74 vin but swing axle?

[Northof49]

My beetle pan has a 1973/74 VIN #, but has a swing axle with z bar. There are no signs of the chassis or torsion tube having been modified, cut, sectioned, etc. Any idea of what the story is on this? Also, it has a ball joint front beam. I bought this beetle, used, in the early 80's.
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1958 Karmann Ghia owner

[Q-Dog]

It's probably a Canada spec car.
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Brian

'69 Dune Buggy
'69 Beetle Convertible
'70 Beetle

[ashman40]

Yup. The US-market Beetles switched to IRS (CV joint) rear axles in 1969, but outside the US swing-axle transmissions were common all the way to the last Beetle in 2003.

My '75 has a (US '68-style) swing-axle.
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AshMan40
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'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!}

[Northof49]

Very interesting. I wonder if someone from Canada who has a similar beetle configuration can confirm the extended use of swing axle beetles here. I couldn't figure out how, or why, someone would have swapped to a swing axle. The surface of the frame is quite pristine at the rear, and I would be able to see if any splicing and welding was done to retrofit swing axle rear frame horns, or cut off old irs trailing arm mounts.
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1958 Karmann Ghia owner

[Hyperspace]

I have a 78 standard bug with kingpin front, swingaxle rears...but it is non-US.
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If you can't fix it with a hammer, it is an electrical fault.

Photo's http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=Hyperspace&show_results=summary

[Bob Loblaw]

[Northof49]

Thanks. This is a great forum. So much experience here.
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1958 Karmann Ghia owner

[19super73]

You sure it isn't a Euro spec car?
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1970 Campmobile [url=https://www.vw-mplate.com/mplate-47260.png]Click to view image[/URL]
1970 Fastback 1600 TL
1971 Doka [url=https://www.vw-mplate.com/mplate-14845.png]Click to view image[/URL]
1973 Super Beetle
1973 Westfalia [url=https://www.vw-mplate.com/mplate-31892.png]Click to view image[/URL]
1974 412 Variant
1975 La Grande Bug
1984 Vanagon

[Northof49]

The vin is:

113287xxxx
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1958 Karmann Ghia owner

[Cerot]

Plenty of post 68 Swing Axles up here in Canada, I just yanked one out of a 73 at the wrecker. The 73 was bought as a staff car for putting around the mill here in town, they had a fleet of them that were some kind of ultra cheap base model all with swing axle and no trim.

[Hyperspace]

I'm kinda glad for the kingpin setup... more stuff you can repair yourself.
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If you can't fix it with a hammer, it is an electrical fault.

Photo's http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=Hyperspace&show_results=summary

[slalombuggy]

[Joel]

It was only North America that got standards in IRS probably because of the stink Nader kicked up.

Europe, Mexico, Brazil, Asia, South Africa etc all got stuck with swing axle (excluding autos obviously)
They stayed swing axle here in Oz too except for the last year of production in 76 only cos they had a surplus of Super Beetle trans and engines.

[Northof49]

This really makes ordering parts for the rear brakes and drive confusing. What year should I use for rear brake parts? 1968? I need e brake cables.
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1958 Karmann Ghia owner

[jhicken]