Hi
what were the last updates made to Beetle's in Australia in 76 when production stopped? Did we ever get fuel injection?
I am not familiar with the later model changes in the last few years what things were added or removed or changed?
I dont know the exact changes, but I belive we did get Fuel injection and also rack and pinion steering.
The '76 year model beetle was an unusual mix of past and present. VW went back to Torsion bar front suspension (from the macpherson strut introduced on the super & L bugs) and had independent rear suspension. I dont believe we saw EFI here on Aussie delivered cars, but there have been recent pics of Japanese delivered '76 beetles with EFI & aircon. They didnt have R&P either, they went back to steering box. Th R&P was on '75 L bugs, and rare from what I have read and been told.
A decent '76 is a rare thing these day, they suffered badly from rust around the rear window due to the vents in the C pillar and the foam sound deadener in the body that absorbed moisture.
no production Beetle in Aussie ever had Fuel Injection unless it was a later after 76 priviate import and there area few about
type 3s were the first VW to have Injection
then the later Bay Kombis around 76 had it as well
As per Euro76 yes the 76 was a bittsa car old and new features thank goodness they went back to Torsion bar front ends
The whole Aussie VW operation was winding down and the '76 was a 'bitza' of leftover parts before the model was discontinued.
Before 1968 the Melbourne factory was a full-on manufacturing plant (which is why pre'68 Aussie VWs are unique), but in '68 after losing heaps of $$ they converted back to a more simple 'assembly' operation, assembling painting and trimming German CKD kits (with some Australian-made parts too). They also contracted out to other makers to use the facilities, which is why they started assembling Datsuns, Volvos and Mercedes Trucks as well.
Gradually the factory was making more and more Datsuns, and less and less VWs as the '70s went on. In 1975 Nissan announced they would be buying the factory outright from VW. In 1975 VW was still assembling the VW 1300 Beetle and the 1600 Superbug L, as well as the Kombi, and the Passat (which had replaced the Type 3 the year before). In late 1975 the Superbug was discontinued, and VW wanted to use the production line to assemble the Golf instead.
So things were reorgansed in 1976, when Nissan took ownership of the factory. VW assembly was to continue under their control. Transporter assembly continued (VW's biggest selling model), Passat assembly was rationalised (the 1300 and TS were discontinued), Golf assembly began, and the 1300 Beetle and 1600 Superbug were both discontinued. There were plenty of parts left over, so to use them up VW made a '76' Beetle. They basically used a 1300 platform and body, but with Superbug engine, transmission and rear suspension. No European improvements like FI, air-con or cats were ever fitted to Australian cars. Note - it was officially sold as the 'BEETLE' in Australia, the first time the name had ever been used officially.
Production ended in July 1976, as it was an outgoing model and resources were not allocated to making it meet the new ADRs coming into effect. It was an unpopular model by this stage (the Golf was the talk of the town), and unsold '76 Beetles clogged distribution yards and dealers for months. I can still remember a row of half a dozen of them lined up at Cloughs at Bankstown, waiting for buyers. The last '76 wasn't sold until March 1977. All Australian VW assembly ended at the same time, and all VWs since then have been fully imported.
Great information there, thanks for taking the time to respond.
Great write up. Re officially called a Beetle. Was there an actual name plate made? that went on engine boot?
Sadly, no. The '76 was a 'run out' model intended to use up the store of Beetle production parts before being phased out and replaced by the Golf. They would noyt have devoted any resources to making special badges. In fact theuy didn't even have VW badges on the front bonnet.
This is the front page of the Australian 1976 Beetle sales brochure.
Page 2 of the brochure
Page 3
Fourth and last page.
This brochure was designed and produced by Mastercraft Printing, which happened to be a fully-owned division of LNC Industries (the VW Australia parent company).
This one shows the specs, and colours available. The very last ones made in July 1976 were Martini Olive.
Hello Phil
For what period were the front bumper mounted indicators used?
As far as I'm aware they came in about halfway through 1975, so you will also see some late Superbug Ls with blinkers in the front bumpers. All of the '76s were like that.
great info, thanks for sharing this
