Volkswagen Type 3
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The Volkswagen Type 3, was originlly launched in two varieties, the Notchback a saloon bodied version and the Squareback an estate bodied version in 1961. The Fastback a coupe styled version arrived as the 1966 addition to the range. This automobile was introduced in 1961 by Volkswagen to diversify its product range beyond the Type 1 (Beetle) and the Type 2 (Bus). The Type 3, officially the Volkswagen 1500, was designed to allow Volkswagen to make a more sophisticated car while maintaining much of the engineering from the Type 1.
The Type 3 was initially equipped with a 1.5 L (1493 cc) engine based on the aircooled flat-4 found in the Type 1. While the long block remained the same as the Type 1, the engine cooling was drastically changed to allow for a much lower engine profile. This resulted in increased area for cargo stowage and the so-called 'Pancake' or 'Suitcase' engine. This engine's displacement would later increase to 1600cc.
Originally a single or dual carbureted 1.5 L engine, (1500 N, 45 hp or 1500S, 54 hp) the Type 3 engine got a larger displacement (1.6l 1600 cc) and modified in 1968 to include fuel injection as an option, making it one of the first mass production consumer cars with such a feature (the first was the Type 4 VW 411).
The type 3 had three models:
- Sedan or "notchback" — The VW 1500 and later VW 1600 (nicknamed "Zé do Caixão" in Brazil, translating to "Coffin Joe").
- Fastback — The VW 1600 TL (in Brazil the Volkswagen TL), often mistaken for a hatchback due to its profile.
- Wagon or "squareback" — The Volkswagen Variant.
Brazilian Type 3 (TL/Variant/Variant II)
The Volkswagen TL was a 2-door sedan produced in Germany and Brazil in the 1970s. Later it was also produced in a 4-door version. It did not enjoy as much success as its station wagon version, the Variant. In contemporary German vernacular, the 1600 TL was called Traurige Lösung, meaning "pitiful solution" (of the attempted hatchback design).The Variant was produced as a 3-door model, and had success in this market and even a more modern design successor with square corners, the Variant II. The Variant II did however have some mechanical problems which ultimately led to its failure in the market. Also contributing to its unsuccessful run was competition against more modern designs such as the Ford Corcel II Berlina.
External links
- [Unofficial Type 3 History]
- [World-wide T3 email list and resource site]
- [The Type 3 Detectives]
- [The Swedish VW Type 3 Registry]
- [VW Type 3 Pictures]
- [VW Brazil History & Pictures (in Portuguese)]
- [Enthusiast Website covers all Type 3's (in English)]
| Volkswagen car timeline, European market, 1950-1985 - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| Small car | Type 1 - Beetle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Supermini | Polo I | Polo II | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Small family car | Golf I | Golf II | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type 3 | Passat I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jetta I | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Large family car | Type 4 | Passat II | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| K70 (NSU) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coupé | Karmann Ghia | Scirocco I | Scirocco II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Van | Type 2 - T1 | Type 2 - T2 | Type 2 - T3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Volkswagen Group | |||
| Volkswagen | Audi | SEAT | Škoda | Bentley | Bugatti | Lamborghini | Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
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| Lupo | Gol / Parati / Saveiro | Fox / CrossFox / SpaceFox / Suran | Polo | CitiGolf | Golf / Rabbit | Jetta / Vento / Bora | New Beetle | Eos | Passat / Santana | Touran | Sharan | Touareg | Phaeton | Caddy | Transporter / Multivan (Eurovan) | LT (Crafter) | Constellation | Scirocco | Corrado | K70 | Pointer | Apollo | Taro | Beduin | |||
| Kübelwagen | Schwimmwagen | Beetle (Type 1) | Karmann Ghia | VW-Porsche 914 | SP2 | Brasilia | 1500/1600 (Type 3) | TL/Variant/Variant II | 411/412 (Type 4) | 181 | Country Buggy (Sakbayan) | Iltis | Kleinlieferwagen (Fridolin) | EA489 Basistransporter (Hormiga) | Bus/Transporter (Type 2) | Vanagon (Type 2.5) | |||
| 1-Litre Concept | GX3 |EcoRacer | Concept R | New Beetle Ragster |Microbus Concept | Nardo | |||
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