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Dear Per Lindgren, Thank you very much for the details and picture of your father's 1964 Type 3 panel van. It is a really good picture. And, typical of Type 3 Variant panel vans and like the basic no frills "A" model Type 3s, it had the small bullet front indicator lights, no side parking lights, no side waistline trim, no bumper bar overriders and had the smaller tail lights. And I suppose, no clock on the dash. My 1968 model even had only a sun visor for the driver. Do you have any other photos of your father's Type 3 panel van? But, the VW "Variant II" is in fact a totally different car. I think you must be refering to the Variant "A" and Variant "L". The VW Variant II is a much later Brazilian development of the Type 3. It was made in Brazil from November1977 to December 1981. It had a normal pancake 1584cc twin-carb Type 3 motor, a Type 3 floorpan with CV-joint torsion bar rear suspension but it had McPherson strut front suspension and rack and pinion steering (like the 1975 German 1303 Beetle). It was only available with a two-door station wagon or Variant body hence the name "Variant II". Unfortunately, in Brazil it couldn't compete with Volkswagen do Brasil's own VW Passat and so passed into oblivion after only a short production run. You can see pictures of the Brazilian VW Variant II on pages 91-92 of my book "Volkswagens of the World" (see <www.veloce.co.uk/vwworld.htm> ) and a poor picture but some specifications of the VW Variant II at <www.angelfire.com/sk2/volksline/vri2.htm> . (When looking at this site, the Brazilian "Variant II" should not be confused with the ordinary Brazilian "Variant" which is also featured on the same web site. The ordinary Brazilian Variant was replaced by the Variant II in 1977.) The VW Type 3 panel van featured in Greg's scrapbook (red and in the process of restoration) is in Perth, Western Australia, but its owner, Aaron Britcher, seems to have changed his E-mail address. I tried to contact him. does anyone know of his new E-mail address? Kind regards to all, Simon Glen Toowoomba, Australia. Per Lindgren wrote: > Dave Hall wrote: > > > > I am very interested in the Type 3 panel van otherwise known as the > > > "Variant van" or the "Stadtlieferwagen". > > > > One of the Scandinavian listees has one - Per L? or Karl-Olav maybe. I > > think it is a later model though I'm not certain. > > No, mine is a L with windows... Karl-Olov's too. But it is me you think of, > or rather my father, he had a 64 panel from '69 to '77. He gave it away > then, it was a totally rusted out. I was 3 1/2 years at the time, so I > couldnt complain. The car was a regular Variant with rear seats, and when > he bought the car he had windows installed. You can see a picture here, > before the panels was replaced with windows: > http://perlindgren.tripod.com/daddys.jpg I cant remember the VIN but I've > checked it before and it is positively a 64. I dont know the type code > though. > > I have also seen a 70's model with windows, but without rear seat and full > length flush side interior panels that ran the entire length of the car > (not including doors though). This is typical of Norwegian tax laws, you > can get large wagons (Passat, Audi A6, Mercedes etc.) registered as > delivery vans, without rear seat. This particular Variant could have been a > Norwegian conversion. And it had Toby E's color btw. Last time I saw it was > in '95, but could still be around, as it was in the town where I did the > army service. > > Simon Glen wrote: > > > Of course, all Type 3 panel vans right up until production ceased in July > > > > 1973 were fitted with VW Option M-263 which consists of heavy duty rear > > torsion bars, shock absorbers and swing axles with camber limiting 'Z' > > bar > > instead of the normal CV-joint rear suspension found on ordinary "A" and > > "L" > > Variants from 1969 models. > > This model was known as the Variant II and had swingaxles right up to the > end, the basic technical datas for this model is included in my 73 owners > manual. This car was the work car, made to be the "little brother" of the > Transporter. My car is of course the Variant I and is the passenger car > model (An "L") with carpets etc. > > There is also an Australian panel in Greg's scrap book. Maybe the same as > the one you mention, Simon? > http://vwtype3.org/scrapbook/list.cgi/squ.953703581.12486.html > > Lastly, I've been thinking of reliving my fathers late 64 panel and > replacing the windows on my car with aluminium panels cut in shape using > the window glasses as template. They have to be the same thickness as the > glass, painted in the car's color (L54D Marina blue) and be held in by the > rubber mouldings. What do you think? > > PerL > 73 Variant L > > ------------------------------------------------------------------- > List info at http://www.vwtype3.org/list or mailto:help@vwtype3.org