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Tue Dec 11, 2007 11:34 pm

were the type 4's made? i am getting into these things, and i'm doing a research paper for school about them, i also plan on putting a type 4 engine in my super beetle so i want to learn more about performance parts and options. thanks

Wed Dec 12, 2007 2:37 am

they were sold from 1968(so model year 1969) to march of 1975 (still model year 1974).

so they were made from 1968-1974.

i think that this is correct.

Sat Apr 05, 2008 7:57 am

no they made them past the years of 74. up to 79 they were making type 4s into the 2.0 style

type 4s werel brought up to make everything better, the horrible magnesium alloy from the type 1s were to thin, not strong enough, and provided for lower horsepower.

everything on type 4 vs the type 1 is just bigger and better.

as far as performance theyre coming out with the crazyiest enginges especially for a superbeetle.

it just depends on what you wana spend$$$$$

Sat Apr 05, 2008 10:53 am

If what I have heard is right then Blueyzdave is correct for the US, 69my to 74my. I think they continued to be made and sold in Europe through at least the 76 model year. Best year sales for the US were '74, why did they stop when sales were up? The T4 engines would still used in the Vanagon as late as the 83my however.

It is too bad they didn't come up with a DTM cooling system and drop (or lift :lol: ) the engine into the Bugs. Stretch the Bug 6-8 inches to make a 4dr and power it with a 2.0 T4 engine and you would have had a really fine car.

Sat Apr 05, 2008 12:13 pm

ha i just pictured the bug you talked about wildthings and thats a wild idea.

it can be done, you should do it!

Sat Apr 05, 2008 12:51 pm

Type 4 cars (411 and 412) were made 1969-74 internationally. They were officially imported into the states 1971-74.

The Type IV engine continued through 1979 in the Type 2 bus and early 1983 with the Vanagon, although Vanagon engines had slight differences. The engines were also featured in the Porsche 914 (1970-76) and the 912 (1976 only).

(The above features US naming of vehicles and years are model years.)

Edit: My '71 Super Beetle had a 2056cc Type IV engine. Fantastic!

Sat Apr 05, 2008 2:02 pm

SublimeBus wrote: ha i just pictured the bug you talked about wildthings and thats a wild idea.

it can be done, you should do it!

If I didn't own a 411 into which I have put so much time and effort already, I probably would. Need to find two Bugs suitable for the project and park them out back in case the day ever comes.

Sat Apr 05, 2008 7:35 pm

Quote: It is too bad they didn't come up with a DTM cooling system and drop (or lift :lol: ) the engine into the Bugs. Stretch the Bug 6-8 inches to make a 4dr and power it with a 2.0 T4 engine and you would have had a really fine car.

LOL a 4 door bug, i would cry that would look ridiculous. Leave it alone and put the 2 litre or even the T4 1700 or 1800 and dual carb it. Now that would be a fun car, I think VW should have done that to the supers then they would be super

Sat Apr 05, 2008 7:40 pm

thanks for the info guys, big plans for the engine going into my 71 super, turbocharged, injected, Type 4 to say the least :lol:

Sun Apr 06, 2008 2:58 am

A 4 door bug as displayed at this years Volksworld show for all 8)

Sun Apr 06, 2008 7:21 am

The reason VW never made a 4 door Type 1 was the fact the body would not have held up. Due to being a non UNIBODY car, the Type 1 did not lend itself to being a 4 door car, the structural weaknesses were far to great to develope a 4 door version. If you tore into that car that was on display, you would find, it more than likely weighs as much as a CAMPER with all the metal they had to add, to stregthen the body.

Sun Apr 06, 2008 9:43 am

DeathBus wrote: The reason VW never made a 4 door Type 1 was the fact the body would not have held up. Due to being a non UNIBODY car, the Type 1 did not lend itself to being a 4 door car, the structural weaknesses were far to great to develope a 4 door version. If you tore into that car that was on display, you would find, it more than likely weighs as much as a CAMPER with all the metal they had to add, to stregthen the body.

Nothing would have stopped VW from upgrading other parts of the Bug or Super had they wished to do so. Not doing so left them with a dying third world seller. An elongated 4dr version would have made a great taxi or small family car compared to the standard 2dr. With the standard Bug they were forced to compete almost on price alone as they could not compete on utility with the more spacious Toyotas or Datsuns.

Sun Apr 06, 2008 11:29 am

Wildthings wrote: DeathBus wrote: The reason VW never made a 4 door Type 1 was the fact the body would not have held up. Due to being a non UNIBODY car, the Type 1 did not lend itself to being a 4 door car, the structural weaknesses were far to great to develope a 4 door version. If you tore into that car that was on display, you would find, it more than likely weighs as much as a CAMPER with all the metal they had to add, to stregthen the body.

Nothing would have stopped VW from upgrading other parts of the Bug or Super had they wished to do so. Not doing so left them with a dying third world seller. An elongated 4dr version would have made a great taxi or small family car compared to the standard 2dr. With the standard Bug they were forced to compete almost on price alone as they could not compete on utility with the more spacious Toyotas or Datsuns.

If you read my post you would have seen the note about the weight issue.

Sun Apr 06, 2008 12:39 pm

I did read your post and would agree that a one off show model might weigh quite a bit more, but that doesn't mean a properly designed production 4dr model would have weighed in the nearly the same as a bus.

Sun Apr 06, 2008 12:47 pm

4 door or 2 door, its still cramped in the back

Sun Apr 06, 2008 2:19 pm

Wildthings wrote: I did read your post and would agree that a one off show model might weigh quite a bit more, but that doesn't mean a properly designed production 4dr model would have weighed in the nearly the same as a bus.

Actually it would, the great thing about a bug is that ITS NOT A UNIBODY, for the design to be turned into a 4 door it would have had to become a unibody car.

Compare the weight or a 411/12 to a beetle, there ya go.

Sun Apr 06, 2008 8:45 pm

The weight of a 4dr T-4 was only about 400-450 pounds heavier than a two door bug of similar vintage, probably 200-250 of that was in the extra doors, door frames, and door hardware. Another 50# was probably in the extra length of the vehicle needed for back seat legroom. This only leaves about 150-200 extra pounds for extra structural weight.

A plain Jane bus was an extra 600# over the weight of a T-4, while additional options made it heavier still.

Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:29 am

yeah but would a 4 door Beetle have the leg room of a Bus or a Type 4?

Thu Apr 10, 2008 8:37 am

I my original post in this thread, where this all started, I said that VW should have stretched the Bug by 6-8 inches. Without doing that, adding two more doors would be worthless.

Thu Apr 10, 2008 11:44 am

Its a vicious circle! :lol: Id say by doing that, it would add too much weight to the car!!!! :lol: