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VW Dictionary
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0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

T-1 See Beetle

T-2 See Bus

T-3 See Type 3

T-4 See Type 4

T-Handle Handle used for decklid on a Beetle or rear hatch on a Split-screen Bus.  So named because it is shaped like a T.

T1 Volkswagen type code for the first generation of VW Buses - 1949-1967 - the Split-Window.

T2 Volkswagen type code for the second generation of VW Buses - 1968 through 1979 - the Bay Window or Bread Loaf.

T3 Volkswagen type code for the third generation of VW Buses - 1980 through 1992 - the Vanagon.

T4 Volkswagen type code for the fourth generation of VW Buses - the Eurovan.

TL Touring Luxo. The Brazilian Type 3 fastback.  Also the model designation of the Fastback in Europe, e.g. 1600TL.

Tach Slang for Tachometer.

Tachometer Electrical or mechanical gauge that indicates RPMs (revolutions per minute) of the engine.

Taper Tips Late 1960s exhaust tip accessory.  See photos below for details

Teak Brown upholstery and interior color.  Often used as a term to refer to the limited production all-brown interior (seats, dashboard, carpet, and so forth) used on 1966 Type 3s and Karmann Ghias.  In Type 3s, it was available as an option on Pearl White vehicles up to Chassis No. 316 140 226.

Telefunken OEM Radio manufacturer for VW.
telefunken1.jpg (29415 bytes)

Tempo Matador VW powered truck built by Vidal and Sohn in Hamburg, Germany.  Produced for a short period of time from 1949 through 1952, powered by a VW 25hp engine and a ZF non-synchro 4-speed transmission.  The drivertain is placed in front, making it a front wheel drive vehicle. Variations were built in both truck and van formats.  1362 were produced in total.

Tetinha In Brazil, it means "little tits". Describes the bullet-shaped indicators of the pointed turn signals used on VW Buses from 1955-1961 in the U.S. marketplace as well as the pointed turn signals used on early Oval Beetles, Ghias, and Type 3s.

Thermador Manufacturer of window-mounted swamp coolers

Thing A Kubelwagen-like Volkswagen (Type 181) designed for and used by the German military until 1991. Produced between the 1968 and 1980, during which about 141,000 were made. Only imported to the U.S. during the peak years of 1973 and 1974.
thing1.jpg (60627 bytes) thing2.jpg (63386 bytes)

Third Brake Light Slang term for the center mount brake-light used on pre-1958 VW Buses.  This was actually the only brake light, not a "third" brake light as the term might indicate. 
thirdbrakelight.jpg (20577 bytes)

Through Rods Long rods of steel, generally with threaded ends that replace the torsion springs to secure the trailing arms into position with nuts or rod clamps.  Generally used when an alternative spring is used such as coil over shocks, air shocks or air bags.  Allows for greater suspension adaptability for desired application and use.

Tieflader See Low Loader

Tilt Metal, wood, and canvas cover used to protect the contents of the bed on a Single Cab or Double Cab
singlecab.jpg (24294 bytes)

Tin See Engine Tin.

Tin Top A non pop top Westfalia Camper.

Toolkit Factory toolkit which came with every VW, tools included and bag varied. See this Forum thread for more information.

Top end Refers to the top portion of an engine including the fuel system, valve covers, heads, cylinders, pistons, valves, rings and other components that generate the power that propels the vehicle.  Also see bottom end

Toro Philippine produced fiberglass Volkswagen special. The 1300 cc engine, transaxle, front axle, steering and suspension were typical Beetle. The instrumentation was Karmann Ghia, as were the windshield and quarter windows. The body (and bumpers were fiberglass and the floor pan was steel.

Tourist Delivery VW program whereby you could pre-order a Volkswagen and pick it up in Europe or other vacations worldwide, use the car to tour, and finally have the car shipped home to a local port for pick-up.  Due to the exchange rate and other factors in the 1960s, it was often cheaper to purchase a vehicle through the Tourist Delivery program than to take delivery from a local dealership.
Also see Tourist Delivery Brochures

Tow Bar Metal bar that typically hooks over the front beam of a VW so it may be towed by another vehicle.

Towel bars Slang term given to the overrider portion of the bumpers on VW Beetles.

Tow'd High-performance dune buggy designed and built by Bruce Meyers

Tow Hitch Metal bar with ball so that a vehicle can tow a trailer or other vehicle from the back.

Trailer Queen Slang term for a trailered car.  Usually refers to a show car.  Not a daily driver.

Trailing Arms Metal "arms" that extend outward from the front beam to hold the front brakes as well as the front shocks.  They pivot on roller bearing inside the front beam to allow for up and down travel. 
trailingarms.jpg (38640 bytes)

Trakbayan A contraction of the Tagalog term Trak nang bayan. Literally: "country truck".  The Trakbayan was developed and produced in the Philippines from 1976 through 1979 and powered by a front-mounted 1600cc Beetle engine.  See also Hormiga

TRAKKA An Australian third-party camper conversion for the Eurovan.

Tranny Slang term for transmission

Transaxle See transmission

Transmission An assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an automobile engine to a live axle.  Also, the speed-changing gears in such an assembly.

Transporter Name for any Type II Volkswagen: deluxes, kombis, trucks, panels, etc.  See Bus

Treasure chest Term for the area located underneath the bed of a Single Cab.  VW literature uses various terms for this loading area, including "lower compartment", "lower loading compartment", "treasure compartment", and "treasure chest".

Trekker The name under which the Type 182 Geländewagen was marketed.

Trike Three-wheeled Volkswagen based vehicle.
trike.jpg (152083 bytes)

Trim Used to describe several things.  Trim levels of a VW vehicle, for example, Deluxe.  Chrome or aluminum moulding trim.

Trim Ring Standard or Accessory ring mounted on the rim and held in by the hubcap. Commonly made of aluminum and polished to a chrome-like finish.  Also see Beauty Ring
beautyrings1.jpg (46416 bytes)

Trip Slang for tripometer.

Tripometer Standard or accessory mile or kilometer counter embedded into the speedometer.   Re-settable by the driver back to zero to allow for the counting of miles on trips or between gas fill ups. 

Tropfenauto German: "droplet-car".  Any highly-streamlined car such as the VW Type 60K10 Aero coupe.  Refers to a teardrop shape.

Trutz of Gotha German coach-builder who produced the body for the Type 82 Kubelwagen.

TS Abbreviation for TheSamba.com  :)  Also an S-Model Type 3 available in the Canadian market place from 1964-65, as indicated by a TS emblem mounted on the back.

Tub The process a vehicle goes through in which the wheel wells are moved up beyond their normal height by cutting and welding.  Often done to increase the range in lowering a Bus or to install larger than stock wheels and tires.

Tumblers Drinking glasses in 1959 - 1964 SO-23s.

Tunnel-case Style of VW transmission used from 1960/61-onward. Successor to the Split-case. Single piece main transmission case. Full synchromesh on all forward gears.

Turnkey  Indicates a complete engine ready for installation, including the generator, coil, and all other necessary accessories.

Turkis German word and often used as slang in the English language for the VW color Turquoise.  Color used on early 1960s Beetle, Buses, and some other models

Type 1 Model Code for the Beetle

Type 115 Standard ragtop sunroof Beetle

Type 117 Deluxe ragtop sunroof Beetle

Type 128 See Kübelwagen

Type 147 See Fridolin

Type 149 Built by VW of Brazil in the 1970's (June 1972 to February 1976) includes the SP1 1600 (1584cc) and the SP2 1700 (1678cc).  Features a sculpted, sporty 2 seat Coupe body married to a Type 3 chassis, Swing Axle Rear Suspension and Type 1 front end.  Also known as Project X / Prototype X.  It bears a loving resemblance to the T3 Fastback, the 411/412 Coupe and its' Porsche cousins.  See SP1 and SP2.

Type 155 See Kübelwagen

Type 166 See Schwimmwagen

Type 181 See Thing

Type 182 The Right-hand drive model of the Thing.  See Safari and Trekker.

Type 2 Model Code for the Bus or Transporter.

Type 21 Panelvan model code

Type 22 Microbus model code

Type 23 Kombi model code

Type 24 Deluxe model code

Type 26 Truck mode code: Single Cab and Double Cab

Type 27 Ambulance model code

Type 28 Microbus (7-seater) model code

Type 3 Model Code for the Squareback, Fastback, Notchback, and Type 3 Ghia

Type 3 Ghia The Type 34 was the flagship model of the entire VW line. It was the most expensive VW available, the fastest, and the most luxurious.  The Type 34 was built from September 1961 through July 1969.  There were a total of 42,505 Coupes built, all at the Karmann factory in Osnabrúck, Germany.  See Razor Edge Ghia.

Type 34 See Type 3 Ghia

Type 4 Model Code for the 411 and 412 automobiles. It also refers to the Type 4 engine used in those automobiles as well as the used used in late-model Buses.

Type 60 The original prototype Beetle. See KdF-Wagen 

Type 62 Prototype version of the Kübelwagen.

Type 82 The production version of the Kübelwagen.

Type 82e KdF Type 82e is the beetle body set on top of a Type 82 or Kübelwagen chassis

Type 87 See Kommandeurswagen.

Tvilling Swedish: "twin". In Sweden, a nickname for the Notchback.

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