Re: [T3] 1971 on Ebay

[Simon Glen <simonglen@bigpond.com>]

Dear Allyn,

Your explanation of why notchbacks and fastbacks share the same first two
digits of their chassis numbers and type codes sounds very logical and I
think you must be correct.

I have one query, though.  The Type3 panel van (or Type 36 with M Option
M265) is like an ordinary Type36 Variant or squareback except that in
many cases there is no rear seat base to fold forward and no hinges for
this rear seat base either.  It does have the rear seat back rest but
without the cushion. The back rest is permanently folded forward to
increase the rear load area and is usually only raised to provide access
to the battery.  So, in this area of the floorpan, namely the
cross-member for the rear seat, the panel van is different from the
Variant.  However, despite this floorpan difference, all panel vans
built after 01Aug1964 share the same first two digits of their chassis
numbers in common with the Variant, that is "36.......".  Would you know
why these slightly different floorpans have the same code.

Simon Glen
Toowoomba,  Australia.

Allyn de Vars wrote:

> Per, you may be more onto the correct answer than most would think.
> Although chassis and suspension parts may differ slightly between
> Squareback, Fastback, Notchback and Karmann-Ghia, the pieces from one will
> normally bolt onto the chassis of another same-year type 3.  For those of us
> fortunate to have access to original factory parts books, you will find that
> the chassis part number changes for each of the different bodies--except
> Notchback/Fastback.
>
> Why?
>
> Well, the major difference between the floorpan of a Squareback,
> Fastback/Notchback, or Karmann-Ghia relates to the crossmember for the rear
> seat.  The rear seat bottom of the Squareback folds forward for cargo space,
> the Fastback/Notchback seatbottom lifts out (just as in a Beetle), and the
> rear jumpseat in a Karmann-Ghia is much smaller than the rear seat in a
> Fastback/Notchback.
>
> Therefore, the reason the type number did not change is because the CHASSIS
> did not change.
>
> Allyn de Vars
> 1962 VW 1500 Karmann-Ghia
> 1963 VW 1500 Karmann-Ghia
> 1967 VW 1600 Squareback (2)
> 2001 VW Golf GL TDI
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Per Lindgren [mailto:lindgre@online.no]
> Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2001 2:10 PM
> To: type3@vwtype3.org
> Subject: Re: [T3] 1971 on Ebay
>
> Jim Adney wrote:
>
> > Interesting list, but can anyone explain why the notch and the fasty
> > had to share a type #?
>
> Just a wild guess, but maybe because the Notch and Fasty suspension bits,
> while the Square had different components? It would be easier for the
> workers
> to see either 31 or 36 and thus install the correct chassis parts.
>
> PerL
> 73 Variant L
>
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