This car still much resembles the Beetle. First, technically, as the chassis is equipped with two half-floors, the rear axle is equipped with torsion bars, but independant from the rest of the chassis, same for the front axle although it is slightly different and, mainly, with an aircooled flat 4 cylinder, charging at the back of the rear axle, but of a new type as it is a 1500 cm3 (69mm x 83mm), develops 45 bhp at 3800 revs/mn and that its fan shroud is now placed down behind the cylinders. This concept has the advantage to give room for the hood , in additional to the decklid !

Section of the Type 3 engine. The gearbox case is identical to the Beetle one, but situated at the rear.

The front axle body is formed with embossed and welded sheets ; in the inferior part two torsion bars cross each other, while the anti-roll bar is placed on the upper tube. While quite inspired from the Beetle, the Type 3 chassis is still very different. The rear part comprising bars is independant from the rest.

Technical informations

All these informations come from Super VW Magazine