Volkswagen Type 4

The Volkswagen Type 4 is a compact / midsize family car, manufactured and marketed by Volkswagen of Germany as a [[D-segment|DTemplate:Nbhsegment car]] 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 (1968–1972) and 412 series (1972–1974).

Designed under the direction of Heinrich Nordhoff and introduced at the Paris Motor Show in October 1968,<ref name= Autocar1968>Template:Cite magazine</ref> 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.<ref name="air-cooled era">Template:Cite book</ref> The cars retained VW's trademark air-cooled, rear placement, rear-wheel drive, boxer engine with a front/rear weight distribution of 45/55%<ref name= "air-cooled era"/> and a forward cargo storage Template:Convert<ref name= "brochure" /> — 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 six-years, Type 4 production reached 367,728, compared to 210,082 of the subsequent Volkswagen K70 over four model years. Sales reached 119,627 in the United States (1971-1974); 119,094 in Germany; 34,452 in South Africa and 13,367 in the United Kingdom.

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

Features

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 with claimed power output increased from Template:Cvt. This fuel-injected engine was 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,<ref name="popmech1">Template:Cite magazine</ref> 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,<ref name="brochure">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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 and was available with an optional automatic transmission, while the two-door was available either as a Standard or a DeLuxe.

In 1968, Karmann presented a 411-based cabriolet prototype which did not enter production.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• Volkswagen 411 Front view Essex.jpg

  1968 Volkswagen 411L 4-door saloon. 1968 models are distinguished by their single oblong covered headlamps.

• VW 411 LE 1971 2.JPG

  1971 Volkswagen 411 LE

• 1972 Volkswagen 411 LE Variant in White, rear left.jpg

  1972 Volkswagen 411 LE Variant, rear view

• Techno Classica 2018, Essen (IMG 9675).jpg

  411 convertible concept

• Volkswagen 411 notchback prototype 1966. In the end the manufacturer prefered a fastback profile for the Type 4.JPG

  Type 4 notchback prototype

412

The 412 replaced the 411 in August 1972 in Germany,<ref name=AutoZeitung197208>Template:Cite journal</ref> The redesign by noted stylist Brooks Stevens<ref name=AutoMotoruSport1974/> featured Halogen lights,<ref name=AutoZeitung197208/> revised headlight surrounds and nose panels. 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, the four-door 412L was priced at DM 10,995 (DM 11,145 for the 412 LS) in the German home market.<ref name=AutoMotoruSport1974/>

The 412 was also built in South Africa from 1972 to 1974. The specification varied somewhat 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 of the Type 4 (411 and 412) were produced in South Africa between 1969 and 1974.Template:Citation needed

• Volkswagen 412 2-door at Schaffen-Diest in 2015.JPG

  Volkswagen 412 (fastback)

• VW 412 LE Variant hl.jpg

  VW 412 LE Variant

• VW 412 LE brown.jpeg

  VW 412 LE Variant

Data

Technical data Volkswagen Type 4<ref name=DeAutos45bis90Oswald>Template:Cite book</ref> (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:	1968–1969	1969–1972	1972–1973	1973–1974	1973–1974
Engine:	Four-stroke 4-cylinder boxer motor, rear-mounted
Displacement:	1679 cc	1679 cc	1679 cc	1795 cc	1795 cc
Bore x Stroke:	90 x 66	90 x 66	90 x 66	93 x 66	93 x 66
Max. Power @ rpm:	Template:Convert @ 4500	Template:Convert @ 4900	Template:Convert @ 4900	Template:Convert @ 5000	Template:Convert @ 5000
Max. Torque @ rpm:	Template:Convert @ 2800	Template:Convert @ 2700	Template:Convert @ 2700	Template:Convert @ 3400	Template:Convert @ 3400
Compression Ratio:	7.8 : 1	8.2 : 1	8.2 : 1	-	-
Fuel feed:	Twin carburettors Solex 34 PDSIT	Electronic Fuel Injection Bosch D-Jetronic		Twin carburettors Solex 40 PDSIT
Fuel tank capacity:	Template:Convert
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:	Template:Convert - Template:Convert ( 2-door) Template:Convert - Template:Convert ( 4-door) Template:Convert ( Variant)		Template:Convert ( 2-door) Template:Convert ( 4-door) Template:Convert ( Variant)
Track front/ rear:	Template:Convert Template:Convert	Template:Convert Template:Convert	Template:Convert Template:Convert	Template:Convert Template:Convert	Template:Convert Template:Convert
Wheelbase:	Template:Convert
Length:	Template:Convert Saloon Template:Convert Variant		Template:Convert Saloon Template:Convert Variant
Width:	Template:Convert
Height:	Template:Convert
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