side project to feed our family. My first car was a ‘69 beetle. The Neil Diamond song is absolutely perfect. “I am … I Said” was my father’s favorite song and was played on repeat in my home. Sadly my father was lost and my parent’s marriage did not survive but the VW Beetle and Neil Diamond are two of the most important icons of my childhood.

This is a rare beautiful commercial. Thoughtful, emotional and intelligent with a great Neil Diamond track. Love it.

is it possible for a commercial to be legendary RIGHT when it comes out. What an iconic spot. goosebumpssssss

Tears. I can't believe how choked up I got at this. Wonderfully done. PS: HERBIE! That was Herbie! ❤

After 4 years of hiding in Argentina, the Volkswagen Beetle was finally recruited through Operation Paperclip.

Icons. VW and Neil Diamond - I’ve owned 6 Volkswagens…our latest is a ‘23 ID4. And I have every one of Neil Diamond’s albums. Love ‘em all

I bought my first car a week ago and it's the 2024 Jetta.. This commercial makes me so happy to be a part of the VW family ❤

Volkswagen history commercial with out 1940 Volkswagen is crazy

This is pure genius by Volkswagen. Nobody sings with more soul than Neil Diamond.

Me and my Dad love VW’s. Surprisingly, he’s the VR6 era enthusiast while I grew up loving the old Beetle. We own a few Jettas, like the Mk4 GLI with a 1.8T and the MK3 GLX with the 2.8L VR6. We even have two Corrados, a Scirroco and a MK4 R32! But be it Aircooled, VR6, TDI or electric, Volkswagen will always have a special place in my heart. 53❤

I loved your cars ever since I saw herbie. That 1963 beetle was a staple of my childhood. I’m now 17 and will hopefully own one of your machines for my first car. Thank you Volkswagen.

My late dad sold Volkswagens in the 60s and 70s until his death in 1976. His name was John W Bugg in Louisville Kentucky and he would love this!

First commercial I never skipped while watching RU-vid. Even went back to watch it again. Great stuff!

A 1966 Beetle was my first car -- drove for 7 years from high school to first years of college teaching! Reliving my youth with a 2019 VW Final Edition convertible - ad is perfect nostalgia with Neil Diamond and made my cry!

My first car was a 1975 super beetle, I was 17. Red. I graduated HS in 1981. I grew up in SF Bay Area. My father had a black split window beetle. I grew up with VW’s. We had another beetle named Vera. We also had a VW van that housed an 8 track tape player and zig zag curtains. My father owned a shop in Berkeley, CA. Repairing VW, Porsche & Audi. VW’s were my childhood. I get emotional seeing them. Amazing ❤

The Budweiser ad was good - I remember Clydesdales, snow & a dog, but it didn't melt my heart & make me search for a video replay. Thank you for the beautiful heartfelt video with an emotional Neil Diamond song. I will replay & share this video many times.

I love Neil Diamond's "I Am . . . I Said" background music for VW's Super Bowl commercial. showing the history of VW. I recall in detail seeing my first VW in 1950 at my home in Ludington, when a friend of my parents pulled up in one. It was life changing.

I hope whoever is responsible for this ad is somewhere right now patting themselves on the back. As the Kentucky Wildcats’ John Calipari once said ‘it’s important to celebrate your victories in life’ and I would consider this to be a great victory! Bravo!

Nailed it. I played this song in the car 20 plus years ago when my daughter was 4. She always called it "the cry song". She texted me as this commercial was playing excited that "the cry song is on"! Thank you for bringing back a simple yet happy memory.

VW does it again. Thanks for the trip through memory lane... the first ride in a Bug with my Uncle Mickey... my parents taking me to my first Neil Diamond concert.... and me taking my Mom to her last. So...many..memories. From the bottom of my heart... THANK YOU.

Best ever advertisement I’ve EVER seen… This is pure brilliance.

I like that you used clips of Herbie The Love Bug in this commercial. I grew up Watching Herbie The Love Bug in the 1980's on VHS. If it wasn't for the Herbie movies, I never would have even known these cars existed.

Wonderful commercial! Made me tear up. Grew up with beetles, grandfather, dad and now me.

Saw this ad at the VW stand at the Chicago Auto Show this week and was just blown away. Hit me right in the feels, perfectly capturing the emotional and deeply personal connection we have with our cars. I know the spot is aimed at the US and Volkswagen’s American history, but it really resonated with this somewhat jaded Canadian auto journo who has never owned a Volkswagen. Hats off to all involved, especially the use of I am… I said. Perfect. 🙂

My senior year in high school (graduated June 1967), I told my father that unlike my classmates, I didn't want a Mustang when I graduated. I wanted a Porsche (he laughed so hard he had to sit down. And he was not reknowned for his raucous sense of humor). A week later - he came home with a 1956 VW Bug - battleship gray, non-synchromesh gear shift, no gas gauge (but with a 1 liter emergency tank tripped by a switch you had to hit with your foot to operate)...and best of all, European turn indicators that came out of the pillar between the front and rear seats (he finally had them disconnected because they were illegal in California and I loved to use them to scare drivers behind me). I did tell him at the time that it was hardly a Porsche; "It's German, baby," he commented as he walked into the house. Learned to drive on that little beauty. Loved it. It ran forever until about 15 years after we got it, my mom was rearended by a Cadillac at a stop sign. In 1961, he bought a VW bus (we were a family of 6 - we needed a big car). Another beautiful car. Miss both those cars and all the memories created.

This commercial is EVERYTHING!!! Taking us back down memory lane of history. The music Volkswagen, each decade, the clothes and what was prevalent. This commercial is happening and hot. Thanks, Volkswagen, for the memories

Dang, wasnt expecting this. Im a 60 year old who is sitting here with tears running down his face. My first car was a 1971 Super Beetle, man the memories this brought up. Thank you for this...hoping everybody has the same reaction!

I would love to hear more about Volkswagen before it came to America, can you talk about 1937 - 1945?

Their was a meeting taken place where they had to emphasize that the beginning of the commercial must be 1949 and nothing before

No doubt this is the best Super Bowl ad LVIII…

Circle Star Theater Redwood City, California Neil Diamond ...DONE DONE DONE... Amazing.... my Dad's favorite song RIP

We grew up with a few in the 60's - sedans and one microbus that we took across country a few times on family vacations. My Dad was an air-cooled German car fan. We lost him in '68.....but not before he brought home a '62 356 coupe....purchased from his friends at the local VW dealer in Norfolk. This all while I was in my early teens. I remember the Small World magazine coming every month....fantastic publication! Thank you Dad and thank you Volkswagen!

Who the hell's chopping onions around here? 🥺 Seriously though, as someone who fell in love with classic VWs because of Herbie, became obsessed with the history and mechanics of the aircooled cars, and found someone to share the rest of my life with who fell for the same charms of those little cars, this ad has me choked up and misty-eyed.

Cried like a baby. My Grandfather came in through Ellis Island, and ended up working on a Ford assembly line. Best commercial ever

I owned a fully restored 1967 beetle for 21 years then lucky enough to have bought a 1966 convertible beetle from the original owner, I guess you can say im a true VW nut. That was a beautiful video. I love you Volkswagen 🫶

The simplicity of the beauty of the beetle is unmatched in the world history of ...fahrzeuge!!!

The best Volkswagen ad I’ve ever seen!

LOVE this ad. I have had VWs since my first car - a 1977 Super Beetle....then came the Golf, Jetta, Passat, Toureg and Atlas....and then after beating Stage 3 breast cancer, my husband got me a 1973 Super Beetle, which is affectionately named Betty. The Beetle will always have my heart and the song choice was perfect. Bravo!

BEST SUPER-BOWL commercial 2024 Hands Down!!! PURE NOSTALGIA - Wonderful memories with the product, “era’s”, history and come on…..NEIL!!!

lmao i looked this commercial up on yt cause when i saw it on TV it literally had a disclaimer, “ you are not in the 60’s, 70’s or 80’s. do not attempt” 💀💀💀

This is one of the only commercials that I've actually watched, brilliant!

i was raving when saw herbie! glad i could see this ad on our TV tonight!

I don't care about VW. But Neil Diamond has been my favorite singer and songwriter of all time, since we were all kids. I love him beyond measure.

I've owned over a dozen VWs, including my first car which was a used 1980 Scirocco. I've had adventures in all of them and here's hoping that the future allows fun, exciting cars to be part of the ongoing DNA into the EV era. This commercial was wonderful.

When I was in high school, the VW Beetle was my dream car. As an adult, I totally forgot about it, until I saw a bright yellow new VW beetle. I've had it for 20 years, & it's definitely my forever car. This commercial totally resonates with me.

I'm not crying, you're crying! I never thought I would see one video that fully explains why I love VWs until now.

This literally brought tears to my eyes. ❤

"You don't understand what happens, do you? They make ten thousand cars, they make them exactly the same way, and one or two of 'em turn out to be something special. Nobody knows why." -Jim Douglas "The Love Bug"

Love this! Captures all the nostalgia of the VW. Bring back the beetle!! ❤❤❤

Those car 'eye' lights have got to be the coolest thing. Ever.

I laughed, I cried, I wondered if God is a Volkswagen driver

I am now going to buy a VW, thank you Neil Diamond, you were my Dad’s favorite!

I’ve owned a mk5, mk7 Jetta and now a VR6 Passat, you paid so much homage to all of us, I cried

Oh, my goodness, such a wonderful advertisement for the classic Volkswagen car! Such a classic singer, Neil Diamond, singing his classic " I Am, I Said!" Love it! No doubt, Neil does, too, x

Just don't look at VW origins further back than 75 years. It's not history you’ll see in any ads.

Artistry went into this -- From the recreated "vintage" scenes spanning the decades, from the switch to colour mid scene (0:55), to it's use of "I am.... I said," , to where they have edited out the horns and percussion tracks at 1:37 to leave just strings and Neil, for dramatic effect, then bring it all back with a bang at 1:54.

What about the 1930s & 40s???

Hey Volkswagen, so when are you bringing back the Beetle?

Not ashamed to say I got choked up a little. Grew up with the 67 in my garage, it's family

Best commercial ever! I have a fully restored 1973 Super Beetle who is like gold to me. Thank you for the nostalgia!

Love this! My first car was a 1973 Beetle. Have had a 66 Beetle for the last 20 years, and just bought a 1979 convertible last year. One of my kids drives a 2001 Jetta

What an AWESOME commercial! Really brought back such great memories. It is an undeniable that VW has made an epic imprint in our hearts with their vehicles. Bravo to the ad executive that chose Neil Diamond’s music!

I bought my first bug from a guy that I worked with. I couldn't drive a stick. I taught myself in the parking lot after everyone left in the afternoon. I later taught my future wife to drive it. Many, many memories made in my many beetles in my different stages of my life.

Great commercial! Anyone that was born in the 60s has a Beetle story….My first car was a 67 Beetle….I bought in 1983…..I have a 1968 Beetle sitting in my garage at home…..What a story it could tell if it could talk…..

Best Super Bowl ad hands down! Good job VW!

I know some may not agree but I thought this was the #1 commercial from the Super Bowl! Being born/raised in So Cal, brought back a lot of emotional memories, precious days gone by, miss you Dad, singing in the car to Neil D, I finally own my Air Cooled Ghia❤

Convenient that you started the commercial in 1949, can you remind me what you were doing in the early 40s?

An American love story?... Ah, yes, the automotive company created at the request of "Bad German mustache man"

Weird the timeline started in 49? What was VW doing before that??

Seeing this commercial brought a tear to my eye and a smile to my face from showing how one of the frist Volkswagen type 1 the beetle came to america, to seeing how the cars bring people together, to how a movie was made about a little Volkswagen beetle that is alive named herbie, to the showcase of the new bus, like the commercial said they shape the metal, we shape the soul, which is so very true we shape the souls of these cars which makes them so special, which is why I am so glad to have my first Car be a 68 Volkswagen beetle that looks like herbie even though I am so young, thank you Volkswagen for making such amazing cars that bring a community together

This is the best VW commercial ever. Our Dad bought one in about 1960. It was the front end of one and back end of another, the work was seamless. We have had several since then. Thanks for making it possible. ❤

This was great. I help people find vintage VWs from all over the world and import them for their enjoyment, this ad captures the passion and nostalgia we have for those quirky bugs, buses and more.

*ANYTHING* Neil Diamond I love!! Two world icons, Neil and VW. 👍👍👍

"We shape its metal. You shape its soul." Now, that's world class copywriting. Hats off to these guys - you made me feel something. Hard to do in commercials (and I'm in the business).

Love seeing my Granddaddy, Lew Wood, cutting the ribbon on the orange VW 🧡

Look, Neil Diamond is one of my favorite musicians, I am a musician, what got me wondering is, Volkswagen was developed by, engineered by, and built by, and they are using a Neil Diamond song for the commercial, anybody understand what I’m saying here

man i grew up in the back of my dads 08 jetta with the 5cyl 5 speed combo, loved that thing to no end. and here i am all these years later owning my own 08 rabbit with the same 5cyl 5 speed combo

This brought tears to my eyes as well. For me it was all about the footage being set to I Am I Said a song that brings back so many childhood memories for me! When I was a kid we used to go on a yearly roadtrip to our ultimate vacation spot and this song and album was always an integral part of those trips. There is a certain stretch of highway that I always associate this with and even to this day if I am driving that stretch this song has to be on. All the historic VW footage set to Neil Diamond make this pretty epic!

Well there is a reason the ad starts right after WWII

I’ll be back, I’m just going to run outside and hug my Beetle named Fancy.

We don’t have this advert over in the UK but caught news of it on the superbowl highlights. Very touching and a great tribute

I had a 1960 Bug. Fell on hard times and with a second baby on the way. Had to sell it in 2017. I tell myself it was for the best because it didn't have seat belts in the back for a car seat. This ad brought me to tears. That Bug never let us down, but i feel like I let IT down. I'll find you again lil red, you'll see...

I'm a Subaru person, but this ad is great. Doesn't hurt that I'm a huge Neil Diamond fan also. Well done Volkswagen.

You should see the 1940 Volkswagen looks like.

My parents had a Volkswagen Scirocco in the early 80's and I'm so glad we have pictures of it. I believe it was a 77 model. Sure wish they had of held on to it. It would be pretty valuable now.

imma be entirely honest, the VW Beetle and Bus caught my eye when I first saw it in Bumblebee and Transformers; Rise of the Beasts. Thank you guys for bringing these legends back!

Great ad ❤ I’m on my sixth VW since 1999

But what was VW doing in the 15 years before 1949?

Got tears in my eyes every time they show'd the people on the street staring at this little Bug. Took my drivers test on a 1961 Bug.

Almost every time I fill up my '67 Beetle people walk over and tell me a story about how there was a Volkswagen in the family. They truly are the people's car. Probably the best Super Bowl commercial this year by far.

Hmmm starts in 1949. What were you guys up to before that?

Video starts in 1949, but what did they do before then?

This gives me a sense of nostalgia I’ve never had with VW. I’ve just seen this ad in the TV and the anted to watch it again, so I searched it up here on RU-vid. I love this ad.

I love VW and I love this commercial. It is produced beautifully with the voice of Neil Diamond. Everything about it. . . . . is fantastic!

That GOLF GTI and the Skateboards. Thats my friends and my life. Well played Volkswagen well played.