[T3] The type 34 TC

[Per Lindgren <lindgre@online.no>]

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Ben Doughney wrote:

> Yes, they came through all right. Nice looking car! Does it say in the
> article why it was not produced?
I'll write up a loose translation of the article, this is a bit 
interesting, since I saw that Lee Hedges on the T34 Registry page 
mentioned that there were possibly two prototypes of the T34 TC. The 
text from the magazine explains it all. Oh, and if anyone (Daniel?) with 
a special T34 interest wants to save the mag pages and my translation, 
go ahead!

Translation:

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

"A Fastback is the same as a Notchback. Just without the notch!". This 
is the way VW's PR-people introduced the following 1600 TL. Just as in 
1961, when they introduced the new, big VW with it's Karmann Ghia Coupe 
version, it happened again at the 1965 IAA. A double date, so to say, 
with a second one was planned for the 1965 IAA exhibition in Frankfurt.
The first drawings were dated April 1964, with it's most noticeable rear 
sides being the main differences. The transition to another Karmann 
version of the 34 was spawn from the unexpected slow sales of the Coupe. 
With a bigger, more accessible boot, they had expected more customers to 
fall for this car.

The development was fully carried out by Karmann, and the prototype was 
ready by September. By this time, the situation at VW was a bit 
difficult, as the debates over a merge with Daimler-Benz was raging. 
Because of this, it lasted another two months before the Fastback-Coupe 
was presented to the board in Wolfsburg. Still, it was well received, 
and the plans to show it at the Frankfurt exhibition was laid. Then, in 
January 1965, VW surprisingly backed out of the TC project. The reason 
was supposedly problems with interior noise reduction. Why this was not 
an issue with VW's own Touring-sedan, developed at the same time, was 
never answered.

Unfortunately, the sales of the big Ghia did not improve, so VW planned 
a complete reconditioning of the Coupe-body. For this, an extra 
development designation, the 216 was made ready in February 1967 with a 
dual headlight front end, a front to rear body line and wider tail 
lights. When both the front and rear bonnets and the roof was 
redesigned, they saw that the final work would be too expensive. Because 
of this, Karmann brought the TC to attention once more. Because of it's 
concept, it would offer far more versatility to the customers than a 
redesigned Coupe. In addition, the development would be a lot quicker, 
because of the job they did in 1964. Even then, a dual headlight version 
was planned. VW finally dropped all development plans on the T34 because 
it would cost too much, and the end for the Ghia was undoubtedly in sight.

Still, Karmann wouldn't give up, and built another Coupe into a 
Fastback. The basis for this one was an early 1969 model with the 
automatic transmission. This Touring also had an electrical sunroof and 
doors with window frames. The dual headlights differed from the 
VW-sketches, which had an oval frame later found on the 411. The body 
crease remained in two pieces. The long rear side windows were pop-outs, 
and the interior had seats with headrests. The rear load area was 
carried out from the rear seat to the very end of the openable hatch. 
Under the carpet one could find the typical engine cover. The TC was 
finished in September 1968, one month before VW decided to stop 
production of the Type 3 Coupe.

The TC has nothing to do with the Brazilian Ghia fastbacks, but Karmann 
also developed a TC version of the type 1 Ghia, which was rejected by 
VW, but was approved for production in Brazil.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The scanned pages:

http://perlindgren.tripod.com/t34tc_1.jpg
http://perlindgren.tripod.com/t34tc_2.jpg
http://perlindgren.tripod.com/t34tc_3.jpg

If I get the time some fine day, I can try to get the story on the T34 
Cabrio scanned and translated, as well as the story on the 73 Notch 
converted into a Cabrio, and also the 4-door Notchback. Please, dont 
hold your breath for this, better to remind me from time to time :-)

PerL
73 Variant L




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