TheSamba.com :: View topic - 110 Model Sedan vs "Std Bug" differences?

Sun Jan 17, 2010 11:13 am

Still a noob on these matters:

I have what appears to be a '71 "110 Basic" Standard Sedan:

For example it has:
Plain 2 bar Black Steering Wheel with no horn ring - just a button.
No extra trim pcs. whatsoever, no wheel trim rings.
Plain Padded Dash - black (now gone)
Blank hole, left next to ash tray, where Aux. Heater switch used to be?
1600 DP engine
Plain black shifter
Carpet, trunk liner are long gone
No Radio (although po could've removed it) no speakers.

Although I've read a few posts with sketchy details can someone briefly outline the differences between the "110" Model and the Standard Beetle Sedan?

Sun Jan 17, 2010 11:53 am

Doesnt sound like anything special. The 110's were a 75 model year only (I think).

Door panels were different, just a slab of black vinyl

Headliner was just the center piece.

Sun Jan 17, 2010 2:12 pm

I agree, all you have is pain jane standard Beetle as opposed to a Super Beetle.
Also the above poster is correct about 110's being '75 only.

Sun Jan 17, 2010 5:32 pm

cfvwtuner and ach60 are right, the Basic '110 is a model that was only produced in 1975. (and if Im not mistaken; some for '76 model as well).

Looking in SkatBag's and 19super73's gallery will show how they appeared inside and out.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=SkatBag
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?search_author=19super73

All black trim (mirror, body molding, ventwings, bumpers with energy absorbing shocks, headlight ring)
No flow-through ventillation. Center only headliner. Fuel Injection engine, Houndstooth seat upholstry, ect..

It may be possible that yours could be a mexican or canadian model imported into the U.S., or some of the parts were changed out by Previous owners throughout years.

Sun Jan 17, 2010 5:37 pm

wow, I am amazed that VW ever put out anything that crappy looking. those door panels look like garbage. I kind of like the headliner just being up top though.

Sun Jan 17, 2010 9:31 pm

I know, that's what I was thinking.

Mon Jan 18, 2010 9:28 am

More info on my '110 here.

http://www.clubveedub.ca/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=34953

As for VW putting out something so "crappy looking" remember what situation they were in in 1975. They needed to bolster the shrinking sales of the Beetle until they could find a solid replacement for it and deal with the strong German Mark at the same time. They are doing the same thing now because of the weak American dollar and are possibly building a plant in the US.

It may be a bare bones car but they are relatively rare which makes it more desirable to restore in my mind. I have never seen another in person and only about 3 on The Samba.

Mon Jan 18, 2010 2:16 pm

19super73 wrote: More info on my '110 here.

http://www.clubveedub.ca/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=34953

As for VW putting out something so "crappy looking" remember what situation they were in in 1975. They needed to bolster the shrinking sales of the Beetle until they could find a solid replacement for it and deal with the strong German Mark at the same time. They are doing the same thing now because of the weak American dollar and are possibly building a plant in the US.

It may be a bare bones car but they are relatively rare which makes it more desirable to restore in my mind. I have never seen another in person and only about 3 on The Samba.
Cool shots. Thanks for the link and pics. Noticed yours has those plastic plugs where the overhead passenger grab handle is supposed to go. I remember DrDarby mentioning those plugs a couple years back, but mine had the grab handle installed on both sides.

Mon Jan 18, 2010 2:43 pm

millerje78 wrote: wow, I am amazed that VW ever put out anything that crappy looking. those door panels look like garbage. I kind of like the headliner just being up top though.

Same here. I really like the headliner though, I may do that with my '72 Super, I love having painted metal inside the car. And that much less headliner to take care of :P

Mon Jan 18, 2010 4:06 pm

a.wilson wrote: 19super73 wrote: More info on my '110 here.

http://www.clubveedub.ca/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=34953

As for VW putting out something so "crappy looking" remember what situation they were in in 1975. They needed to bolster the shrinking sales of the Beetle until they could find a solid replacement for it and deal with the strong German Mark at the same time. They are doing the same thing now because of the weak American dollar and are possibly building a plant in the US.

It may be a bare bones car but they are relatively rare which makes it more desirable to restore in my mind. I have never seen another in person and only about 3 on The Samba.
Cool shots. Thanks for the link and pics. Noticed yours has those plastic plugs where the overhead passenger grab handle is supposed to go. I remember DrDarby mentioning those plugs a couple years back, but mine had the grab handle installed on both sides.

No trouble with the link. Resto work is going slowly but it is at least progressing. Everytime I do something it seems I find a new thing to fix. I don't know why the grab handle was installed on yours, maybe it was the dealership or afterwards by a PO. Except for having the front seats changed out and the rear seats covered, my '110 was pretty much unmolested by all the people who owned it at one time. I have stock front seats for it now with the houndstooth but they are in pretty bad shape. I have the upholstery website from another '110 post that I plan on ordering fabric from.

Tue Jan 19, 2010 1:09 am

The hole to the left of the ash tray is just lazy engineering. Its where the ignition went on the -67 bugs, and instead of getting rid of it they just covered it with the pad.

Tue Jan 19, 2010 1:13 am

skabonner wrote: The hole to the left of the ash tray is just lazy engineering. Its where the ignition went on the -67 bugs, and instead of getting rid of it they just covered it with the pad.

not true, my mate had 2 68 bugs and my 70 that didnt have holes there from the factory

Tue Jan 19, 2010 1:26 am

Buggin_74 wrote: not true, my mate had 2 68 bugs and my 70 that didnt have holes there from the factory

Underneath the dash pad? On my 68 I took off the dash pad and it was there

Tue Jan 19, 2010 1:28 am

we never got dash pads in australia till 73
maybe its just a LHD thing

Tue Jan 19, 2010 1:34 am

Oh yeah. American bugs had to abide by stupid safety standards. Rhd bugs look better after 68.

Tue Jan 19, 2010 9:07 am

skabonner wrote: The hole to the left of the ash tray is just lazy engineering. Its where the ignition went on the -67 bugs, and instead of getting rid of it they just covered it with the pad.

I guess being from California you aren't aware that this was the location of the knob for the gas heater if the car was equiped with one, or at least that is where mine is.

Tue Jan 19, 2010 9:31 pm

according to a Road and Track magazine comparison test in 75, which included the 110 Bug as well as VW's then new Rabbit and a bunch of other cars, the basic Bug was introduced to keep the Bug's escalating price below $3000. the "Custom Bug" was a little more and had the usual VW features. R & T called the 110 "the plainest bug" they'd ever tested. The Bug's price was getting out of hand by the mid 70s and I am quite certain that is the biggest reason for declining sales. A $2425 car in '74 was over $3000 in 75! and by '77, it was just under $3800. The DM vs USD was to blame at the time. Keep in mind that VW sales were softening in the early 70s but rebounded and actually Bug sales increased again in 73 over 72 in the usa. The real decline started when the price jumped a lot. Would you pay $30K for a Corolla?