Volkswagen Type 3
From Freepedia
The Volkswagen Type 3 was an automobile introduced in 1961 to diversify VW's product range beyond the Type 1 (Beetle) and the Type 2 (Bus). The Type 3, officially the Volkswagen 1500, was designed to allow Volkswagen to make a more sophisticated car while maintaining much of the engineering from the Type 1.
The Type 3 was equipped with a 1.5 L (1498 cc) engine based on the aircooled flat-4 found in the Type 1. While the long block remained the same as the Type 1, the engine cooling was drastically changed to allow for a much lower engine profile. This resulted in increased area for cargo stowage and the so-called 'Pancake' or 'Suitcase' engine. This engine's displacement would later increase.
Originally a dual carburetted engine, the Type 3 engine was modified in 1968 to include fuel injection, reputedly the first mass production consumer car with such a feature.
It had three models: a hatchback (in Brazil the Volkswagen TL), a sedan (nicknamed "Zé do Caixão" in Brazil) and a wagon (Volkswagen Variant). The Variant had success in this market and even a more modern design successor with square corners, the Variant II, which nevertheless had mechanical problems and was ultimately a failure in the market against more modern designs such as the Renault 12-derived Ford Corcel II Belina.
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