A VW TL 'Fastback'? That was my first car. I bought it from the mechanic where my father's 1501 Break was servicing. As a conscript soldier I paid 300 guilders for it. And a good driving TL for 150 euros? It is not going to be that for him anymore.
Because Beetles became dated
To see such a VW TL at a Ford Mustang specialist is surprising. With its standard 54 hp, it is of course no match for the real American Steel in Harrie company, but 'enough is enough'. And that about 54 hp? These are fed by a Bosch D-Jetronic injection. The 1600 was therefore only available in the States in 1967, but later also in Germany and the surrounding area. The 1600 LE (inspritzung) thus created was thus a pioneer in the field of injection. The VW was the first German series-produced car with fuel injection.
VW TL, the dream successor of the Beetle
The Volkswagen Type 3 (sold as Volkswagen 1500 and later Volkswagen 1600) was Volkswagens dream successor to the Beetle and offered more space and luxury than that legendary, but already dated, Beetle. In terms of technology, this series was still Beetle based. But characteristic differences were the torsion bars twisting across the full car width and the subframe that carried the drive. The Type 3 was built from 1961 to 1973. The Fastback was presented before 1965. Before its time it was a full 4-5 person car. This new, large VW was for sale as a sedan, as a fastback and as an estate car. The cars were delivered with 1.500 and 1.600 cc engines.
Of course with air-cooled boxers
And those engines were, of course, air-cooled four-cylinder boxers. It took quite a long time for classic enthusiasts to get their hands together for this series of Volkswagens, which have been sold millions of times. Now that interest is growing, it is noticeable how few Type 3's are left. The conservative buyers bought the 'Pontons', the sedans. The practical thinkers went for the Variant (called 'squareback' in the US). That station wagon version was the top with about 43,5% sales share. It was also delivered behind the driver without side windows.
The experience and the accountant
The 1500s and 1600s were, just like Beetles, for cost and experience reasons, powered by a rear air-cooled four-cylinder boxer engine. With a displacement of 1.493 cc and 1.584 cc, which in the carburettor version delivered 45 and 54 hp respectively. As an injector it delivered the same power. But he needed less gas for it. From 1967 there was a choice between a manual four or automatic 3-speed gearbox.
The Beetle concept
By retaining the Beetle concept - including the wheelbase - Volkswagen had a spacious middle class in the program with this model with limited development costs, with the Ponton and the VW TL version offering luggage space under the front cover as well as under the tailgate. Those luggage compartments were not too high, but still… The reborn boxers had their fans on the crankshaft. Therefore the construction height of the engines was very low (approx. 48 cm). The nickname 'pancake block, pancake engine or trunk block was soon born. The fact that the technicians came up with a well-functioning cooling system for such a 'packed' engine is worth a compliment. In terms of cooling technology, the T3 with its flat-lying oil cooler avoided a notorious Beetle ailment: the third cylinder lost its tendency to overheat.
Other than a Beetle, better
Such a Type 3 drives very differently from a Beetle. The other torsion bar suspension and the angled rear wishbones make the ride in these Volkswagens much smoother. In addition, the VW feels 'big & mature'. For a modern 'full-sized' Dutchman, a Beetle is often a somewhat tight housing. This Fastback really feels like an 'automobile'. And you look out over a nice long nose. That is always nice. In September 1968 the T3 got this longer nose. It looks good on him. And that the abbreviation TL (Touren Limousine) popularly became 'Traurige Lösung' or 'Traurige Linie'. Well, just look at the most recent Opel commercial: "We Germans have no humor ..." They say it themselves.
And based on type 3, a private Karmann-Ghia was created, the wonderful Typ 34. Now very expensive.
Traürige Lösung? It was a beautiful, mature and very solid Volkswagen. With a very beautifully designed dahsboard too. Too bad it was never made into a four-door. For this, VW customers had to wait for the “Nasenbär” 411 and 412, if they had not yet purchased a Rekord or Taunus in the meantime. Because at the end of the 60s, the air-cooled boxing era ended inexorably.