Volkswagen Type 4

The Volkswagen Type 4 is a large family car manufactured and marketed by Volkswagen of Germany from 1968 to 1974 in two-door and four-door sedan as well as two-door station wagon body styles. The Type 4 evolved through two generations, the 411 (1968–72) and 412 series (1972–74).

Volkswagen 411/Volkswagen 412
Volkswagen 411 LE Variant
Overview
ManufacturerVolkswagen AG
Production1968–1972 (411)
1972–July 1974 (412)
Body and chassis
ClassMid-size / Large family car (D)
Body style2-door fastback sedan
4-door fastback sedan
3-door estate
LayoutRR layout
RelatedVolkswagen Type 3
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission4-speed manual
3-speed automatic optional
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,500 mm (98.4 in)[1]
Length4,553 mm (179.3 in) (411)
4,583 mm (180.4 in)[1] (412)
Width1,675 mm (65.9 in)[1]
Height1,475 mm (58.1 in)[1]
Curb weight1,020 kg (2,249 lb)
2-door 411
1,120 kg (2,470 lb)
Variant
Chronology
SuccessorVolkswagen Passat

Designed under the direction of Heinrich Nordhoff and introduced at the Paris Motor Show in October 1968,[2] the 411 was Volkswagen's largest passenger vehicle with the company's largest engine with styling credited to Carrozzeria Pininfarina, who at the time had an advisory contract with Volkswagen.[3] The cars retained VW's trademark air-cooled, rear placement, rear-wheel drive, boxer engine with a front/rear weight distribution of 45/55%[3] and a forward cargo storage 400 L (14.1 cu ft)[4] — while also introducing design and engineering departures for the company including a completely flat passenger area floor and suspension using control arms and MacPherson struts. Volkswagen had prototyped a notchback sedan and convertible versions of the 411, without introducing them to production.

Over its six-year production run, Volkswagen manufactured 367,728 Type 4 models, compared with 210,082 of the subsequent Volkswagen K70 with its four-year model life. In the United States, VW sold 119,627 Type 4s from 1971 to July 1974 and in Germany 119,094 cars were sold. South Africa was the 3rd biggest market for the Type 4 with 34,452 sales and the United Kingdom 4th at 13,367.

Volkswagen's last air-cooled sedans and wagons, (aside from the Brasilia which carried on until 1982) the Type 4 models were succeeded by the first generation Passat, marketed as the Dasher in the USA.

Features

1971 Volkswagen 411LE

As Volkswagen's first 4-door saloon, the Type 4 also introduced unibody construction, coil springs, trailing wishbone rear suspension, hydraulic clutch manual transmission as well as MacPherson strut front suspension: the 411's front suspension layout was subsequently adopted for the VW Type 1 1302/1303 ("Super Beetle").

When the Type 4 was discontinued in 1974, its engine carried on as the power plant for the larger-engined Volkswagen Type 2s, produced from 1972 to 1979, and for the later Volkswagen Type 2 (T3) bus from 1980 until 1983.

411

At launch, the 411 featured a 1679 cc engine with twin carburetors, subsequently modified in 1969 with Bosch D-Jetronic electronic fuel injection and claimed power output increased from 68 to 80 bhp (60 kW) this fuel-injected engine shared with the mid-engined Porsche 914 also launched in 1969. European 411 nomenclature highlighted the fuel injection with the suffix 'E' (for Einspritzung). Revisions in 1969 also included replacement of the single oval headlights with twin round headlights.

The Type 4's battery was located under the left hand front seat. All models featured ventless driver and front passenger windows, notched on their leading edge to provide draught-free ventilation,[5] no cost metallic paint, radial ply tires, full carpeting, clock, electric rear window demister, flow-through ventilation, undercoating, and a thermostatically controlled auxiliary heating system,[4] specifically, a gasoline-operated heater model BA4 by Eberspächer, fired by a spark plug, accessible from a hidden rear window deck plate.

The 411 was also assembled in South Africa beginning in 1969, in two- or four-door configurations. The four-door only came as a DeLuxe, with an optional automatic transmission, while the two-door was available either as a Standard or a DeLuxe.

In 1968, Karmann exhibited a prototype for a 411 based cabriolet, but this was not put into production.[6][7]

412

Volkswagen 412 (fastback)

The 412 replaced the 411 in August 1972 in Germany,[8] having been restyled by designer Brooks Stevens.[1] Halogen lights were fitted,[8] the headlight surround was reshaped and the nose panels were redesigned. In August 1973 (for the 1974 model year), the engine capacity was raised to 1795 cc and fuel management reverted to a twin carburettor system; the 412LE was renamed 412LS. This was to be the last model year for the 412, with production ending in June 1974.

The visual design of the Volkswagen 412 Variant was retained when the Brazilian Type 3 models TL, Variant, Variant II, and later Brazilian Variant-based Volkswagen Brasilia were produced in Brazil, primarily for the Latin American markets.

In February 1974 on the German market, the four-door 412L was priced at DM 10,995 (DM 11,145 for the 412 LS).[1]

The 412 was also built in South Africa from 1972-1974. The specification varied from European models with the omission of the Petrol heater, no rear window de-fogger as standard and with different paint options and interior trim. A total of 34,452 Type 4’s (411 and 412) were produced in South Africa between 1969 and 1974.

Data

Technical data Volkswagen Type 4[9] (Manufacturer's figures except where stated)
Volkswagen 411 / 412 411
2- or 4-door saloon
411 E/ LE
2- or 4-door saloon
Variant (3-door estate)
412 E/LE
2- or 4-door saloon
Variant (3-door estate)
412
2- or 4-door saloon
Variant (3-door estate)
412 S
2- or 4-door saloon
Produced: 1968–19691969–19721972–19731973–19741973–1974
Engine: Four-stroke 4-cylinder boxer motor, rear-mounted
Displacement: 1679 cc1679 cc1679 cc1795 cc1795 cc
Bore x Stroke: 90 x 6690 x 6690 x 6693 x 6693 x 66
Max. Power @ rpm: 68 hp (51 kW) @ 450080 hp (60 kW) @ 490080 hp (60 kW) @ 490075 hp (56 kW) @ 500085 hp (63 kW) @ 5000
Max. Torque @ rpm: 124 N⋅m (91 lb⋅ft) @ 2800132 N⋅m (97 lb⋅ft) @ 2700132 N⋅m (97 lb⋅ft) @ 2700129 N⋅m (95 lb⋅ft) @ 3400135 N⋅m (100 lb⋅ft) @ 3400
Compression Ratio: 7.8 : 18.2 : 18.2 : 1--
Fuel feed: Twin carburettors
Solex 34 PDSIT
Electronic Fuel Injection
Bosch D-Jetronic
Twin carburettors
Solex 40 PDSIT
Fuel tank capacity: 50 L (13.2 US gal; 11.0 imp gal)
Valvetrain: 
Cooling: Air
Gearbox: 4-speed all-synchromesh manual with floor-mounted lever control & rear-wheel drive
Optional 3-speed automatic
Electrical system: 12-volt
Front suspension: Independent. MacPherson Struts
Rear suspension:: Independent. Semi-trailing arms with double joint axles and coil springs
Brakes: Front discs / rear drums: Optional power assistance
Steering: Recirculating ball
Body structure: Monocoque
Dry weight: 1,020 kg (2,250 lb) - 1,080 kg (2,380 lb) ( 2-door)
1,040 kg (2,290 lb) - 1,100 kg (2,400 lb) ( 4-door)
1,120 kg (2,470 lb) ( Variant)
1,080 kg (2,380 lb) ( 2-door)
1,100 kg (2,400 lb) ( 4-door)
1,120 kg (2,470 lb) ( Variant)
Track front/
rear: 
1,376 mm (54.2 in) 1,342 mm (52.8 in)1,376 mm (54.2 in) 1,342 mm (52.8 in)1,386 mm (54.6 in) 1,350 mm (53 in)1,386 mm (54.6 in) 1,350 mm (53 in)1,386 mm (54.6 in) 1,350 mm (53 in)
Wheelbase: 2,500 mm (98 in)
Length: 4,553 mm (179.3 in) Saloon
4,525 mm (178.1 in) Variant
4,583 mm (180.4 in) Saloon
4,555 mm (179.3 in) Variant
Width: 1,636 mm (64.4 in)
Height: 1,486 mm (58.5 in)
Top Speeds
........Manual:
....Automatic:

145 km/h (90 mph)
142 km/h (88 mph)

155 km/h (96 mph)
152 km/h (94 mph)

155 km/h (96 mph)
152 km/h (94 mph)

150 km/h (93 mph)
147 km/h (91 mph)

158 km/h (98 mph)
155 km/h (96 mph)
Acceleration 0 – 100 km/h (0 - 62 mph)
........Manual:
....Automatic:

18.0 s
21.0 s

17.0 s
20.0 s

17.0 s
20.0 s

16.5 s
20.0 s

14.5 s
17.5 s

Sources and further reading

  1. "Test VW 412 LS". Auto, Motor und Sport. Vol. Heft 3 1974. 2 February 1974. pp. 40–48.
  2. "News and Views: What's new at Paris". Autocar. Vol. 129 no. 3790. 3 October 1968. p. 59.
  3. Copping, Richard (October 2005). The Air-Cooled Era in Colour. UK: Veloce Publishing. p. 168. ISBN 9781904788928. Long the subject of sneak preview photos, the VW 411 bore a passing resemblance to the VW 1600TL, while Pininfarina who had an advisory contract with Volkswagen, is credited with the car's styling.
  4. "1971 Volkswagen 411, USA Brochure". Volkswagen.
  5. Dept of Transportation NHTSA Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Popular Mechanics, Bill Hartford, March 1971, p. 92. March 1971.
  6. "Volkswagen 411 Cabriolet, 1968, by Karmann. A..." Carsthatnevermadeitetc. Retrieved 24 January 2019 via Tumblr.
  7. "Prototypes". www.type4.org. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
  8. "Neues vom Markt: Neuer 412: Sicherer, schöner und komfortabler" [Market news: New 412: Safer, better looking, and more comfortable]. Auto Zeitung (in German) (17): 4. 12 August 1972.
  9. Oswald, Werner (2003). Deutsche Autos 1945–1975, Band 4. Stuttgart: Motorbuch Verlag. pp. 62–65. ISBN 3-613-02116-1.


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