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1973 Volkswagen Type 3 Squareback

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Charles_Barrett - Now with Variable-Valve Timing
12/11/08

In reply to 1973 Volkswagen Type 3 Squareback
A buddy of mine in college had a gold metallic 412. He'd quickly correct anybody who referred to it as a "squareback". Brian was fond of wearing checkered deck shoes, and his car would drip gasoline on his foot, which the canvas shoe would absorb.

I was a smoker in those days, but I knew not to strike a match near Brian's car OR his feet...
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MushyHeirloom
12/11/08

In reply to 1973 Volkswagen Type 3 Squareback
It's like a school bus, except tiny and awesome.

Compare to the Xterra across the street, which (it seems) is a Squareback for those with penile deficiencies.
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Feds
12/11/08

In reply to 1973 Volkswagen Type 3 Squareback
I've got a 68 fastback that I'm restoring. I can't understand why beetles are more popular. The T-3's are more spacious, better equipped (Front disks for the most part), infinitely better powered (mine has the twin carb 1600 and 68 hp), more practical (2 trunks!), and more cleanly styled.
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pauljones
12/11/08

@Feds - is wondering if he needs to change the lipstick on a...:

And they don't have the stigma of being associated with Lindsay Lohan.

Win.
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mechimike
12/11/08

In reply to 1973 Volkswagen Type 3 Squareback
2200 pounds...and its a wagon. My 2 door coupe (not pronounced like the hair piece, sorry Jeremy) Honda weighs that much. With twice the power, and a standard box, this little Square could be anything but (square, that is).
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Novaload
12/11/08

In reply to 1973 Volkswagen Type 3 Squareback
I actually craved the sedan version of this--I rarely saw them but one used to live a few blocks away and it was in that pre-faded looking VW light blue. The wee booty was very cutey.
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DoctorNine
12/11/08

In reply to 1973 Volkswagen Type 3 Squareback
Go for the 412... much cooler.

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pauljones
12/11/08

@DoctorNine of Se7en:

So many pictures of so many awesome old v-dubs....

I love them all.
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Maxichamp
12/11/08

In reply to 1973 Volkswagen Type 3 Squareback
My step-cousin had one of these in the 80s and drove around the world in one. He pulled up to our house in SoCal with a missing front fender. His girlfriend was driving it in Australia and had momentarily forgotten which side of the road to drive on and a truck clipped the little VW.
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Elhigh
12/11/08

In reply to 1973 Volkswagen Type 3 Squareback
I'll take it. I'd have to wrestle my wife for the keys every morning, and maybe that's one more good reason to get one...
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layabout
12/11/08

In reply to 1973 Volkswagen Type 3 Squareback
Never cared for it myself,the fastback had more going for it...

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brandegee
12/11/08

@layabout met the real Santa: For individualists only...you might as well get a Karmann Ghia coupe and have basically the same car, only much better looking.
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layabout
12/11/08

@brandegee: Without doubt i'd pick the Karmann Ghia,although probably costs twice as much due to its desirability.
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pauljones
12/11/08

@brandegee:

I don't know; I would still rock that little fastback. It's not half bad looking at all. Granted, this is coming from a guy who never found the Kharmann Ghia to be quite as good looking as people make it out to be.
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CobyHoff
12/11/08

@brandegee: Not correct. The carmen ghia is basically a sporty-looking bug. The Type 3's were completely updated and superior to the bug in every respect. From the low-profile crank-shaft mounted cooling fan to the larger, wider front beam, the entire design is updated. There are relatively few parts that cross over from the bug to the type 3, but many more that cross over from the ghia to the bug.
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Stoatmaster
12/12/08

@CobyHoff:

The Carmen Ghia was the one with opera windows.
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zweirad
12/11/08

In reply to 1973 Volkswagen Type 3 Squareback
My ex-wife had a '72 Squareback when I was in school. It would hold a fair amount of stuff. The boot upfront was also good for holding a few more things on a road trip. Four adults can fit comfortably.

They're not powerful. The engines are harder to work on than a similar era Beetle. This one loses points from me for its Autostick trannie. Not good then and even worse now.
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abgwin
12/11/08

In reply to 1973 Volkswagen Type 3 Squareback
the automatic Type 3s are getting rarer and rarer, since those who are into creating "trikes" (motorcycle front with two wheel rear monstrosities) are much enamored of the Borg Warner auto and cut up any square or fasty with such on sight.

i had to lie to a group of bikers at a VW show a few months ago about a car for sale to keep it from being another victim....
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brandegee
12/11/08

@abgwin: I commend you for your honorable bravery.
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smalleyxb122
12/11/08

In reply to 1973 Volkswagen Type 3 Squareback
Don't worry, Joe. Crump's brother won't recognize us now that we've painted the Torpedo yellow.

BOC! BOC! BOC!
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Elhigh
12/11/08

@smalleyxb122: That's Klingon for "Help, help, help!" and it's spelled B'oQh, B'oQh, B'oQh!

/nerdliness.
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smalleyxb122
12/11/08

@Elhigh: Way to taint a perfectly good The Stoned Age reference with your Star Trek mumbo jumbo.
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Rust-MyEnemy
12/11/08

In reply to 1973 Volkswagen Type 3 Squareback
The Bugformance license plate frame is a clue to the 911 flat six lurking within.

One dreams.
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Paul Y. don't drive too fast.
12/11/08

In reply to 1973 Volkswagen Type 3 Squareback
Nice find! I've always loved squarebacks. The autostick is also a nice, goofy feature.

Fun Fact: the VW autostick (and Porsche made an equivalent that I can't recall the name of) was descended from the Mercedes-Benz Hydrak transmission that they sold in Pontons. It's the craziest automatic-clutch arrangement ever.

[www.mbzponton.org]
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abgwin
12/11/08

@Paul Y. can't think of a better, shorter handle: it's not an autostick. the Type 3 had a Borg Warner fully automatic three speed transmission.
only the Type 1's (beetle + ghia) had the autostick.
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Paul Y. don't drive too fast.
12/11/08

@abgwin: Weird. That's the first I've ever heard that.
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Serious Mopar Jones- Incurable
12/11/08

In reply to 1973 Volkswagen Type 3 Squareback
Well, it's a station wagon (and a 2-door to boot), so that's big cool-points from me, but there are a couple of problems. First, it's a Volkswagen, and nail in the coffin, it's yellow. D minus at best.
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