Except for the swing axlesPhil74Camper wrote:Thanks Steve and Joel, it looks like the specs of the UK 'GT' Beetle are very similar to our '76 model..
1303Steve Scirocco Rare
8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·
Superbug or L bug? Whats the difference?
Phil74Camper Head in the Clouds
2,703 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·
So our '76 model was even MORE a 'GT' than the UK model so-named!
No wonder many people think they are the 'best' original Beetle (if you don't like struts that is). Pity they weren't more appreciated at the time - I can still remember a row of unsold new Beetles on the forecourt at Cloughs on Canterbury Rd in '76. But then in 1976 they were regarded as ancient and outdated - the Golf debuted in Australia that year.
No wonder many people think they are the 'best' original Beetle (if you don't like struts that is). Pity they weren't more appreciated at the time - I can still remember a row of unsold new Beetles on the forecourt at Cloughs on Canterbury Rd in '76. But then in 1976 they were regarded as ancient and outdated - the Golf debuted in Australia that year.
ian.mezz I never said, I could write or spell
3,913 posts · joined Sep 2004 ·
they are the cheap unwanted models, that most people cut up and stick Subaru motors in em 😂🤪😂
😂🤪😂🤪😂
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲
car forums. where a lot of peoples good intentions end up taking a good old car off the road forever never ever to see the road again. 🥲
Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang
9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·
Quite possibly they did, Ive seen those mid 70s mutant ones which were standards but had the Lbug dash and windscreen were pretty loaded with factory sprintstar type wheels, cloth interior, pop out windws, woodgrain dash inserts, maybe heater rear window etcPhil74Camper wrote:Does anyone have any information on whether the South African or Brazilian factories produced a 'high-spec' sports version of the Beetle for their own markets? I don't have my reference books with me here.
yet they only had link pin front and swing axle rear with 4 wheel drums 🤪
1303Steve Scirocco Rare
8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·
They are the only model that can handle all that powerian.mezz wrote:they are the cheap unwanted models, that most people cut up and stick Subaru motors in em 😂🤪😂
bevelhead Seriously Crusin Dubber
161 posts · joined Aug 2008 ·
Perhaps someone can tell me what the hell i looked at years ago, it was swing axle with a single cv joint on gearbox side?
68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --
11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·
Phil74Camper wrote:So our '76 model was even MORE a 'GT' than the UK model so-named!
No wonder many people think they are the 'best' original Beetle (if you don't like struts that is). Pity they weren't more appreciated at the time - I can still remember a row of unsold new Beetles on the forecourt at Cloughs on Canterbury Rd in '76. But then in 1976 they were regarded as ancient and outdated - the Golf debuted in Australia that year.
I'm glad I didn't see those Phil....😢😢😢
I have seen pics of Beetles and Golfs on the Aust production line..
along with Datsun P510 1600 and Volvos... type 3s..
and all the same colors lol...
I didn't know VW had such a big problem selling beetles back then... [they were still selling OK in 2003 in Mexico.. lol]
Phil,
Do You know why the 1303s were stopped in 1975???
although I always thought they kept the best until last..
LEE
I'm not sure that all GT Beetles had the 1600 engine??
the 1300 was the preferred engine in the uK...
because of petrol costs and maybe MOT Tax costs?? Lee
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---
68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --
11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·
Paulc1964au wrote:ok so what is mine i always get confused or is mine just a 69 1500 now fitted with a 1600 twin port
what do You mean just a 69 1500 beetle???? Paul
the 1500 beetles were NON Supers thats all....
some people think a super beetle is like a Porsche.. lol
but only 1500 1303 L beetles were ever sold in the UK....
they are rare as over there....
and hundreds of thousands in North America... lol
the 1302S Super was called a SUPERBUG offially in Australia...
Lee
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---
Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang
9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·
That doesn't make a whole lot of sense?bevelhead wrote:Perhaps someone can tell me what the hell i looked at years ago, it was swing axle with a single cv joint on gearbox side?
You mean there was a CV joint at the gearbox end but the axle was fixed to the drum like a swingaxle?
nothing from the factory came like that, might have been someones Frankenstein creation.
Theres some good info about them here:68AutoBug wrote:I'm not sure that all GT Beetles had the 1600 engine??
the 1300 was the preferred engine in the uK...
because of petrol costs and maybe MOT Tax costs?? Lee
http://www.sebeetles.com/gt.htm
But according to the VW add they were only availble with a 1600 twin port engine.
They were a 1300 model bug like we got here but were fitted with discs and a 1600 engine though which is probably where the confusion comes from.
bevelhead Seriously Crusin Dubber
161 posts · joined Aug 2008 ·
I know it doesnt make a whole lot of sense, im kicking myself for not taking a pic. I remember looking under it several times and thinking what the ?, it was in Mackay at local v dub yard and i specifically asked what the hell it was, i got a "well its not really a cv joint but blah blah" and assumed that was how that model all were...i didnt pay that much attention because it was in the early 90s, and i was young and clueless and it had strut front end and i didnt have a clue about none beam stuff.....i have been meaning to ask this again for years...i know it had one joint though but i cant remember how it was set up...ie axle tube..it sounds stupid to myself now but that is why i asked, it wasnt home made either.
byronmcmanus59 Seriously Crusin Dubber
199 posts · joined Apr 2008 ·
I dunno what the difference is all i know is they're ugly.
bevelhead Seriously Crusin Dubber
161 posts · joined Aug 2008 ·
Got that right, theres one growing in the back yard....i dont know what to do with it
Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang
9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·
If it was a Superbug with struts I assure you what you saw wasnt stock.
Every superbug made here rolled out the doors with the garden variety IRS whether it was manual or semi auto.
The only variance was some of the early Sbugs were fitted with those stupid type3 double spring plates.
People have done all sorts of crazy shit to these cars over the last 30+ years.
Someone in the US recently found a superbug in a junkyard still with the strut front end still but modified to take a standard beetle tank and an upright spare tyre 🤪
Every superbug made here rolled out the doors with the garden variety IRS whether it was manual or semi auto.
The only variance was some of the early Sbugs were fitted with those stupid type3 double spring plates.
People have done all sorts of crazy shit to these cars over the last 30+ years.
Someone in the US recently found a superbug in a junkyard still with the strut front end still but modified to take a standard beetle tank and an upright spare tyre 🤪
mactaylor Custom Title Time!
1,005 posts · joined Aug 2007 ·
ohhh yeah!!ian.mezz wrote:they are the cheap unwanted models, that most people cut up and stick Subaru motors in em 😂🤪😂
EVERLAST CONCRETE TANKS
1800 552 123
1800 552 123
Super1302 Officially Full-On Dubber
361 posts · joined Jul 2008 ·
my understanding that being badged volkswagen "S" on the decklid is how the Super came about and the L on the decklid is just an L wrongly named by some as a super.
super came with an "S", plain and simple as that isn't it.
super came with an "S", plain and simple as that isn't it.
Super1302 Officially Full-On Dubber
361 posts · joined Jul 2008 ·
Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang
9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·
Not exactlySuper1302 wrote:my understanding that being badged volkswagen "S" on the decklid is how the Super came about and the L on the decklid is just an L wrongly named by some as a super.
super came with an "S", plain and simple as that isn't it.
If it's got struts it's a superbug, don't worry what the badge on the decklid says, most of them are swapped and wrong these days anyway.
A 73-75 "Lbug" is technically called a 1600 Superbug L in Australia.
Just people have been calling them Lbugs for years and it's stuck.
Just like people think "superbug" only means 71-72 flat screen Sbugs.
Lucky Phil Wolfsburg Wizard
480 posts · joined Aug 2010 ·
I bought my Lbug a few years ago for a song. Didn't like it much but it grew on me. Nobody else showed much interest in it either.
How things have changed. There is lots of interest in it now and ironically, it is one of the rarer vehicles in the club.
How things have changed. There is lots of interest in it now and ironically, it is one of the rarer vehicles in the club.
oldtub356 Seriously Crusin Dubber
139 posts · joined Dec 2009 ·
Windscreens gents? What years/models?
Flat:
Flatish:
Rounded:
My '76 has a "Flatish" - the O'Briens Windscreen guy needed to make x2 trips - brought a Flat one first up. The "Flatish" has about an inch of curve in it.
Lance.
Flat:
Flatish:
Rounded:
My '76 has a "Flatish" - the O'Briens Windscreen guy needed to make x2 trips - brought a Flat one first up. The "Flatish" has about an inch of curve in it.
Lance.
Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang
9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·
Dead flat glass is early model - Pre 67
All bugs after 68 used the same windscreen which has that very slight curve in it, the only exception was Lbugs obviously.
All bugs after 68 used the same windscreen which has that very slight curve in it, the only exception was Lbugs obviously.
Super1302 Officially Full-On Dubber
361 posts · joined Jul 2008 ·
okay, where is it actually written,
sounds like a given,
all heresay, someone put the proof up.
and what does S mean and what does L mean.
if it is written that struts is a super, then by whom.
straight and simple😁
sounds like a given,
all heresay, someone put the proof up.
and what does S mean and what does L mean.
if it is written that struts is a super, then by whom.
straight and simple😁
Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l
12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·
Futue te ipsum!!!
Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang
9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·
They don't mean anything it's just a letter to help differentiate the 2 different model superbugs.Super1302 wrote:okay, where is it actually written,
sounds like a given,
all heresay, someone put the proof up.
and what does S mean and what does L mean.
if it is written that struts is a super, then by whom.
straight and simple😁
S and L just sound alot better than Superbug E or Volkswagen K
The problem is Superbug S and L was only used in Aus and there hasn't been much literature written on VW beetles in aus, In Europe they were known as 1302 and 1303 and North America they were just superbeetles.
But it is actually written in manuals like the Gregorys manuals were written for Aus specs:
and also official Aussie car model listings
The reason S is listed as 73 and 74 as well is they were still being sold till stocks run out which means they have be listed officially.
and 3sp was semi automatics
Super1302 Officially Full-On Dubber
361 posts · joined Jul 2008 ·
well there we go.Joel wrote:They don't mean anything it's just a letter to help differentiate the 2 different model superbugs.Super1302 wrote:okay, where is it actually written,
sounds like a given,
all heresay, someone put the proof up.
and what does S mean and what does L mean.
if it is written that struts is a super, then by whom.
straight and simple😁
S and L just sound alot better than Superbug E or Volkswagen K
The problem is Superbug S and L was only used in Aus and there hasn't been much literature written on VW beetles in aus, In Europe they were known as 1302 and 1303 and North America they were just superbeetles.
But it is actually written in manuals like the Gregorys manuals were written for Aus specs:
and also official Aussie car model listings
The reason S is listed as 73 and 74 as well is they were still being sold till stocks run out which means they have be listed officially.
and 3sp was semi automatics
cheers
lou0060 Wolfsburg Wizard
568 posts · joined Dec 2010 ·
nice going guys.
I think VUU73L has gone and cut his wrists as he hasn't been back on the thread since November.....
oh well at least we all learnt something new, I think.....
by the way where can I get a set of those tail lights on the red beetle on page 1?????
I think VUU73L has gone and cut his wrists as he hasn't been back on the thread since November.....
oh well at least we all learnt something new, I think.....
by the way where can I get a set of those tail lights on the red beetle on page 1?????
1971 karmann ghia Cabrio - Cruising 👍
1963 beetle Sunroof - gathering dust 🥲
1968 race beetle - twin turbo Subaru - stress relief 😁
1960 beetle - old school low & slow 😏
1963 beetle Sunroof - gathering dust 🥲
1968 race beetle - twin turbo Subaru - stress relief 😁
1960 beetle - old school low & slow 😏
Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l
12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·
Most shops sell them
I have them on mine
You certainly can get them from ACnet
I have them on mine
You certainly can get them from ACnet
Futue te ipsum!!!