Volkswagen Type 4
Encyclopedia
The Volkswagen Type 4 is a mid-sized car manufactured and marketed by Volkswagen
of Germany from 1968-1974 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).
Designed under the direction of Heinrich Nordhoff
and introduced at the Paris Motor Show in October 1968, the 411 was Volkswagen's largest passenger vehicle with the company's largest engine – with styling credited to Carozzeria Pininfarina
, who at the time had an advisory contract with Volkswagen. The cars retained VW's trademark air-cooled
, rear placement, rear wheel drive, boxer engine
with a front/rear weight distribution of 45/55% and a forward cargo storage (14.1 cf) — while also introducing design and engineering departures for the company – including unibody construction, a completely flat passenger area floor and suspension using control arms and MacPherson strut
s. Volkswagen had prototyped a notchback sedan version of the 411, without introducing that model 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 117,110 Type 4's over four model years. As Volkswagen's last air-cooled sedans and wagons, the Type 4 models were succeeded by the first generation Passat
, marketed as the Dasher in the USA.
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, subsequently adapted to the VW Type 1 1302/1303 ("Super Beetle").
The Type 4's battery was located under the driver's seat (passenger seat on RHD models). All models featured ventless driver and front passenger windows, notched on their leading edge to provide draught-free ventilation, 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, specifically, a gasoline-operated heater
model BA4 by Eberspächer, fired by a glow plug accessible from a hidden rear window deck plate.
When the Type 4 was discontinued in 1974, its engine carried on as the power plant for the larger-engined Volkswagen Type 2
s, produced from 1972 to 1979, and for the later VW T25 1980-1983.
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 — 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 412 replaced the 411 in August 1972 in Germany, having been restyled by designer Brooks Stevens
. Halogen lights were fitted, the headlight surround was reshaped and the nose panels were redesigned.
In 1974 the engine capacity was raised to 1798cc and fuel management reverted to a twin carburettor system, the 412LE now being renamed 412LS.
The visual design of the Volkswagen 412 Variant was followed when the Type 1 based Volkswagen Brasilia
was produced in Brazil
, primarily for the Latin America
n markets.
In February 1974 on the domestic market the 4-door 412L was priced at DM 10,995 (DM 11,145 for the 412 LS).
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
of Germany from 1968-1974 in two-door and four-door sedan as well as two-door station wagon
Station wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
body styles. The Type 4 evolved through two generations, the 411 (1968–72) and 412 series (1972–74).
Designed under the direction of Heinrich Nordhoff
Heinrich Nordhoff
Heinz Heinrich Nordhoff was a German engineer famous for his leadership of the Volkswagen company as it was rebuilt after World War II....
and introduced at the Paris Motor Show in October 1968, the 411 was Volkswagen's largest passenger vehicle with the company's largest engine – with styling credited to Carozzeria Pininfarina
Pininfarina
Pininfarina S.p.A. is an Italian car design firm and coachbuilder in Cambiano, Italy.Founded as Società anonima Carrozzeria Pinin Farina in 1930 by automobile designer and builder Battista "Pinin" Farina, Pininfarina has been employed by a wide variety of high-end automobile manufacturers,...
, who at the time had an advisory contract with Volkswagen. The cars retained VW's trademark air-cooled
Air-cooled engine
Air-cooled engines rely on the circulation of air directly over hot parts of the engine to cool them.-Introduction:Most modern internal combustion engines are cooled by a closed circuit carrying liquid coolant through channels in the engine block and cylinder head, where the coolant absorbs heat,...
, rear placement, rear wheel drive, boxer engine
Flat engine
A flat engine is an internal combustion engine with multiple pistons that move in a horizontal plane. Typically, the layout has cylinders arranged in two banks on either side of a single crankshaft and is sometimes known as the boxer, or horizontally opposed engine. The concept was patented in 1896...
with a front/rear weight distribution of 45/55% and a forward cargo storage (14.1 cf) — while also introducing design and engineering departures for the company – including unibody construction, a completely flat passenger area floor and suspension using control arms and MacPherson strut
MacPherson strut
The MacPherson strut is a type of car suspension system which uses the axis of a telescopic damper as the upper steering pivot. It is widely used in modern vehicles and named after Earle S. MacPherson, who developed the design.-History:...
s. Volkswagen had prototyped a notchback sedan version of the 411, without introducing that model to production.
Over its six year production run, Volkswagen manufactured 367,728 Type 4 models, compared with 210,082 of the subsequent Volkswagen K70
Volkswagen K70
The Volkswagen K70 is a sedan automobile developed by NSU and sold by Volkswagen from 1970 until February 1975. The K70 was the first VW to have a front-mounted watercooled engine and the first to have front wheel drive.-Development as an NSU:...
with its four year model life. In the United States, VW sold 117,110 Type 4's over four model years. As Volkswagen's last air-cooled sedans and wagons, the Type 4 models were succeeded by the first generation Passat
Passat
Passat may refer to:* The German word for trade wind * Volkswagen Passat, a large family car built since 1973* Passat , a sailing ship* Raymond Passat , former French professional road bicycle racer...
, marketed as the Dasher in the USA.
Features
MacPherson strut
The MacPherson strut is a type of car suspension system which uses the axis of a telescopic damper as the upper steering pivot. It is widely used in modern vehicles and named after Earle S. MacPherson, who developed the design.-History:...
front suspension, subsequently adapted to the VW Type 1 1302/1303 ("Super Beetle").
The Type 4's battery was located under the driver's seat (passenger seat on RHD models). All models featured ventless driver and front passenger windows, notched on their leading edge to provide draught-free ventilation, 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, specifically, a gasoline-operated heater
Gasoline heater
A gasoline heater is a small, mounted or portable, gasoline-fueled, space-heating device.In the United States they were used mainly for supplemental heat for the passenger compartments of automobiles and aircraft. Some aircraft continue to use gasoline heaters.-Operation:First, fuel is brought to...
model BA4 by Eberspächer, fired by a glow plug accessible from a hidden rear window deck plate.
When the Type 4 was discontinued in 1974, its engine carried on as the power plant for the larger-engined Volkswagen Type 2
Volkswagen Type 2
The Volkswagen Type 2, officially known as the Transporter or Kombi informally as Bus or Camper , was a panel van introduced in 1950 by German automaker Volkswagen as its second car model – following and initially deriving from Volkswagen's first model, the Type 1 , it was given the factory...
s, produced from 1972 to 1979, and for the later VW T25 1980-1983.
411
Porsche 914
The Porsche 914 or VW-Porsche 914 is a mid-engined, targa-topped two-seat roadster designed, manufactured and marketed collaboratively by Volkswagen and Porsche from 1969 to 1976.- Development :...
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.
412
Brooks Stevens
Clifford Brooks Stevens was an American industrial designer of home furnishings, appliances, automobiles and motorcycles — as well as a graphic designer and stylist....
. Halogen lights were fitted, the headlight surround was reshaped and the nose panels were redesigned.
In 1974 the engine capacity was raised to 1798cc and fuel management reverted to a twin carburettor system, the 412LE now being renamed 412LS.
The visual design of the Volkswagen 412 Variant was followed when the Type 1 based Volkswagen Brasilia
Volkswagen Brasilia
The Volkswagen Brasilia was a compact car made in Brazil between 1973 and 1982.The Brasilia looked like a smaller version of the Volkswagen 412 Variant, but was in fact based on the Volkswagen Beetle...
was produced in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, primarily for the Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
n markets.
In February 1974 on the domestic market the 4-door 412L was priced at DM 10,995 (DM 11,145 for the 412 LS).