VW Beetle - What speed can you do in 1st gear? 50 KMH

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 30 May 2008, 9:59 pm

#649055

My 1600 single port engine can do 32 MPH or 50 KMH

55 MPH in 2nd gear.. which is approx 89 KMH..

Well, thats what a manual says of the 1500cc beetle with a semi automatic gearbox...

Naturally I haven't tried it...
as I like My engine... too much .. lol

LEE

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- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

warb gimme some butter im on a roll.....

1,983 posts · joined May 2003 · 30 May 2008, 10:16 pm

#649059

one way to find out..... hold your foot down till it stops pulling...

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 30 May 2008, 10:43 pm

#649065

Apologies

that was Drive 1 NOT LOW gear.....

LOW gear is 32 MPH or 50 kMH at 4000 RPM..

the 3 gears are called: LOW ; Drive 1 & Drive 2

Low Gear Ratio : 4-43 to 2.06
Drive One Ratio: 2.71 to 1.26
Drive Two Ratio : 1.91 to 0.89 [Overdrive]

added:
Differential gear ratio: 3.75 to 1 same as manuals

1600 autos had the 4.125 to 1 diff

1600 manuals had 3.88 or 3.875 to 1 ratio..
I have books quoting both these ratios..

LEE

[ figures for a 1500cc 1968 semi Auto Beetle]

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

dangerous 23 Windows of Awesome

5,901 posts · joined Jan 2005 · 31 May 2008, 6:21 am

#649088

2.06
1.26
0.89
Are the same ratios as a stock manual tranny for
2nd
3rd
4th.
The ones I have seen had a 4.375 diff too.
In the USA I heard they came with a 2.25 first ratio.

With 24.5" tyre that equates to the following rpm:

32mph=3955 rpm

55mph=4158 rpm

4000rpm=74.91mph

westi wrote:That's mad Alan.

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 31 May 2008, 10:15 pm

#649210

Maximum revs is supposted to be 4000 rpm

I've never tried to beat that...

another graph shows 35 mph 58 mph and 82 mph

and shows the Turbine speed - revs a minute
[torque converter]

Interesting

the later Autosticks 1600tp had 2.25 Low gear
and a final drive of 4.125 to 1..

LEE

- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---