Engine 'types'

Time to re-post an all-time classic, it seems.

Q: What's up with all those T3 and Type 2 and T-4 and whatever?

A: Volkswagen numbered the types of cars they built. In fact they still do. Aircooled Volkswagens all are either Type 1, 2, 3, or 4. Type 1 is the Bug and its close relatives: the Super Beetle, the Karmann Ghia, the Fridolin, and the Thing. Type 2 is the Bus/Transporter. Type 3 is the VW 1500/1600 notchback, TL aka fastback, Variant aka squareback, and Karmann Ghia too. And Type 4 is the VW 411/412, as a fastback with either 2 or 4 doors or as a 2-door Variant. Of all these, the Bus was the only one to be replaced with a newly developed vehicle... twice in the aircooled era, and twice more since. Thus, it was necessary to label these generations of Buses, which was done as follows: T1 1950-1967 Splittie aka Microbus T2 1968-1979 Bay(window) aka (Bread)Loaf T3 1980-1992 Vanagon (aircooled, later watercooled rear engine) T4 1990-2003 Eurovan (watercooled front engine) T5 2003- ditto, presumably called Eurovan as well? Unfortunately, they chose T (which stands for Transporter) as a designation for the generation, which has caused no end of confusion since, even in German VW dealers who are wont to call the Type 2 a "T2" even if it's a Vanagon. And to complete that confusion, the aircooled engines VW built were called the Type 1 engine and Type 4 engine, after the car in which they debuted, but subsequently also fitted to other types of cars.

Type 1 engine or "upright" Used in all Type 1 cars (hence the name) and in all Type 2 cars until and including model year 1979 (T1 and T2). US market: in Type 2 cars until and including model year 1971 (T1 and T2a). "Upright" because of the cooling blower housing that stands, well, upright on top of the engine.

Type 3 engine (some call it Type 1 too though) Modified Type 1 engine with redesigned cooling system, much flatter. Used in all Type 3 cars.

Type 4 engine or "pancake" All-new design. First used in Type 4 cars (hence the name), also used in Type 2 cars from 1972 (standard in US, optionally elsewhere), in the VW-Porsche 914/4 and in the Porsche 912 E (a fuel-saving 911 derivative). "Pancake" presumably because a pancake does not stand upright. ;-)

So, a 1981 US model Vanagon would be a Type 2, T3, with a Type 4 engine. I hope it's clear now why T and Type should never be mixed. T stands for Transporter. It does not stand for Type. And a Bug is no more a "T-1" than it is a "Volkswagon".

HTH, Erik.

Breif Summary:

Type 1: Used in all Beetles, Karmann Ghias and Things. Normal upright design with cooling fan running on alternator belt.

Type 2: Used in Busses until....some time in the mid 70s when they switched to the type 4 (see below) Unsure of whether these engines were all upright cooling design. Otherwise same as type 1.

Type 3: Squarebacks, Notchbacks, etc. Pancake engine with fan attached directly to crankshaft....otherwise a type 1. Different intake system, obviously, for the flat configuration. I beleive some used dual side-draft carbs.

Type 4: Late model busses, 411 sedans, Porsche 914, 912..... Flat configuration, aluminum crankcase, many modifications to entire crank and rod assembly to make it insanely strong. Better main bearings. Bettter oil cooler. Better cooling system, allthough still crank driven. These engines were, at the smallest, 100cc bigger than the biggest type 1, which was a 1600cc.

This is as much as I know. Old timers, correct my errors, please? I'm still learning!

~Anthony

Wow, great explanation. I thought I knew about the whole designation scheme, but apparently, was a tad bit mistaken on some parts.

-Geoffe '74 Super Beetle