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On 30 Jan 2001, at 16:40, Per Lindgren wrote:
> No, the regular T36 Variant carried two designations, they were referred as the
> "I" and "II" so the dealer network would know which of the two Variants they were
> talking about. The "II" had 1500 cc engine, the swingaxles, diagonal tires and
> higher load capacity, where the "I" was pretty much technically identical to the
> Notch- and Fastback.
While it's certainly possible that I have overlooked it, I can't find
any reference to a "Variant II" on the type 3 microfilm. What I find
for swing axle parts that are used after 68 is a reference to M 263:
M 263 HEAVY DUTY EQUALIZER SPRING
FOR INCREASED PAYLOAD
F 367 000 001-- 361-368
This is called out for every swing axle part from 319 000 000.
It's interesting that this M was apparently available for all the
body styles.
I think it is likely that the term "Variant I" was a term applied in
your market, but not officially applied by VW of Germany. Such
marketing designations are common, and it is quite difficult to tell
these apart from "official" VW model differences.
What DOES seem clear is that VW offered the swing axle as an
available modification until the end of production, but it was not
imported into the US after 68. I suspect this was the case in most
markets, but this would have been a decision made by the local
importer, not the dealer or distributor. The car sold as a Variant II
in Norway was probably just a particular combination of modifications
which the Norwegian (or is it Scandinavian?) importer chose to market
there.
The only sufffixs I can find on the microfilm are: S, A, N, L, & TL.
As the only suffix I have ever seen so marked in the US was the S, I
have never been able to keep track of what each means (even though
the microfilm goes to some effort to help.)
Personally, I was REALLY surprised when you pointed out, correctly,
that swing axle type 3s were sold up to the end of production. Living
here in the US, I had no idea....
-
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Jim Adney, jadney@vwtype3.org
Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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