Classic VW Wagon, 1600cc Flat 4, Manual Transmission, Black, Air

Description

You've definitely seen Volkswagen's Type 1 (Beetle) and Type 2 (Bus) production cars, but what about the much rarer Type 3? No one would blame you if you never have, as we didn't get too many of them Stateside, and it's a shame, because look how cool this little car is. With an uber-reliable, air-cooled flat-4 that runs great and an interior that shines up like new, this little wagon is the flower-child you wished you already knew about.... The quirky model that you see before you was marketed as a "Squareback" in the US market ("Variant" everywhere else), and in our opinion, it was the coolest of the three body styles offered for the Type 3. Exported from Germany to compete against the Chevrolet Corvair, the basic fundamentals of this car are shared with the Beetle: rear-engined and body-on-chassis construction (body bolts onto a frame that includes a floor pan). But VW knew Americans wanted more space, so they stretched the dimensions to add for more rear seating space and a rear cargo area that's quite spacious in the Squareback. From all that design came this unique two-door, and we can certainly understand its sudden cult-like following because the look is irresistible. The color of this Type 3 was changed from red to matte gray at some point, and to put it frankly, the execution should've been much better. Glistening it is not as it shows flaws in many places, needs to be jammed, and the red is trying it's hardest to pop back through again. But it sort of just feels right on this little wagon and looks unique enough to tempt the next owner to leave it as-is, but if not, there's not a lot of sheetmetal to cover for a quality respray. Contrarily, the interior is fresh and dialed-in, featuring black vinyl buckets up front and a matching rear bench that makes this Squareback a legitimate 4-seater, and some would even argue (we in the US probably wouldn't) that's it's really a 5-seater. The vinyl-padded dash was all new for this model as well, featuring a 3-coned gauge cluster and centralized knob controls. This wagon comes with an under-dash A/C unit, although the air is only blowing cool and a new compressor comes with the sale. Black door panels match the seats nicely, and the carpets are firm yet sophisticated, allowing for both good looks and heavy traffic. These early Squarebacks offered two storage areas, a smaller one up front that holds the spare tire and jack kit, and of course the back-hatch area that provides plenty of room for all the gear you need on any long road trip. Nestled underneath the back cargo area is the "underfloor" 1600CC flat-four cylinder engine that made VW a legend. Signs of recent maintenance are throughout, and the motor snaps to attention and runs superbly. The 1600CC "suitcase" was never a barn-burner, but it was always peppy and an absolute blast to drive, and even with the added weight of the Type 3, power is delivered quickly. The clutch feels easy and 4-speed manual transmission shifts smoothly, providing all the fun that drivers have come to expect out of a manual-shift VW. The undercarriage is not detailed for show, but very solid, evidence of a low-ownership classic that has truly been babied most of its life. Front disc brakes bring the Squareback to an abrupt stop, and the whole look is finished off fittingly by Minilite-style gold wheels from EMPI wrapped in 185/65/15 blackwall radials. Loaded with maintenance receipts and dealer records dating back to the mid '70s, this beauty was with it's original owner up until 1999. Always cared for, always fun, this Squareback is a great example of a collector car on the rise. Call today!