VW type 4

Volkswagen type 4
Production period:	1968-1974
Class :	Middle class
Body versions :	Limousine , station wagon
Successor:	VW Passat B1

The VW Type 4 was a mid -range passenger car of the Volkswagen brand built from 1968 to 1974 with an air-cooled four - cylinder boxer engine and rear-wheel drive . Initially, the sales name was VW 411 , after the facelift in 1972, in which the front section was designed similar to the Brazilian VW 1600 , then VW 412 .

The air-cooled VW model series were numbered chronologically at Volkswagen. Since the start of production of the first transporter / bus (Type 2 / T1 ) at the Wolfsburg plant in 1950, the VW sedan, later known as the Beetle, was called Type 1 and the VW 1500 that appeared in 1961 was then called Type 3.

Model history

General

Type 4 study EA 162

Apart from the VW T3 bus that appeared in 1979, the last new design with a rear engine was initially available as a sedan with two and later four doors. This made the VW 411 the first four-door passenger car from the Volkswagen factory . The three-door station wagon followed in the summer of 1969. Like the smaller Type 3, it was called “Variant” and accounted for around 50 percent of total sales. There was no five-door station wagon. The VW 411/412 were based on the concept of the VW Type 1 (= Beetle ) with an air-cooled boxer engine in the rear and rear-wheel drive . However, the chassis and structure of the Type 4 were not similar to the VW Beetle , as was the case with the smaller Type 3 , because the 411/412 did not have a central tubular frame , but a self-supporting body . The Type 4 was also the first VW model with MacPherson struts at the front; a (there torsion bar sprung) rear trailing arm axle was already used from 1967 in the VW Transporter and the Beetles (Type 1) and Type 3 vehicles with automatic transmissions.

In order to create competitive space while maintaining the rear engine concept, a large trunk had to be accommodated in the front area. The long front end of the 411/412 required for this forced optical compromises, which inspired the nickname "Coati". Because the concept was already out of date at the time of its presentation, the model after Heinrich Nordhoff , the VW CEO who died in April 1968, was referred to as "Nordhoff's legacy" or "Nordhoff's farewell gift". Others interpreted the model designation as "4 doors, 11 years too late" after all VW Beetles and the Type 3 were only available as two-door models.

VW 411 (1968–1972)

Type 4 (411)
VW 411 Variant (1970)
Production period:	1968-1972
Body versions :	Limousine , station wagon
Engines:	Petrol engines : 1.7 liters (50–59 kW)
Length:	4525-4553 mm
Width:	1635-1650 mm
Height:	1485 mm
Wheelbase :	2500 mm
Empty weight :	1020-1120 kg

• August 1968: Start of production of the 411 at the Volkswagen plant in Wolfsburg . The hallmarks of the first series are oval headlights with twin-filament lamps for high and low beam .
• August 1969: The Variant station wagon is also offered. Better engine insulation. Instead of the oval single headlights, all models have round double headlights with H1 halogen lamps . The front VW logo is moved from the trunk lid to the front panel. The 80-hp injection engine replaces the 68-hp carburettor, which, however, is still available upon request or in conjunction with the automatic transmission. An aluminum alloy is now used for the engine block instead of the expensive magnesium alloy Elektron .
• August 1970: Decorative strip on the dashboard in wood design is omitted on the L models. Automatic gearbox now also available for the injector.
• August 1971: New four-spoke safety steering wheel. Reinforced door locks. Windshield wiper switch now on the steering column instead of a rotary knob. New speedometer design, scale now up to 190 instead of 170 km / h. New extras: brake booster , windshield wiper interval switching.

• 

  VW 411 four-door (1968–1969)

• 

  VW 411 LE four-door (1969–1972)

• 

  VW 411 LE Variant (1969–1972)

• 

  VW 411 LE Variant (1969–1972)

• 

  VW 411 LE two-door (1969–1972)

• 

  Rear view

• 

  Interior of the VW 411

• 

  Convertible study from 1968

VW 412 (1972-1974)

Type 4 (412)
VW 412 four-door (1972–1973)
Production period:	1972-1974
Body versions :	Limousine , station wagon
Engines:	Petrol engines : 1.7–1.8 liters (55–62.5 kW)
Length:	4555-4583 mm
Width:	1675 mm
Height:	1475 mm
Wheelbase :	2500 mm
Empty weight :	1080-1120 kg

• August 1972: With the facelift, the name changes to VW 412. Numerous detail improvements in the interior and technology. Reintroduction of the wooden trim on the dashboard.
• August 1973: The 412 production is relocated to the VW plant in Salzgitter , as the production lines for the new Passat sedan are required at the main plant in Wolfsburg . The 1.7-liter injection engine is being replaced by the 1.8-liter twin-carburetor models with 75 hp (regular gasoline 91 octane) and 85 hp (super 95 octane). Time clock now with quartz control , improved fresh air blower, handbrake indicator light and further detail improvements.
• June 1974: Production discontinued without a direct successor model.

• 

  VW 412 LE Variant (1972–1974)

• 

  VW 412 LS Variant (1973-1974)

• 

  Final assembly of the 412 Variant at the main plant in Wolfsburg , 1973

• 

  Production of VW K 70 and VW 412 at the Salzgitter plant , 1973

• 

  VW car factory, test track

Model overview and equipment

The standard equipment of the 411/412 was rather extensive compared to the other contemporary VW models and was intended to underline the higher status of the car. The type 4 had front disc brakes , a hydraulically operated clutch, three-phase alternator , reversing light, H1 halogen headlights (from 1969), radial tires and fabric seats. In the L model there was also z. B. a clock, a dimming interior mirror, make-up mirror, velor carpets and interior trim, reclining seats in the front and more chrome trim outside.

Popular additional equipment items were, for example, front headrests, heated rear windows, synthetic leather seat covers, seat belts , a sunroof and a programmable 24-hour timer for the auxiliary heating. During the construction period the list of extras was expanded, e.g. B. to interval switching for the windshield wipers, air conditioning (especially the US export models), brake booster or steel sports bikes with wide tires.

The following model variants were available:

• 411 / L (1968–1973): 1.7 liters, carburetor (68 hp / 50 kW)
• 411/412 (L) E (1969–1973): 1.7 liters, injection (80 hp / 59 kW)
• 412 / L (1972–1974): 1.8 liters, carburetor (75 PS / 55 kW, regular gasoline)
• 412 (L) S (1973–1974): 1.8 liters, sports carburetor (85 PS / 62.5 kW, 98 RON premium petrol)

(L denotes the luxury equipment, whereby this was the more frequently sold version of the Type 4 than the normal version, which was less popular in this class)

In the six years of production, only 367,728 copies of the Type 4 were built - a low number for VW. That was certainly one of the reasons that production was given up prematurely in June 1974 and discontinued without a successor (the Passat was formally the successor to the smaller Type 3: VW 1500/1600 in 1973 ). Together with the VW K 70 , the VW 411/412 symbolizes the turbulent times in terms of model politics at the beginning of the 1970s, when VW was preparing to switch to completely differently designed vehicles with water-cooled front engines.

Technical data VW 411/412

General

The engines ("flat boxer") with 1.7 and 1.8 liters displacement were completely redesigned and achieved a respectable performance of 50–63 kW (68–85 hp) with two carburetors or an intake manifold injection . The available from 1969 80 PS version had an electronic D-Jetronic - Mehrpunktsaugrohreinspritzung Bosch, the (previously in type 3 one year VW 1600 LE / TLE ) had been offered for the first time and later also in the VW-Porsche 914/4 to Use came. A manually shiftable four-speed gearbox or a three-speed automatic were available as transmissions.

Since the warm air generation via the heat exchangers ("heating bulbs") located in the exhaust system, as in the VW Beetle, was not sufficient for the larger interior of Type 4, this model had a petrol-electric auxiliary heater from Eberspächer (Type BA 4 with timer) as standard . A two-stage fresh air blower was also standard.

Technical data VW 411/412 1968–1974
VW:	411 (1968/69)	411 E (1969-72) 412 E (1972-73)	412 (1973/74)	412 S (1973/74)
Engine:	air-cooled four-cylinder boxer engine (four-stroke)
Displacement:	1679 cc		1795 cc
Bore × stroke:	90 × 66 mm		93 × 66 mm
Power (kW) (in PS) at 1 / min:	50 kW (68 hp) 4500	59 kW (80 PS) 4900	55 kW (75 PS) 5000	63 kW (85 PS) 5000
Max. Torque at 1 / min:	124 Nm 2800	132 Nm 2700	129 Nm 3400	135 Nm 3400
Mixture preparation:	Two downdraft carburetors Solex 34 PDSIT	Electric injection Bosch D-Jetronic	Two downdraft carburetors Solex 40 PDSIT
Valve control:	Bumpers and rocker arms (central camshaft, spur gears)
Transmission:	4-speed gearbox (with three-speed automatic on request)
Front suspension:	MacPherson struts, wishbones, stabilizer
Rear suspension:	Trailing arm axle, coil springs, stabilizer
Brakes:	Front discs (Ø 281 mm), rear drums (Ø 281 mm), with brake booster on request
Steering:	Recirculating ball steering
Body:	Sheet steel, self-supporting
Track width front / rear:	411: 1376/1342 mm 412: 1386/1350 mm
Wheelbase:	2500 mm
Length:	411: 4525 mm (L: 4553 mm) 412: 4555 mm (L: 4583 mm)
Width:	411: 1635 mm (L and LE: 1650 mm) 412: 1675 mm
Height:	411: 1485 mm 412: 1475 mm
Empty weight (DIN):	Two-door: 1020–1080 kg Four-door: 1040–1100 kg Variant 1120 kg		Two-door: 1080 kg four-door: 1100 kg Variant 1120 kg
Top speed manual transmission automatic	145 km / h 142 km / h	155 km / h 152 km / h	150 km / h 147 km / h	158 km / h 155 km / h
0-100 km / h manual transmission automatic	18 s 21 s	17 s 20 s	16.5 s 20 s	14.5 s 17.5 s
Consumption (liters / 100 kilometers) manual transmission automatic	12.5 N 13.5 N	12.5 S 14.0 S	12.5 N 14.0 N	12.5 S 14.0 S
Price (from DM):	7,770 (1968)	7,985 (1969)	9,670 (1972)	10,300 (1973)

Today's vehicle inventory

In January 2019 (Germany) the number of vehicles registered with the KBA was 222, including 63 two-door, 67 four-door and 92 Variant - around 0.06% of the 367,728 vehicles once built. The reason for the low degree of preservation is, in addition to the very small group of enthusiasts, enormous corrosion problems. VW had sprayed the cavity between the metal sheets with a foam that stores moisture. In addition, the car had no inner fenders at the front, which meant that dirt and rainwater got into the entire area between the fender and trunk and caused considerable rust corrosion there unnoticed. The air-cooled engines also achieved only low mileage when driving quickly. Another reason was the rapid loss in value, especially of the sedans, which were not very popular from the start: Even younger damaged vehicles were often not repaired, as the powerful Type 4 engines were designed for installation in VW vans / buses, VW Beetles and VW Porsche 914 were coveted. In addition, at the beginning of the 1970s, many VW workshops were unable to cope with the maintenance of the new electronic manifold injection .

The classic car scene is struggling with the VW 411/412 today, especially with the precarious spare parts situation; there are only a few identical parts with the widespread Beetle and Bus models.

The air-cooled boxer engine, originally developed exclusively for this car, was used in the VW Bus / Transporter ( VW T3 ) introduced by Volkswagen in 1979 until it switched to water-cooled units in 1982 (with later displacement up to two liters) . The 2.0 l injection engine with 90 or 100 hp of the VW-Porsche 914/4 is also based on the 411 unit. Porsche set the motor type 1976 in a version with two liters capacity in 912 E a. The machine was supplied with fuel by a Bosch L-Jetronic and developed 63 kW (86 PS).

At Volkswagen do Brasil , four different vehicles were built from 1971 that look similar to the VW 412: the VW Brasília (engine: Type 1, similar to VW Karmann-Ghia Type 14 and VW Type 181, has a widened Beetle chassis, was also used by Volkswagen de México produces), the VW 1600 Variant (engine: type 3), the VW SP2 (engine: type 3 with 1700 cm³) and the VW Variant II (engine: type 3). Only the Variant II has a MacPherson strut axle similar to that of the Type 4. You can still see Brasília and Variant often on the streets of Brazil.

Web links

Commons : Volkswagen Type 4  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• ( Page no longer available , search in web archives: Official Volkswagen profile for the 411 )
• ( Page no longer available , search in web archives: Official Volkswagen profile for the 412 )

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l} Werner Oswald : German cars 1945–1990 . Volume 3. Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 2001. ISBN 3-613-02116-1 . Pp. 62-65

literature

• Hans G. Mayer-Stein: The big VW: Nordhoffs legacy: VW 1500/1600, 411/412 . Verlag Karl Goerner, Karlsruhe 1994, ISBN 3-9803665-0-2
• Jan Henrik Muche: Ahead by a nose . In: Oldtimer Praxis . 3/2006, pp. 18-21, ISSN  0937-6291
• Dieter Korp: Now I'm helping myself , Volume 41, VW 411, 411E / 412E, 412 / 412S, Publisher: Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 1973, ISBN 3-87943-338-0
• Werner Oswald : Deutsche Autos 1945–1975 , Motorbuch Verlag, Stuttgart 2003, ISBN 3-613-02116-1 , pp. 62–65.