Friday 25th June 2021

BOOK REVIEW  By Peter Baker

VOLKSWAGEN TYPE 4 - 411 & 412: The final rear-engined VW cars

The Beetle was always going to be a hard act to follow. But by the mid-1960s Volkswagen needed to supplement its meagre range. Enter the 411. A straightforward, upmarket family car, still relying on good old-fashioned air-cooled power. There were two versions, a four-door saloon (a first for Volkswagen), and the Variant, i.e. estate car.

With the US market in mind, the 411 was defined as a compact, capable of transporting five people in relative comfort, and their luggage, thanks to the flat-four engine, but without guzzling gas. And it came standard with a three-speed Borg Warner automatic transmission. Something costing an extra £150 in Europe.

Downside. The primitive, exhaust derived heater and a windscreen washer activated by extracting air from the spare tyre. In 1969, something called an Eberspacher BA4 heater was installed. This unit, running on petrol could be used to pre-heat the interior. Considered a major breakthrough in Volkswagen speak, most of the competition already included full air-conditioning. And American cars along with Japanese imports were also cheaper.

In 1973, the 411 gave way to the not much different 412. Slightly bigger and slightly faster, with fuel injection and improved suspension, it now also had to compete against its own brother, the Passat, plus of course, the brand new Golf. Although the Type 4 gave up the unequal pressures applied under US Federal Law (mainly emissions and safety), the enlarged 2-litre engine soldiered on in cheap Porsche 911s, buses and small trucks. Typical of Volkswagen, production continued in South America until the machine tooling wore out.

This 184-page history compiled by Marc Cranswick and costing £35.00 direct from Veloce includes product history, updates and full specs and performance tables. It is also well illustrated, many pictures reminding us of what an uninspired, boring and conventional form of transport VW had produced.

VOLKSWAGEN TYPE 4 - 411 & 412: The final rear-engined VW cars
Written by Marc Cranswick
ISBN 978-1-787115-22-4
Published by Veloce Publishing Ltd.
Price £35.00