While I was at Essendon Airport yesterday I spotted a nice look L Bug. However as I got closer to the car I noticed something very strange about the windscreen, it was not curved like all L Bug should be, but flat like my S Bug. I’m 100% sure it was a L Bug as it had big lights at the back a indicators in the front bumper, making it a 1976 model. The rego sticker stated also that it was a 76 Bug.

But how can a 76 Bug have a flat windscreen? It is even possible?

I've ust found out from 1302Steve, that the 76 L bug has a flat screen. But why did they go back to the older style?

that was the "last" model

If you are a "standard" fan it is the holy grail.
IRS
disc brakes
ball joint front end

All this was standard - no changes needed. This is the donor if you have an oval you want to change.

Why did VW do it?

Had to keep the costs down and couldnt afford the 944 stut set up

Seriously - probabaly had something to do with cost cutting and part binning for a last ditch attempt to keep going against the flood of jap imports



PS - there is nothing funny about L bugs!

hehehehh L BUG nah seriously all VW's are kool big an small :bounce

*cough* struts rule! *cough*

I love my curved window.
So much more viewing room and i think it compliments the cars shape

Yes 1976 was the last year that Beetles were assembled at VW's Melbourne factory. They were assembled from CKD kits from Germany, with some Australian components added like tyres and batteries. They were something of a 'run-out' model as Beetle production was being wound down around the world.

Germany had already stopped making Superbugs, so kits of Macpherson strut cars were no longer available. VW Australia therefore went back to the old body, but with updated mechanicals like the IRS rear, disk front (ball-joint torsion bar) and 1600 motor.

ADR27A came in at the end of 1976, and the Beetle did not meet the requirements, so VW Australia stopped making this special model after only 1 year. In addition, Nissan bought the factory from VW at the end of 1976, which was another reason to end Beetle assembly here. Nissan did assemble Golfs, Passats and Kombis for VW Australia in 1977, but these cars were shocking. From 1978, all VWs were fully imported.