Bug History 60-69 1960 Safety recessed steering wheel. Steering dampener added. "hour glass" Gemmer steering box is worm and peg instead of
worm and roller. Generator output increased from 160 to 180 watts. Outside door handles are now push button instead of pull
type. Padded sun visor replaces dark plastic sun visor. Seat back contoured for greater comfort. Wolfsburg crest on front hood
less colorful.
1961 1200 engine, 40hp, 7 to 1 compression ratio. Fuel pump is now located to the right of the distributor. Generater stand is
no longer cast as part of the block. Lifters & pushrods are no longer a one-piece unit. Valves are now angled in the cylinder
heads. 28 PICT carburetor with automatic choke. New tunnel-type "AB" "Fully Synchronized" transmission. Vacuum advance
distributor. Positive crankcase ventilation. Flatter gas tank. 28 blade cooling fan. Permanently greased tie rod ends. "Sissy Bar"
added. Non-repeat starter switch. Wider front brake shoes and linings. Transparent brake fluid reservoir. Push-on connectors
for the wiring system. Pump-type windshield washer. Larger heater pipes. Sunvisor and grab-handle provided for passenger
side.
1962 Fuel gauge replaces reserve fuel tap. Switch made from glass to plastic tail lights. Spring balanced front hood. Sliding
covers on heat outlets. Progressive type valve springs. Anchor points for seat belts. Stronger clutch springs. Windshield washer
uses spare tire for air pressure. Last year semaphores are offered on non-export models.
1963 Fresh air heating "Clean-air" engine with redesigned fan housing, muffler, and heat exchangers. Leatherette head lining.
Folding handle for sunroof. Nylon window guides. Foam sandwich floor mats. Wolfsburg hood crest discontinued.
1964 Metal replaces fabric in optional sunroof. Horn activated by two thumb buttons replaces half-ring. Bent vacuum
pipe-formerly a loop. Larger front turn signals. Larger license plate light. Aerated vinyl material replaces non-porous
leatherette seat upholstery. late 1964 28 PICT-1 Carburetor.
1965 Master cylinder and wheel cylinders changed. New cooling air control system with flaps in the bottom of the fan housing.
Heater efficiency improved. Lever type heater and defroster controls replace rotary knob. Window and windshield area
increased with slightly curved windshield. Slimmer door and windshield posts. Window vent made smaller, angled back, and
lock moved from bottom to side. More powerful windshield wipers and longer wiper blades. New chassis numbering system.
Thinner, deeply contoured front seats. Increased rear seat knee room. Rear seat folds flat to hold more stuff. Change from
T-handle to pushbutton engine hood latch. Swivel mounted sun visors. Push-button catch on engine lid. Dome light
incorperated in rear-view mirror assembly on convertibles.
1966 1300 engine, 50hp. "1300" added to rear deck. 30 PICT-1 carburetor. Cam bearings started. Emergency blinker switch.
Ventilated wheel slots and flatter hub caps. Larger Rear View Mirror. Headlight dimmer switch mounted on turn signal handle
instead of floor. Center dashboard defroster outlet. Semi-circular horn ring. Ball joint front suspension replaces king pin
suspension. Better torsion bars and shocks. Needle wheel bearings replace round wheel bearings.
1967 1500 engine, 53hp. "Volkswagen" added to rear deck. Squared-off looking rear hood. Rear bumper overriders
redesigned to clear new deck lid. Changed from 6 to 12 volt system in middle of year. Generator increased from 180 to 360
watts with change from 6 to 12 volts. Voltage regulator now mounted under rear seat instead of on generator. Wider swing
axels provide wider track in rear. Clutch disk increased in size from 180 to 200 mm. 130 tooth (200mm) flywheel replaces 109
tooth (180mm) flywheel. Dual master cylinder brake system. Outside door handle has round push button. Recessed inside
plastic door handles. Two-speed windshield wipers. Back-up lights. Single unit headlights. Locking buttons on doors. Driver
armrest added. Slimmer outside chrome trim. Left outside mirror becomes standard equipment. Z-Bar added to rear
suspension in an attempt to improve handling.
1968 Automatic stick shift with double jointed rear axles added as an option. New bumpers. Hubcaps are now even flatter than
before. Beginning of plastic dashes on bugs. Big black knob added to vent window handle. Gear shifter is now straight instead
of crooked. Changed from five to four lug. Bigger front brakes. Bigger rear brakes. Solex 30 PICT-2 carburetor. Gas tank
filler moved from under hood to right front fender. Brake fluid reservoir moved from under spare tire to driver side wall.
Combined gas gauge into speedometer gauge. Gas gauge is now electrical instead of mechanical. Oil warning light changed
from green to red. Outside door handle button now has to be squeezed instead of pushed. Larger tail lights. Head restraints
built into front seat backrests. Energy-absorbing collapsible steering column. Exhaust emission control system.
late 1968 Front Hood release moved to glove compartment. Gas filler cover has inside release.
1969 Double-jointed rear axles on all models. Swing axle transaxle is replaced by IRS transaxle. (Independent Rear Suspensn)
Warning lights in speedometer identified by letters or symbols. Day/night rear-view mirror. Rear window defroster. Ignition
lock combined with steering wheel lock. Warm air outlet at base of the doors moved rearward. Remote control knobs are
mounted on door columns.
