Volkswagen Type 4

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.

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]

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  1968 Volkswagen 411L 4-door saloon. 1968 models are distinguished by their single rectangular covered headlamps.
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  411 convertible concept
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  Type 4 notchback prototype

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.