What is / was this?

[ChinaTom]

I'm pretty good at knowing what things are, but this has me stumped.

 

 

[Walter White]

I thought Volkswagen Variant at first but looking more closely I am not completely sure.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Its defo an aircooled VW, isnt it a fastback?

[Angrydicky]

VW 1600.

[mrcitroen]

Yep, def VW. Has VW wheels and the lean on the rear wheels is like what you get on a Beetle.

[Walter White]

I just proudly mentioned to Mrs. WW how this car had been identified in 9 minutes at 7:30 am on a bank holiday Monday morning. Apparently we need to get a life..

[ChinaTom]

I thought Variant, but it just looked too small. I guess the front wing contributes a lot to what we recognize. I obviously only see the headlamps on these - the curviness of the front edge was lost on me. Bank holiday Monday? Doesn't feel like one in this leaky site portakabin.

[Walter White]

Having looked at images of a VW1600 Angry Dicky has it right I reckon.

[garethj]

It's a VW Type 3 Fastback, probably a 1500 rather than 1600 as it's got 5 stud wheels so pre-1967

[Urko]

It'll be slammed in da weedz with rat look rust paint job by lunchtime.

[garethj]

A car personally endorsed by Dustin Hoffman, that's good enough for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3RD-hG4nbc

 

The engine uses a cooling fan on the end of the crank pulley so it's quite low, very useful with the estate (Variant) versions but pretty cool in the notchback and fastback versions too.

[billyboy406v6]

Yeah needs lowering and rat looking m8, way cool, etc,etc.

[John F]

Yep. Here's what it will look like when the feckless dubber has inflicted his absurd lifestyle on it:

 

[garbaldy]

/\ That's actually a bad example because all it needs is new suspension and its lovely again.

You need to find one with no paint and a roof rack.

[Pillock]

Except that's a late one and the one on the truck is pre 67

 

I think they look good lowered, the slug like shape suits it. I miss mine greatly, one was bought by a magazine which then went bust and the car vanished and the other I had to sell in a hurry for £notmuch and it's sat rotting as the new owner wants a fortune as it's got a 1776cc motor with twin webers.

[garethj]

The torsion bar suspension is on splines so actually changing the height isn't a major job.  However the car in that magazine photo looks like it's had the front suspension narrowed so the front beam has been cut and welded.

 

They're a nice drive as standard; a bit more poke than a standard Beetle, a bit more space inside and with the later semi trailing arm suspension they handle quite nicely.

[Junkman]

The correct identifier for the Typ 3 fastback is TL.

This is also written on the back:

 

 

Hence the Germans coined the nick "Traurige Lösung" - miserable solution - for these.

[mouseflakes]

They're great lookers these ones.

[garethj]

Miserable?  Mine had an electric fan in the heater box, that's positively bourgeois by VW's standards of the day!

[Junkman]

They're great lookers these ones.

 

You mean cars became so incredibly ugly, that even these abominations look good in comparison.

Nobody found the TLs pretty in their day.

[Mr Bump]

Variant was the estate model

[garethj]

The Type 3 really is a looker compared to the Type 4

 

I loved my 412 to drive, and because it was a 412LE Variant it had the perks of fuel injection, a massive boot in the front and even more space in the back.  It was also very comfortable with light steering and a decent ride.  But it wasn't attractive.

[Jim Bell]

Ford Transit.

 

 

Or am I too late?

[colnerov]

 

The engine uses a cooling fan on the end of the crank pulley so it's quite low, very useful with the estate (Variant) versions but pretty cool in the notchback and fastback versions too.

 Usually referred to as the the 'suitcase engine'

[mouseflakes]

You mean cars became so incredibly ugly, that even these abominations look good in comparison.

Nobody found the TLs pretty in their day.

 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I have wonky eyes.

[trigger]

These are my favourite of all VWs, body panels are meant to be a PITA to source though. My mate Chris has a couple, a fastback and a Variant and i absolutely love them.

[Junkman]

The Type 3 really is a looker compared to the Type 4

 

I loved my 412 to drive, and because it was a 412LE Variant it had the perks of fuel injection, a massive boot in the front and even more space in the back.  It was also very comfortable with light steering and a decent ride.  But it wasn't attractive.

 

I mustard mitt to serial killing 411s and 412s when I was a lad. Only solid examples, no rust buckets.

They were ace for Continental style stockcar racing. Until I got the first Audi 100 5E, that is.

[Urko]

I've always been quite interested in the tech aspects of some the aircooled dubs.  I had a Type 2 Bay window panel van back in the day - pleased to report I didn't fart about with the suspension (or much else), but it was slow, thirsty , had zero heating and demisting and went wrong on average every five minutes.  To be fair I suspect previous custodians hadn't helped.

 

In those days I could find parts in scrappies.  I recall removing a petrol burning heater from a Type 3 in a scappy.  I toyed with getting it then decided the prospects for fiery death ruled it out - I did liberate an axial electric fan though to try and blow some heat into the cab - it didn't help.

 

I thought they had some innovative if ultimately wank ideas - having to pump up the screenwash with air was one - the "heating" was another.

[trigger]

These are my mates ones.

 

 

 

This was also for sale near my inlaws back in 2012 for £3950, it had only done 45000 miles. That would be a bargain now.

 

[Urko]

Those are nice looking old things - the plates always make me laugh.  I'd bet the entire UK national debt these all had reflective plates when they were new.  At least those ones are legal with black plates - but they aren't "period correct"