When the reports started coming in the end of March, many were quick to brush this off as an April Fool joke from Volkswagen. As it turns out, this is not a joke anymore. Volkswagen has indeed launched the Volkswagen Classic Ketchup this week at Techno Classica Essen, the world’s largest classic car show in Germany.

Only 1000 units of these ketchup bottles will be available, costing 3.00 Euros each. Those visiting Wolfsburg can also buy these as souvenirs. The Spiced Ketchup recipe was developed in 1970s, as a compliment to the legendary Volkswagen curry sausage served to VW employees at their plant in Wolfsburg.

Volkswagen began first bottling and selling the Spiced Ketchup in 1997. A total of 20,000 bottles were sold that year. Over the years, the popularity of the Spiced Ketchup grew phenomenally. In 2009, a total of 425,000 bottles were sold overall. 100,000 bottles have already been sold in 2010.

The recipe for the VW ketchup is a closely guarded secret. The 1000 units of Classic Ketchup are different from the Spiced Ketchup, although VW does not tell us the exact differences. The Classic Ketchup bottle displays a 1950s-era Volkswagen Beetle on the front.

via paultan