Hi Guys,

Was asked by a mate, if he wanted an old beetle with Aircon, what year model would he look for. I was not sure how to respond.

I no nothing about late model beetle's. Did any from the late 60's or 70's come with A/C?

Thanks,
Alex.

they didnt come with ac.
there was a couple of after market kits that were fitted at some dealerships but they were few and far between.
there are better kits now but saying that never have used them.

That's what I thought.

Thanks for confirming.

I guess if he really wants A/C he can buy a New Beetle lol

not saying you cant fit one to a bug that fits the requirement.
i just drive with the window down.

Didn't some very late convertibles with Fuel injection have it?

Why not buy an good early bug and fit a pop out windscreen. Have seen those kits somewhere.

It was never factory fitted in any bug but it was an option when new since the early 60s, just not seen in aus

Very common in Asia and the US though, there was just as many superbugs there with it than without.
All old outdated and ineffecient technology though.


Its very easy to get fitted to a bug these days, I got it in mine and this time of year its a god send.
Windows down is fine till you are stuck in bumper to bumper traffic.

If any one is interested I am taking a beetle evaporator assy. to DOV .Thats the under dash unit designed for 12v beetles but by changing the knobs will suit earlies as well

Paul

ps.includes tx valve

Mark IV used to do one for Beetles. The evaporator and fans were in a box that fitted in the rear luggage space, behind the rear seat. They worked well, but used heaps of power......you almost needed to switch off the A/C to overtake another car. The extra weight in the back was a worry, also.

Hi Greg, Mark IV Air Conditioning used to be owned by LNC Industries, who also owned VW Australia (and Lanock Motors), so a natural connection. Went bust in the late '80s.

Yes New Beetles (2000-2011 here) came with air con as standard.

Hi Greg those early compressors were a bugger for that ,most of the newer compressors are designed for small engines so it can be done easier.

Paul

Phil, Mark IV didn't actually go "bust". They were shut down by LNC, because of falling sales.....'Factory Air' was becoming more common. I did most of their sheet metal back then, and when they cancelled thousands worth of orders, it was scary. LNC, however, 'did the right thing' and paid me for all work done [even partly completed]. A lot of companies these day would not bother.

Paul, those old York compressors sure were heavy. So many things have improved since then, thank goodness....or should I say Engineering?

Those same York compressors can actually be found running small cold rooms

Due to weight they had to revise the mounts, the early ones use the #4 exhaust studs and the dist clamp stud, the wieght and vibration used to pull the dist clamp stud out of the block.

People would be driving along and next thing their engine would stop because the distributor popped out

If the belt was a touch loose you could see the compressor momentarily stop on the compression stroke, two cylinders only, unlike new 10 cyl.or even electrically driven ones (eg Prius)

Paul