Volkswagen Type 4
| Volkswagen 411 / Volkswagen 412 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Volkswagen AG |
| Production | 1968-1972 (411) 1972–July 1974 (412) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Mid-size / Large family car (D) |
| Body style | 2-door saloon 4-door saloon 3-door estate |
| Layout | RR layout |
| Related | Volkswagen Type 3 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1679 cc Flat-4 (411) 1795 cc Flat-4 (412) |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual 3-speed automatic optional |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,500 mm (98 in) |
| Length | 4,553 mm (179.3 in) (411) 4,583 mm (180.4 in)(412) |
| Width | 1,675 mm (65.9 in) |
| Height | 1,475 mm (58.1 in) |
| Curb weight | 1,020 kg (2,250 lb) 2-door 411 1,120 kg (2,470 lb) Variant |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Volkswagen Passat |
The Volkswagen Type 4 is a mid-sized car manufactured and marketed by Volkswagen of Germany from 1968 to 1974 in two-door and four-door sedan as well as two-door station wagon body styles. The Type 4 evolved through two generations, the 411 (1968–72) and 412 series (1972–74).
Designed under the direction of Heinrich Nordhoff and introduced at the Paris Motor Show in October 1968, the 411 was Volkswagen's largest passenger vehicle with the company's largest engine – with styling credited to Carozzeria Pininfarina, who at the time had an advisory contract with Volkswagen. The cars retained VW's trademark air-cooled, rear placement, rear-wheel drive, boxer engine with a front/rear weight distribution of 45/55% and a forward cargo storage 400 l (14.1 cu ft) — while also introducing design and engineering departures for the company – including a completely flat passenger area floor and suspension using control arms and MacPherson struts. Volkswagen had prototyped a notchback sedan version of the 411, without introducing it to production.
Over its six-year production run, Volkswagen manufactured 367,728 Type 4 models, compared with 210,082 of the subsequent Volkswagen K70 with its four-year model life. In the United States, VW sold 117,110 Type 4s from 1971 to July 1974. As Volkswagen's last air-cooled sedans and wagons, the Type 4 models were succeeded by the first generation Passat, marketed as the Dasher in the USA.
As Volkswagen's first 4-door saloon, the Type 4 also introduced unibody construction, coil springs, trailing wishbone rear suspension, hydraulic clutch manual transmission – as well as MacPherson strut front suspension, subsequently adapted to the VW Type 1 1302/1303 ("Super Beetle").
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