I can't give you a definitive answer, but when you look a the specifications for US bugs V other parts of the world, you'll see that they got back-up lights before anyone else, got heated rear windows (we never got those in Aus), got the bigger engines before anyone else (they got the first 1600 engine in 1970 and the rest of the world got them a year later), got the IRS suspension in manual cars in 69 and we got it in 71......

Since the bugs were still built to a price, SOMETHING had to give and I guess it was the brakes - it could also be that US design rules were less stringest on this point - they certainly were for headlights - the US got sealed beams in 1967 and these had a very poor pattern compared to the bulb and reflector lights our 12v bugs had - which used the Ecode (European code) lighting. They get really annoyed when I say that changing to halogen bulbs is a simple matter of removing the old 40-45watt bulb and putting the 55/60w halogen (p45t double step base) in it's places for about twice the light - they have to change the complete light assembly to fit "special" Hella kits in.

I'm glad we got the better brakes anyway.

Regards
Rob

Yeah there pretty slow over in the US

No actually it was Ralph Nader who had shares in the drum brake industry and put the poo bar on discs just like he did with the Bettle saying it was not safe having the fuel tank in front on the car

Yeah - bit of a giggle reading all these guys on Cal Look, STF etc etc that shove these 2332 etc in and they have drums all round :o

Woe Doggiess hang out the anchor

OR WEll Doggies as JEd CLampet wood say

I read somewhere that US Beetles kept drums longer due to pressure from the US car mechanics unions. More hours needed to overhaul drums than simply replace pads so more chargeable hours for mechanics.:o:o

Some say Ralph Nader was the cause of the demise of the Chev Corvair as well (my father has a 64 vert corvair which is a great car)....any way, getting off the original topic here, sorry.

Ralph Nader DID indeed kill the Chevrolet Corvair... and eventually the Rear Engined Volkswagen... due to what He wrote in His Book "Unsafe at Any Speed" I don't think He knew anything about Disc Brakes... well... US Cars didn't have these new fangled disc brakes... Maybe VW did save a bit of Money by using Drum Brakes, especially if the Yanks didn't either know about them or want them..
I believe Ralph Nader bought about Most of the changes... like dual brake master cylinders, Upright Headlamps, Stronger Bumpers,maybe even the Padded Dash, Soft knobs for switches, IRS rear end etc...:o