Wishing to purchase a vw for my wife ,I am in a quandery regarding models and engine sizes. What does volkswagen L and volkswagen S stand for? What engine capacities were available for 1970 - 1976 models? Thanks Bruce
In that period there were two engine sizes available, 1300cc and 1600cc. The S means you have the 1600cc models. Remember, the number on the decklid is NOT the engine size, but the model number. For example, if it says 1303S, you've got a curved windshield ('73-'79) super beetle with a 1600cc dual port engine.
Hope this helps. Karls
I assume Europe for this answer. US models all got the 1600 cc, 50 bhp engine.
1200 cc, single port, 34 bhp: code letter D 1300 cc, dual port, 44 bhp: code letters AB and AR 1600 cc, dual port, 50 bhp: code letters AD and ASAll three engines were available in both standard Bugs (models 1200 and 1300) and Super Beetles (models 1302 and
1303). 1600 cc Standard Bugs are rather rare though. 1200 cc Super Beetles are not exactly common, but less rare. Convertibles and Ghias all got the 1600 cc engine, except for some markets like Italy with prohibitive taxes on bigger complacements. (They even got 1300 cc engines in the Type 2 Loaf van!)"S" denotes the 1600 cc. "L" is just a nicer trim level. "LS" is both of them combined. Note that from '74 (IIRC) on, neither letter was still used on the inscription on the decklid.
Prior to 1970, there were neither Super Beetles nor dual port engines. The lineup was as follows:
1200 cc, 30 bhp old style engine: code letter A 1200 cc, 34 bhp: code letter D 1300 cc, 40 bhp: code letter F (from '66) 1500 cc, 44 bhp: code letter H (from '67) 1600 cc, 47 bhp: code letter B (from '70, Bus from '68)A engines were only used in Standard models (as opposed to the nicer trim Export models) until '64 or something. Such cars are awfully rare. B engines were only available in the Type 2 and in '70 model US Bugs. Again, all engines went with all types of Bug (the 1200 model looked rather different than the 1300/1500 model from '68 on): there were 1200 model Bugs with H engines as well as 1300 model Bugs with D engines. Again, convertibles and Ghias always got the biggest engine in the lineup.
Hope this helps.
Airhowlingly yours, Erik.
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