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VW 1500 S - almost sporty common sense

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Created on May 2, 2018

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

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Bruno von Rotz

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VW-Museum Wolfsburg

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Archiv

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Bruno von Rotz

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VW-Museum Wolfsburg

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Archiv

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VW 1500 S (1965) - Volkswagen remained true to the central tube chassis even as the Type 3 - no self-supporting body

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VW 1500 S (1965) - presented in 1961, improved in 1963, built until 1973

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VW 1500 S (1965) - still owned by the same family as when it was purchased in 1965

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VW 1500 S (1965) - a rarity on our roads today

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VW 1500 S (1965) - elegant rear end

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VW 1500 S (1965) - together with the 1600 TL and a 411 Variant

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VW 1500 S (1965) - the trunk was not really any bigger in the 1600 TL hatchback model

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VW 1500 S (1965) - the Type 3 (1500 S and 1600 TL) and the Type 4 (411 Variant)

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VW 1500 S (1965) - three generations together

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VW 1500 S (1965) - attractive driver's workplace

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VW 1500 S (1965) - much more modern and appealing than the Beetle cockpit

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VW 1500 S (1965) - three instruments had to suffice, there was no rev counter

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VW 1500 S (1965) - easy-to-read and shielded instruments

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VW 1500 S (1965) - the Wolfsburg emblem on the steering wheel

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VW 1500 S (1965) - slider

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VW 1500 S (1965) - Gear lever

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VW 1500 S (1965) - upright pedals

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VW 1500 S (1965) - Door opener with locking mechanism

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VW 1500 S (1965) - hat of the original buyer still on board

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VW 1500 S (1965) - View into the engine compartment under the trunk lid

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VW 1500 S (1965) - friendly face

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VW 1500 S (1965) - upright rear lights

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VW 1500 S (1965) - the press fold lowered the noise level

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VW 1500 S (1965) - beautifully designed door handles

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VW 1500 S (1965) - "S" stood for Sport

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VW 1500 (1960) - prototype with four doors (EA 160 project)

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VW 1500 (1961) - View over the Volkswagen hall at the IAA 1961

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VW 1500 (1961) - Vokswagen Hall designed by architect Franz Schroedter - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1961

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VW 1500 (1961) - in the Volkswagen hall at the IAA 1961, designed by Frank Schroedter

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VW 1500 (1961) - Nordhoff - Head of VW - during his speech - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1961

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VW 1500 S (1964) - Simple design without frippery

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VW 1500 Cabriolet (1962) - interesting similarities with the RR Corniche

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VW 1500 Cabriolet (1961) - elegant open-top car

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VW 1500 Cabriolet Karmann (1961) - elegant convertible version by Karmann - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1961

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VW 1500 (1962) at the Geneva Motor Show - the big VW - close to the Beetle, but bigger and with more space

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VW 1500 (1962) at the Geneva Motor Show - cutaway model gives an insight into the use of space

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VW 1500 (1962) - cutaway model - shown at the Geneva Motor Show

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VW 1500 (1961) - View of the air-cooled rear engine

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VW 1500 (1963) - cutaway model shows the accommodation of the spare wheel in the front - at the Geneva Motor Show 1963

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VW 1500 (1963) - hardly any changes during the construction period

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VW 1500 S (1964) - the car seems to be a real heartthrob

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VW 1500 Variant (1961) - Estate rear end of the Variant

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VW 1500 S Variant (1964) - family car

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VW 1500 (1961) - simple design without experiments

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VW 1500 (1961) - two-door car with rear engine

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VW 1500 (1961) - unmistakably a Volkswagen

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VW 1500 (1962) - the saloon was based on the technology of the Beetle

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VW 1500 Variant (1963) - practical advantages of the estate rear end

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VW 1500 (1961) - stowage options at the front and rear

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VW 1500 (1961) - View of the interior

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VW 1500 (1961) - Access to the rear

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VW 1500 (1961) - optional seat belts, standard rear and front fastening points

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VW 1500 (1961) - Comfortable rear seat with fold-down armrest

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VW 1500 (1961) - the wide rear seat

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VW 1500 (1961) - Fastening device for seat belts

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VW 1500 (1961) - a small lever locks the backrest in place

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VW 1500 (1961) - Front axle

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VW 1500 (1962) - cutaway model shows the car's innards

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VW 1500 (1961) - the chassis of the new Volkswagen

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VW 1500 (1961) - the air-cooled 1500 engine

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VW 1500 (1961) - coupé-like stature

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VW 1500 Variant (1963) - here the interior space conditions are demonstrated on a cutaway model

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VW 1500 Variant (1962) - cutaway model - shown at the Geneva Motor Show

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VW Variant 1600 A 1971 - loading area above the rear engine - shown at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show

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VW 1500 Variant (1961) - the estate car offers more space in the rear - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1961

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VW 1600 TL (1965) - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1965 - the American fastback becomes German fashion

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VW 1500 (1962) at the Geneva Motor Show - compact arrangement of engine parts for more trunk space

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VW 1600 (1967) - Drive train with automatic transmission - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1967

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VW 1600 TL (1969) - Cutaway model of engine and gearbox - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1969

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VW 1500 (1963) - various models lined up at the 1963 Geneva Motor Show

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VW 1500 S (1964) - Advertising - conventional?

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VW 1500 S (1964) - Advertising - You have exactly 51 seconds

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VW 1500 S (1963) - International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt 1963 - the 1500 S sedan raised to the podium

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VW 1500 S (1964) - with higher compression ratio (8.5 to 1 instead of 7.8 to 1) 9 hp higher final output of 54 DIN hp at 4200 rpm - Geneva Motor Show 1964

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Estate cars in 1965 in comparison - Ford Taunus 17M Turnier, Vauxhall Victor Estate Car, VW 1500 S Variant and Opel Rekord Caravan

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VW 1500 Variant (1963) - the estate version at the Geneva Motor Show

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Estate cars demonstrate their load capacity in 1965 - Ford Taunus 17M Turnier, Vauxhall Victor Estate Car, VW 1500 S Variant and Opel Rekord Caravan

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VW 1500 S (1964) - with rear display windows and modified tail lights for the 1500 S - Geneva Motor Show 1964

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VW 1600 TL (1966) - Hatchback despite rear engine - Geneva Motor Show 1966

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VW 1600 TL (1966) - sloping rear (fastback) also at Volkswagen - Geneva Motor Show 1966

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VW 1500 S (1965) - the pontoon body was a major advance over the Beetle

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VW 1500 S (1965) - large fifteen-inch wheels

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Summary

Compared to the VW Beetle (Type 1), the VW Type 3 is considered a failure, although almost 2.6 million units sold do not indicate this. However, too many compromises and stronger competition made life difficult for it as a mid-range car, even though many things were improved in 13 years of production. Today, a VW 1500 S in its original paint finish and first ownership is rarer than many a Ferrari sports car. This report portrays a saloon from 1965 and tells the story of the Type 3 from start to finish.

This article contains the following chapters

Born out of necessity
Beetle with pontoon body
Two variants instead of four
Too slow?
Boost - S for sporty?
Good average
Continued evolution to the end
The Sedan as a rarity
Further information

Estimated reading time: 8min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Compared to the VW Beetle (Type 1), the VW Type 3 is considered a failure, although almost 2.6 million units sold do not indicate this. However, too many compromises and stronger competition made life difficult for it as a mid-range car. Volkswagen had become big, even very big, with the VW Beetle. The spherically shaped car sold brilliantly, but the people in charge at Volkswagen were aware that this dependence on the only mass product, apart from the VW Bus and the Karmann-Ghia, was too great, especially as they could not offer an upmarket Beetle alternative to customers who wanted more space or expected more luxury from a passenger car.

Welcome to Zwischengas!

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