Beetle vs. Super Beetle

[mtt48734]

Okay, once and for all...

Can someone tell me the difference between a Super Beetle and a "regular" Beetle.

The car in question is a 1972 or '73 - we're not exactly sure.

HELP!!!

[PinchFlat]

Cosmetically the Super has a different front end. The Apron, fenders and hood are styled different, the curve back under the car unline the traditional Bug. Also the whole front clip of the Super is different for the reason of the next difference.

Mechanically the Super has a different front end. The Super Beetle is a Macpherson strut front suspension. The standard Beetle has the good old torsion bar front end found on all non-super beetle bugs.

Oh yeah the Newer Super Beetles have rounded front windshields But I can't remeber when VW did this, 73? 74? But I think the 72 super had a flat windshiled.

[baileyuph]

At the expense of over simplifying, raise the storage lid and if the spare is lying flat, the car is a super beetle, otherwise it is a standard beetle (spare tire is stored at a near vertical angle.

If it is stored flat, the car is not a 1972. The super beetle first came out as a 1973 model (American market).

The curved windshield is also associated with the super beetle. All flat equipped windshields were the standard beetle.

Hope this makes it easy to determine if you have a 72 or 73 Super or not. Spare tire is the esiest clue along with the fact that the super didn't arrive on the scene until the 1973 model.

[freakybug_99]

Super beetles started in 71. Supers in 71 & 72 have the flat windshield. Supers had the curved windshields starting in 73. The easist way to tell if it's a super is to look at the front end for the struts.

[Fourt1thirty]

Originally Posted by freakybug_99

Super beetles started in 71. Supers in 71 & 72 have the flat windshield. Supers had the curved windshields starting in 73. The easist way to tell if it's a super is to look at the front end for the struts.

Winner

[stevethefolkie]

You can also tell by driving it - most superbeetles that I've met have a distinct wobble around 60MPH - results from a lack of bracing between the strut towers (which is also how you solve it) - the "grill" under the front of the hood is another dead giveaway. And correct - 1971 was the first year for the SB - the best thing about it (IMHO) was the dual port head configuration .....

[mhardgrove]

If you do decide to get a Super Beetle make sure its not rusted in the strut tower area. If it is rusted heavily your in danger of it failing when your at speed! I would buy a regular beetle if your able, torsion bar front end. Also I think the regular beetle looks better!

[stevethefolkie]

Originally Posted by mhardgrove

I think the regular beetle looks better!

yeah - but the super beetles were the first with the dual port engines - a bit better breathing and more HP than the standard beetles - at least in '71 and (I think) '72 -