This is the second in a series of my 'classic' designs of 'what if' this had been designed. The time is 1953, VW has the Beetle "Type 1" on sale a few years State side. They see a niche for an up market Beetle based 4 door sedan, wagon ("Station")and coupe, with more room, slightly more modern styling and trappings. While the target is the USA, other post war economies on the mend are also targeted. This predates the Type 3 (Europe 1961, USA 1966) a.k.a 'Squareback,Variant and Fastback' ;
Models:
1956 "Familie" 4 door sedan (The name 'Familie' is the German translation for Family).
1958 "Familie Station" 4 door wagon. (type 1-4s);
1959 "Couplette" 2 door hardtop coupe. (type 1-4c);
-Type 1 based, suspension, engine; Called Type 1-4, denotes type1, 4 doors.
-Body is slightly wider, mates to a larger platform similar to the type 1's. platform. Benefit is more interior room;
-Seats reconfigured for some more interior room, by moving rear seat back 2 inches.
-A new 'EZ access' rear cargo door, part of the rear semi-fastback window area, lifts open for access to the cargo area behind the back seat, and in front of the engine area (4 door sedan)
-Access to the rear luggage area is also possible from inside the car, and the back folds down for better access or for large items (coupe and sedan)
-Spare tire relocated to rear, in front of engine and accessible from the 'EZ access' portal. Benefit is increased front located trunk space over the type 1.
-Front end is extended over that of the type 1 for more trunk space. Overall trunk area (front and behind back seat) is up by 50% over type 1.
-Styling by 'Ghia' is more refined than Beetle's and up to date.
-"SuperTuned" low profile 'shorty' type 1 air cooled engine- coupe and wagon (see specs below); Allows lower load fllor for trunk above (coupe) and lower load floor (wagon). New low profile air induction system repelaces the type 1 engine shroud and fan.
Comparison 1956 Type1 vs. 1956 Type 1-4:
Engine: 4-cylinder, 4-stroke rear engineCylinder arrangement 2 pairs horizontally opposed
Displacement - 72.74 cu. in. (1192 c.c.) (1300 c.c.)
Maximum S.A.E.b.h.p. - 36 at 3700 r.p.m. (46 at 3500 r.p.m / 55 at 4000 r.p.m. in ‘SuperTune’)
Cooling system - Air cooling by fan automatically controlled by thermostat (Lower silhouette fan shroud)
Transmission - 4 forward speeds, 1 reverse Controlled synchromesh on 2nd, 3rd and 4th gears
Chassis - Frame Tubular center section forked at rear and welded-on platform
Front axle - Independent suspension of wheels through upper and lower trailing arms; 2 transverse torsion bars protected in tubes
Rear axle - Independent suspension of wheels through swing axle shafts with trailing arms, one torsion bar on each side, mounted and protected in transverse tube
Steering - Special worm-type gear and divided tie rod; 2.4 turns of steering wheel from lock to lock
Tires 5.60 - 15, tubeless
Wheels - Disk type with drop-center rim 4 J x 15 Hydraulic foot-brake (Lockheed) operating on four wheels; mechanical hand-brake operating on rear wheels
Wheelbase - 94.5 in. (99.5 inches)
Track Front 51.4 in. , Rear 50.7 in.
OVERALL DIMENSIONS:
Length: 160.6 in. (4080 mm.) (168-175 in.)
Width: 60.6 in. (1540 mm.) (63 in.)
Height: 59.1 in. (1500 mm.) (55 in-4 door sedan))
Weight 1600 lbs (1780 lbs-4 door sedan))
PRICE $1495 US ($1950 US- 4 door sedan)
rkarIP
