#1970 VW Beetle

[stone-cold-groove]

From the car files: a 1970 Volkswagen Beetle ad.

[chadscapture]

1970 VW Beetle

[pinkymixology]

1974 Volkswagen Beetle

[pennanbrae]

Bug love 🪲🛞🐞

[nickdewolfarchive]

boston, massachusetts 1972

washington street

photograph by nick dewolf https://www.flickr.com/photos/dboo/5193547032

[scavengedluxury]

Temporary pedestrian overpass on Kossuth Lajos Street, Budapest, 1975. From the Budapest municipal photography company archive.

[misforgotten2]

They do know that the difference from one year and the next is as little as a single day, right? So what’s the big deal?

Reader's Digest   December 1974

[mikespinelli]

Brazilian auto journalist and racing driver Expedito Marazzi (far right) in the 1970s Brazilian Stock Car “Division 3” with one of the highly modified VW Beetles that competed in the class.

[germancarssince1946]

1970 VW Beetle 1302 Convertible

My tumblr-blogs: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/germancarssince1946 & https://www.tumblr.com/blog/frenchcarssince1946 & https://www.tumblr.com/blog/englishcarssince1946

[carsthatnevermadeitetc]

Betone Shake, 1970. Designed by Marcello Gandini based on the rear-engined Simca 1200 S Coupé and presented at the Paris Motor Show. Compared to the many VW Beetle-based beach buggies of the era the Shake was highly finished featuring sophisticated detailing. Bertone made 2 prototypes, with the French specialist car-making Matra making 2 further cars in consideration of series production but the project came to nothing.

[elvis2130]

1970 VW Beetle

[freewayinsurance]

What Happened to the VW Bus? Is It Coming Back?

Actually, nothing happened to the VW bus. It just became less popular, temporarily, in the United States. And yes, it is coming back in a big way!

After the 1970s, the U.S. shut down VW bus manufacturing since the popular van was no longer was able to meet new safety and emissions standards. Production continued in Brazil, however, until 2014, when Brazil enacted new standards that the current model of the bus couldn’t meet. When that happened, the German production factory shut down its production after 63 years – the longest running time of any vehicle ever.

Now, many people are excited to learn the Volkswagen Bus is coming back next year, in 2024 – as the ID. Buzz (yes, that is its name!). It’s electric, eclectic and brings back a hint of the hippie movement psychedelic nostalgia with its neon colors: tangerine, lime, grape and more. Volkswagen is hoping to once again earn the respect and admiration of a new generation of car buyers.

One reason the VW bus became obsolete was its failing safety measures. No matter what you choose to drive, being safely prepared for the road by purchasing affordable car insurance will ensure your favorite vehicle never goes out of style.

The Peculiar History of the VW Bus

Although many people in the U.S. think of the iconic Volkswagen bus as the original hippie van from the 1960s, it has a different association in Europe, where it was born in Germany in the 1940s. Colloquially called the VW Bus in America and the VW Camper in the UK, the Volkswagen bus was modeled after the German Plattenwagen, a vehicle originally made to carry car parts. Dutch businessman, race car driver, winemaker and Olympian Ben Pon, always looking for something new and already selling the hugely popular VW Beetle in the United States, saw the Plattenwagen during a tour of the Volkswagen plant in West Germany one day and the lightbulb went off.

The Beetle paved the way for what was known then as the VW Transporter, later called the Volkswagen Microbus and then, in later years, the Bus. In the 1950s when the Transporter hit the market, buyers could choose from 8 different models, all designed to answer a specific need. Today, there are more than 15 variations of the Transporter (or T models) on the market.

For example, the Kombi VW bus featured removable rear seats so consumers could use the van to carry cargo (and people). A variety of side windows options also made an appearance during these days, with a low-end version offering 11-15 windows spaced around the van and high-end versions offering 23-window VW buses. Early models carried a hard to clean split front windshield, earning it one of many nicknames, “the Splitty.” Volkswagen did away with this unpopular feature, creating a solid front windshield.

In Europe, families and friends used the popular bus for camping trips, as did Americans, who also plastered peace signs all over it and drove it to see Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead. Europeans turned it into an ambulance, and everyone used its large interior for deliveries and carting stuff around.

In the 1960s, things began to turn around in the U.S. market when people became more concerned with vehicle safety and emissions – and something known as the chicken tax.

Chicken Tax

The Chicken War started when American farmers adopted poultry factory farming practices in the 1950s. Soon, chicken was being exported to Europe in mind-boggling numbers – which didn’t sit well with German farmers. Feathers flew and, as a result, high tariffs were implemented on imported chicken in Europe.

In America, the United Auto Workers were threatening a strike over the importing of the popular Volkswagen Type 2 pickup truck.

In response to both of the above, President Johnson imposed a 25% tax on imported light trucks. Called the Chicken Tax, it’s still in effect today. The effect on the Volkswagen is, in order to avoid the Chicken Tax, the vehicle cannot be sold as a truck or any kind of commercial vehicle.

Today’s Volkswagen Bus

Today, three different iterations of the VW bus are on the production line at a plant in Hanover, Germany. The model year T6 continues to be built with a van platform but is ceasing production with the new ID. Buzz. This is its last year. The T7 is a medium-sized Transporter with a large cargo area marketed as a plug-in hybrid. And the newest member of this family of unconventional members is the Buzz, due in the U.S. in 2024.

In Europe, the electric Buzz rolled into the market in 2022 and found new categories to master, including as a police car, a school bus, a postal truck and much more. But in America, the Buzz will never climb to the exalted ranks of a service vehicle. The chicken tax took care of that. It will always be a passenger van on these shores.

The Buzz About the Buzz

Let’s talk specifics about this new van that’s supposed to bring us all back to the days of concerts, tie-dye and peace signs. Of course, it is electric. But what other changes will we see?

Appearance: Some people think the new Buzz looks similar to the old Scooby-Doo van. Others think it looks like what might happen if a modern minivan had a baby with a sleek sports car. It certainly no longer has the goofy smile of the old VW Bus. Some people say it looks like an angry cousin.

Mechanics: It’s no longer necessary to carry around the “How to Fix Your Volkswagen for the Complete Idiot” and 3 wrenches. The downside is that a paper clip and a rubber band won’t fix the rear engine until you can get it to a shop. And, gasp, it comes in automatic transmission, too. Staying on top of maintenance will get you further.

Noise and Driving: If you’ve ever driven or ridden in an older VW Microbus, you already know how noisy it was, with bone-jarring shakes and rattles. It may – or may not – make it up that steep hill in the mountains of Colorado. Perhaps try reverse to make it up? Today’s version will have up to 201 horsepower (the original had an HP of two digits). It’s supposed to be much easier to maneuver. You’ve got to wonder if they took out all the fun!

Smart Car: You probably won’t consider the new Buzz as you did its distant little brother or sister. In the 60s, the bus was considered a valuable and friendly member of the family. The Buzz is more like the rather stern computer Hal in “2001: A Space Odyssey” (except for the part where Hal goes crazy and murders the crew). That won’t happen with Buzz, but it may stop you from switching lanes without signaling or flashing colors at you if there’s an obstruction in the road.

Overall, VW is banking on the new trend for electrical vehicles to help it become the world player it once was with the Beetle and the original VW bus in decades past. And although it may cost quite a bit more than the original ($1,800 vs $40,000), there are still fans clamoring to get a piece of yesterday for today.

Protect Your Vehicle Investment with Freeway Insurance

Whether you choose to drive a new electric VW Buzz or you are thrilled to get your hands on the iconic 60s version, having the right auto insurance can help you protect your ride and yourself. At Freeway Insurance, we can find affordable insurance that meets your budget and your needs. To get started, get a quick online quote, give us a call at (800) 777-5620 or stop by one of our convenient locations.

[allisonreader]

So this past Thursday was kind of a hard day for me. My head hurt and I was having some tummy troubles to keep it vague. So I desperately wanted to go home throughout the day. What made it better/was the big bright spot of the day was a conversation with a customer's husband.

His wife was busy looking at machines and he and his wife were in conversation with my one coworker about travel and their old VW beetle which was from 1970, I think they said. (I'm a big fan, but that's beside the point.) With the travel part of the conversation is where I got drawn in, because the husband had mentioned that they had visited/stopped in Riverside, Idaho.

Now for my coworker who was dealing with them this didn't perk her attention like it did mine. (Because who those of you who don't know, I'm very much a Star Trek girl. There's very little of Star Trek that I haven't at least least seen once or at least of heard of.)

The husband of course brought up the fact that Riverside is the future birthplace of Captain Kirk, as I nodded along in agreement because I knew that and was the first thing that came to mind was that that's Kirk's birthplace (though the future was left off in my mind.) I was immediately begged as a Trekkie, which I certainly don't deny. So I ended up having a really good like conversation about Trek with him. He even showed me some of the pictures that he took while in Riverside, though they didn't make it to the Kirk statue due to construction. He showed me a picture of a quilt which had the Enterprise silhouette on it, as well as him sitting in a replica captain's chair. He also mentioned how they hadn't made to Bloomington, Indiana to visit Janeway's future home town.

We discussed some of the different series vaguely and without going deep into any of them. He mentioned how he had a little bit of a hard time getting into Next Gen at first. I had mentioned that DS9 wasn't my favourite because of its darker tone, which brought up Picard and it's darker tone but fun last season and seeing the Enterprise D was again. We both agreed that Strange New Worlds is incredibly enjoyable and that the musical episode was so good and such a fun time. Both of us are looking forward to the new season when it comes out.

So overall after struggling for the third day with a hurty head to some degree and some gut issues, it was just a much needed bright spot in my week.

[pennanbrae]

A blue bug basks in the sun.

[busesnbugs]

How the T2 VW Campervan Upgraded and Evolved the T1

VW manufactured the Volkswagen Type 2 “Bay Window” bus from 1967 until 1979, supplanting the Type 1 that it had produced commercially since 1950. Then, the Type 2 continued production under license in Brazil and Argentina until 2013.

Heavier and easier to produce, the second-generation Type 2 did away from its predecessor's unique split front windshield. It featured a slightly larger 1600cc, 36bhp engine designed to attain a top speed of 80mph, using the same single port engine design as the Beetles of the era. Those who place a premium on original engines can find carburetor conversion kits such as a twin Solex and single Weber, which increase power on the original T2 models.

In 1971, VW introduced a new 1600cc twin port T2 engine that fitted each cylinder head with dual intake ports and boosted power to 50bhp. In 1972, the 1.6 air-cooled engine gave way to a 1.7 “pancake” air-cooled flat 4 engine that, while only marginally larger, provided significantly more power. The 1974 T4 engine increased capacity to 1800cc (67bhp); in 1976, this again increased to 2000cc (69bhp). Porsche 912E and Porsche 914 models used the same engine found in the T25, the Bay’s successor.

The suspension became another major change as it eliminated the swing axle rear suspension of the Split and the Beetle. Such systems employed reduction boxes that served as an extra gearbox and increased ride height. The T2 featured half-shaft axles with constant velocity joints, which accomplished the same task of raising the ride height while doing away with extreme changes in the camber (the outward and inward tilt of the tire and wheel assembly).

Before the T2, wheels would tilt significantly, which caused uneven tread wear and a tendency of the vehicle to pull to one side. (To this day, off-road racers who employ air-cooled VW components seek out the T2 transaxle for its stability and functionality).

Starting in 1968, engineers implemented various safety-related changes in the T2, including a firewall set between the engine and fuel tank and a new hazard light configuration. In 1971, the T2 got front disc brakes for the first time, and rear wheel arches provided better clearance for the new, larger wheels. From 1976 to 1979, the Bay had extremely few updates, as VW engineers had shifted to designing and refining the upcoming T25 generation of buses.

One interesting side note of the T2 era is that this marked VWs first foray into vans outfitted with electric drive systems. It became the work of the VW “Future Research” development division, founded in 1970. In 1972, VW successfully produced a test T2 electric model, leading to a small batch of commercially produced vehicles.

The initial prototype weighed 2.2 tons and had a 1,940-pound battery with a 21.6 kWh capacity. Compared with contemporary EVs, it made the vehicle extremely heavy, with significantly less battery storage capacity. As a comparison point, the next generation Volkswagen ID. The Buzz van, launched in 2024, weighs only 1,102 pounds and has a 77 kWh capacity.

[scavengedluxury]

"House of Lords" apartment building, Kossuth Square, Kecskemét, 1972. From the Budapest Municipal Photography Company archive.