Pieter's 411 Volkswagen 1972 LE Variant is technically in top condition. With maybe some superficial rust problems here and there. But that is also allowed with a 50-year-old classic. At the end of the 60s, Volkswagen still had rock solid confidence in the air-cooled engine and introduced the 411 in 1968, while the market was already giving signals that they had to abandon the VW principle: The air-cooled engine in the back.
Middle class car
The Volkswagen 411 LE Variant was a real middle class car. A spacious car with three doors. With a technically advanced novelty: Electronic fuel injection. The four-cylinder engine in the back, great interior dimensions, the many glass all around and a large luggage compartment, all plus points. It now has classic status. Fortunately, there are still many who have a warm heart for the not often seen model.
From good home
Pieter: “For me, the 411 is good and also beautiful, it comes from a good family. The proportions of the body are clean and the striking profile also appeals to me. The front is slim with the recessed headlights. I have long since let go of the comments in the press about the design, it is time for positive reactions! The car is just solid and reliable, they were built just as well as all other air-cooled VWs: With painful accuracy. For me, the Volkswagen 411 LE Variant is a practical utility vehicle that I like to show in my vintage garage in the Groninger Doezum. The car will receive a new paint all around in the color scheme of the vintage garage in mid-2023. After all, it is our calling card.”
First acquaintance
Pieter has had a special relationship with Volkswagen for many years. His vintage garage has two Beetles, a Karmann Ghia, and several T3s. The spark flew when he saw this Volkswagen 411 LE Variant at a dealer. It seemed like a great basis for making your own service car for the vintage garage.
Lots of views
Pieter: “In the past few years, we have first made the car technically in good order, motor, brake technical, etc. Now it is the turn of the bodywork. We hope to have the car ready for presentation before the end of May, which will take some time. The Volkswagen 411 LE Variant attracts a lot of attention, we notice at trade fairs, but also when we go out with it. The plan is that we want to get another 411 of the same generation and then completely convert it with new techniques so that it can be driven daily.
The fleet is carefully maintained and as soon as the weather conditions allow it, it is driven very regularly. Both Beetles serve faithfully at weddings or other special occasions several times a year.”
Too bad it is not a five-door, just like the old Kadett station that is missing. Furthermore, indestructible!
Bit of an Eastern Bloc design. Indestructible and indestructible.
Mister has taste seen the Lancia in the background.
Oh yes, the VW is beautiful too.
The only nice VW from that time = a coupe! If the masses had thought differently than << , there would be many more v left!🤣
I find it very remarkable that such an everyday utility vehicle can become rarer than, for example, a Lamborghini.
This is because the car was quickly considered obsolete and therefore quickly declined in value in the 70s. Damaged cars were quickly declared a total loss.
In addition, VW made a crucial construction error by filling some cavities with a kind of polyurethane foam, intended to prevent rust. But it acted like a sponge, trapping every drop of condensation. The rust problems of this Typ 4 series were its Achilles heel.
Which does not alter the fact that the 411 and 412 were just very spacious, practical and fine cars.
That electronic injection caused headaches for VW dealers and owners, but a beautiful car then and still
how nice that the year of manufacture is on the license plate!
Why the year of manufacture on the license plate? 19—11—UJ isn't a year of manufacture, is it?
Sir is joking.