Common VW Terms

The following are common terms used in the volkswagen world.

Type 1.
A Volkswagen that consist of the Beetle family of chassis the type 1 was more commonly known to be a Beetle, Bug, and other models of the type 1 were Karmann Ghia, Thing, and a Fridolin, all of these cars shared basically the same chassis and suspension. the type 1's were produced from 1939 to 1979

Type 2.
The Transporter or Bus as it was more commonly referred to. was introduced in 1950.it used the same motor as the type 1 but was on a bus(Van) body. there were many variations of the Type 2 from the Bus to Trucks to the many variations in between The bus remained until 1979 when the Vanagon came out.

Type 3.
The Type 3 was introduced in 1961 and was a nicer vehicle than the bug it had more luxury items as well as a different body. it came in three different forms the SquareBack, FastBack, NotchBack

Type 4.
The type 4 which consisted of the 411 (1969-1972) and the 412 (1972-1974) was designed to be the replacement for the type 3 it has such grounbreaking features such as Automatic transmission and Fuel injection for the VW line

Aircooled.
A Designation of the Volkswagen motor that uses Air to keep the motor cooled. these motors were in the following configurations Flat Four which had two cylinders on each side

WaterCooled.
1.A Designation of the Volkswagen motors that used water to keep their motors cooled these were in a Inline 4, flat four, VR6, W8 and W12 configuration. 2. a common term to dentote a volkswagen that was made from 1974 to current that uses a watercooled motor.

KDF.
A common term during the early years of the volkswagen which was short for "Kraft Durch Frelude" or in english "Strength Through Joy" car

Bulli.
A common term for the type2 series of vehicles where a bulli is german for Bus???

Semaphore.
A Device on early cars that used a lighted Arm that popped out from the side of the car to signal intent of turning direction

Crotch Cooler.
A fresh air system on 1951 bugs that had a pop out vent that pulled in the outside air but due to the placement it directed air into the drivers crotch area.

Split Window Bug.
A beetle produced from 1938 to 1954 that had a small rear window that was in two pieces with the body in the middle.

Oval Window Bug.
A Beetle produced from 1955 to 1957 that had a small oval window for the rear window.

Big Window Bug.
after 1958 the beetles had a larger rear window that about 2-3 times larger in size than the Oval Window

Super Beetle.
A model of the beetle that was introduced in 1972 and continued on until 1979 when the Beetle production was halted in the US

Thing.
also known as the Type 181 it was a four door vehicle that was meant for off road it had higher ground clearance and an unusual body style.

Fridolin.
A vehicle that was produced at the Westfalia factory in Hanover it was primarily used as a postal vehicle

Karmann.
A Coachwork company in __ germany which produced the VW sports car the Karmann Ghia during 1954 to 1974, the Beetle Cabriolet 1950-1979 and they also did the Scirocco and Corrado

Ghia.
A german automotive designer that created the Karmann Ghia.

Transporter.
Another term for a type 2 or Bus.

Kombi.
A model of the Transporter that was above the standard and was commonly discerned with having four windows on the side were the standard had 3

Barn Door.
an early bus that was produced from 1950 to 1954 that had a large engine decklid that would store the Spare tire above the motor there was no rear hatch also discerned by no body overhang on the front above the windshields.

Split Window Bus.
A Transporter that was produced from 1950 to 1967 that had two squared windshields instead of one large windshield

Bay Window.
A transporter produced from 1968 to 1979 that had a large one piece windshield

Cabriolet.
A Higher level of the convertible the cabriolet is discerned from the convertible in it that it has a headliner and padding in the top where as a convertible just has the outside canvas and the convertible frame can easliy be seen from the inside.