Very Rare VW Type 3 Notchback | Jalopnik

Jalopnik's Jason Torchinksy walks us through this very rare VW type 3 notchback, which were never imported to the US.
---------------------------

Watch more from Jalopnik friends:
Drive free or die!

[benjaminbeebe]

The best-looking of all the air-cooled VW's, IMHO 👍

[VWLifeVW]

Notch backs are awesome! Had no idea about that side light! The "pancake" motor came to the US market in the VW Bus starting in 1972. A lot of people find it a little harder to work on and keep running this motor compared to the upright one. Your video on the ghia was really cool, don't remember if you made mention of the Typ 34 version "razor" it's sometimes referred to, but that would be a good video! :)

[logmegadeth]

Interesting tidbit about the side light. Funny you say that VW only put them on the Type 3's, because now most modern VAG vehicles still have that function, to where you put on the indicator and it stays lit once you turn off the car.

[adityasanthanam]

Nice notchback. Looks better than other styles.

[ronalddoherty]

Had a 1972 model and parked one time when away from home .... opened the front "trunk" and took out a suitcase and other items, then walked to the back and opened up and took out another suitcase some people standing there were puzzled where is the engine?

[jeffbecker]

They painted the cooling tin the body color. Sweet!

[AtheistOrphan]

Tip: Avoid putting frozen food in the boot!

[DeborahStamper]

I've owned 4 beetles and 2 buses (now down to 1 bug 1 bus, hubby has a Volksrod) but my dream car has always been the Notchback!!! I love the foreign car look it has!

[DriversSide]

Awesome little car! I would love to experience a type 3 VW of any sort

[GrPassionMusic]

This is in it's own a beautiful classic, I doubt though whether it's engine could be kept at an optimal working temperature in a traffic jam during summer. I think this type of engine configuration is better suited for colder countries where engine should warm up quicker for a smooth drive.

[pcno]

There used to be one of these across from my bus stop when I was in 4th grade. I knew about the U.S.-market Type 3s from the brochures my parent's got before buying their 1969 Squareback, but notchbacks were very hard-to-find in the North East. I wondered if someone had modified it or spliced the rear end from a Volvo 122 onto the nose from a VW. That looks like twin Solex carburetors in the engine bay; I'd have expected a high percentage of the German market cars to have EFI, which was standard on the U.S.-market versions. VW must have been looking for a way to meet the emissions regulations that were getting stricter each year.

[kimoarmstrong]

European market early beetles had a semaphore. A flip out indicator for the same purpose as the light you highlighted.

[MrDemonchild]

I love the notchback, I see a few of them still getting around sydney areas, I saw a pretty nice one for sale on Gumtree a couple wweks ago for about 5k, if I had the cash id have grabbed it

[ludditek]

My 1st car was a white '64 Notchback 1500S. That would have been about 1971. My dad bought it for me for $200 from an auto repair place. I had no idea of the rarity etc back then. It was just a daily driver for a teenage kid. I eventually traded it in for a '67 Beetle in better shape when I was in college. Could have parked it and made a bundle I suppose ?

[pauldefazio]

I went straight to comments didn't even watch the video very rare I own a 69 69 is the best year because it still has the old rounded body style and IRS 2332 Stroker motor not a hater it's still a nice v dub but very rare?

[wizzard]

They were plentiful in Australia from 63 to 72. But Fastbacks were the ones to have. Had 2, miss them dearly.

[paulmelnychuk]

Always like this car and th station wagon.

[dlittlester]

I worked for a VW dealer in the mid 70s, and I remember we were servicing a few of these. This was in Canada, so maybe they didn't get them in the States.

[nicholascremato]

My vintage Benz has the same parking light.

[BrentBlueAllen]

Were those engine parts body color from the factory, or was that a mod?