Volkswagen Super

Volkswagen Super
1971 Volkswagen California Super Beetle

~SUPER NICE & COOL~ VOLKSWAGEN EMBLEM $8.99

VW Volkswagen Bug Super 65-72 Hood Emblem 3 1/4" Reproduction Plastic $7.00

Two (2): SUPER VW stickers VINYL DECALs Volkswagen Bug Superman Bettle $6.00

are 1973-1978 volkswagen super beetle convertibles good cars?

i am thinking about buying my 18 year old daughter a classic beetle convertible for her graduation present (i have found two around 5000)

The 73-78 Super Beetles were equipped with the best in safety measures in its time. You'll be happy to know that they are equipped with energy absorbing bumpers, a large padded dash, collapsible steering wheel, larger tail lights, and the 75 and above come with fuel injection (but I would not recommend it, very complex and IMHO unreliable). 73-74 are easy to work on and reliable transportation provided she keeps it up. Yours could have caught fire for a number of reasons, like the fuel line wore out, you installed a fuel filter in the engine compartment, who knows. I would probably go with the red 73 based on the fact that if something does happen, parts are cheaper than the 78. You may want to check though the floor pans, heater channels, tranny, engine, etc etc for wear and rust. Here is a guideline to go by:

http://www.vw-resource.com/buying.html

At the 42nd Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Volkswagen AG in Hamburg, the most economical car in the world is presented: the 1-litre car. The prototype, which until now has been kept closely under wraps, and which many people never believed could be built, was driven under its own power from Wolfs burg to the Annual Meeting in Hamburg.

Before the Annual Meeting, the current Chairman of the Board of Management, Dr. Ferdinand Piëch, drove this research vehicle to Hamburg from the company's headquarters at an average fuel consumption of 0.89 liters per 100 kilometers. This has once against impressively demonstrated Volkswagen's position at the cutting edge of modern technology.

The objective of developing a roadworthy vehicle that consumes just 1.0 liter of fuel per 100 kilometers could not be achieved through compromise. All existing technical solutions were examined, and in close cooperation with numerous suppliers, replaced by better, and principally lighter versions. The result is a vehicle that looks more like a sports car than a typical research vehicle.

The conceptual necessity for a small frontal area led to an unusually narrow and very flat body form being chosen. The body was developed in a wind tunnel, is 3.47 meters long, but just 1.25 meters wide and just over a meter in height, and is made completely of carbon fibre composites. To save weight, it is of course not painted.

The carbon-fiber-reinforced outer skin is tensioned over a space frame that is not made of aluminium, but rather of magnesium, which is even lighter. The 1-litre car is powered by a one-cylinder diesel engine, centrally positioned in front of the rear axle and combined

with an automated direct shift gearbox. The crankcase and cylinder head of the 0.3-litre engine are of an aluminium monobloc construction. The naturally aspirated, direct-injection diesel engine employs advanced high-pressure unit injection technology to generate 6.3 kW (8.5 bhp) at 4,000 rpm. This gives the vehicle, which weights just 290 kg, an astonishingly lively temperament.

Fuel consumption is a mere 0.99-liter per 100 kilometers. With a 6.5-litre tank, this gives a range of some 650 kilometers without refueling. Due to the restriction of space, it was not possible to adapt an existing gearbox. For this reason, a compact, automated 6-speed gearbox is employed, which is controlled from a turn switch in the cockpit.

Running gear made of lightweight alloy, tyres that offer optimized rolling resistance and 16-inch wheels made of extremely lightweight composite material perfectly complement the economical drive system. The interior is sportingly simple in design, yet offers enough space for two people, who can comfortably get in after folding back the turret-like gullwing door.

An extremely lightweight construction has also been employed for the seats. The seat frames are made of magnesium, and firm, yet comfortable fabric covers are used instead of classic upholstery. Despite the lightweight construction of all components, safety has been a major element in all phases of the development of the 1-litre car. For example, the concept vehicle's safety equipment includes anti-lock brakes, ESP electronic stability program and a driver's airbag. Deformation elements at the front end and the space frame construction provide impact and rollover protection comparable to that of a GT racing car.

The sports-car-like design demonstrates that Volkswagen's 1-litre car is not a Spartan research vehicle, but a high-tech special vehicle. It starts with the special seating arrangement. The driver and passenger sit centrally as if in a monoposto, but in tandem. The mid-engine is installed transversely in front of the rear axle. With its complex design (double wishbones at front, DeDion suspension at rear) and combined with the low centre of gravity and low overall vehicle weight, the lightweight running gear results in very agile handling.

The project team has impressively succeeded in combining driving pleasure with a level of fuel consumption never seen before. The 1-litre car also incorporates numerous details of a practical and convenient nature. For example, there is an easily accessible stowage compartment with a capacity of 80 liters under a separate flap in the rear; a reversing camera that helps when maneuvering; automatic locking/unlocking of the gullwing door and a starter button in the cockpit that together allow keyless operation.

The concept of the 1-litre car - four wheels, low height, with two seats in tandem - gives an idea for a possible new family of vehicles, which could cover new requirements ranging from the ultra-economical vehicle, through the low-lost everyday touring vehicle for young people to the high-performance sports super car.

Syeda Mahwish Fatima Naqvi writing Articles, Features, Columns and Letters for different newspapers, Magazine and Websites. Working as a Content Writer.