Finally a VW Topic!

[freebeard]

It's like a faux-Kommanderwagen. The trimmed fender edge is subtle.

You were talking about the Brasilia, and then Jason Torchihnsky put up a post on Jalopnik: Thrill To The Last Air-Cooled Car Volkswagen Ever Designed

The Brasilia was pretty successful at a Beetle replacement, but it was really just a new, more modern suit on the bones of the Beetle. The chassis was just the slightly wider Ghia chassis, and the car was still rear-engine/rear-drive, using all the usual Beetle mechanicals.

It wasn’t quite enough for a real replacement, so VW Brazil looked to the new generation of Volkswagens for inspiration. They took the Audi 80/Audi Fox platform and shortened it a bit, turning it into what they called the BX platform.

It started as the EA2766 concept in Germany, was implemented in Brazil; and had both air- and watercooled versions in it's life span.



Check out the cooling fan; like a Porsche except not; and the air cleaner looks like some sort of wind instrument.

[ChopStix]

That picture kind of blends a Ford Escort & Chevy Chevette into something else... It doesn't even really look like a Golf or Rabbit. The previous blue Brasilia (or below) looks a lot better. In fact I was eyeing one on ebay for sale. But its a lot rougher condition than I would buy.

Yeah that is a weird looking fan. But it makes me think that there's an alternator on the backside over the traditional generator on the type1's.

Its hard to not love the Kommanderwagens. Though I'm not really a big fan of the duel windows that the VW purists are so crazy over. I prefer the oval for usability and appearance reasons. But I'm convinced on buying a 70's since I plan to cut it up. I won't even consider cutting on an old one for preservation reasons.

[freebeard]

That picture kind of blends a Ford Escort & Chevy Chevette into something else...

I think it's a dead ringer for a bobtail version of the Dasher. The only difference is the creases around the side windows. And the two rectangular headlights are like an Audi 80.

I agree the Brasilia is better looking, I like the 412-style headlights.

The difference with the fan shroud is that the Porsche is centered while the Gol is offset. And yellow plastic.

[ChopStix]

To me, the Dasher looks more like a Scirocco. Where as the above picture looks like a completely different animal. But its all in interpretation.

So I was browsing California98Civic's photo gallery and he has an assortment of VW's hidden in there. So I asked him if he minded if I shared those on this topic. He was cool with it....

Circa 1963 VW engine, superclean compartment and hardware.

[California98Civic]

Awesome! The first two are from a classic car show in San Juan Capistrano (OC, California), the second two at Bonneville "World of Speed," and the last at the SCTA finals at El Mirage in the Cali desert. I love that beetle with the wheel skirts the most. And the swamp cooler on the wagon is cool, too.

[freebeard]

If you compare the Brasilia and Dasher, look at the body side creases, hood front corners and side window openings. The bobbed tail and headlights are the major differences. Agreed the Dasher looks like an un-sectioned Sirocco. All in the family.

I've got a set of fiberglass fender skirts, but they won't fit the Superbeetle because the clamping mechanics interferes with the axle end.

Do you know what class the X-11 was running in? Because if it's the 36hp challenge, the parachute is funny.

A few from my albums:

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

That article about the Gol has at least one innacuracy, since Volkswagen already produced liquid-cooled engines in Brazil since '74 when the Passat was introduced. Anyway, some years ago I almost bought one with the 1.6L air-cooled engine, but haven't done so because it required too much bodywork that I wasn't willing to do.

[freebeard]

What Torchinsky may lack in accuracy he makes up for in enthusiasm.

California98Civic — I figured out that the yellow Notchback is what you were calling a 'wagon'. I didn't even see the swamp cooler, it appears to be fixed to the rear quarter window.

[ChopStix]

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by freebeard

....
California98Civic — I figured out that the yellow Notchback is what you were calling a 'wagon'. I didn't even see the swamp cooler, it appears to be fixed to the rear quarter window.

Hahaha! Sorry. It has been several years since I took that pic, and I guess I did not look closely enough before commenting. The trunk is open, so it seemed like a wagon for a second.