I know the squareback did... I know how to drive a stick. I just have never seen one!
2007-11-01 14:59:43 · 13 answers · asked by atkwayzata 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Makes ➔ Volkswagen
60's they did not but late in the seventies there were a few via options.~~
2007-11-02 01:32:31 · answer #1 · answered by burning brightly 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, the "automatic stick," transmission was a semi-automatic transmission along the lines of the some of the US built semi-automatics of the 50's; Chrysler had one that even had a "safety clutch" pedal to disengage the clutch assembly.
On the VW version, you did have the shift between the gears; it was a problem prone mess; the contacts needs to be adjusted regularly and the vacuum servo unit used to blow up if the switches weren't adjusted regularly. It wasn't a bad unit per se, but hardly anyone did the adjustments on a regular basis, so by 1973 or 1974, there were no more automatic sticks in either the type 1 (Beetle) or type 3 (Squareback/Fastback models).
I think the previous writer was correct; I seem to remember that they came out in the late 60's with it. The type 4, and the type 2, interestingly enough, had full automatic transmissions in them, but the original Beetle never had one.
Most people have converted their VW's to a full manual transmission or have someone who has the skill and parts to keep their transmission going. VW hasn't supplied parts like the servo unit since the late 1980's.
2007-11-02 21:13:45 · answer #2 · answered by a car nut 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Type 1 Beetle never had a fully automatic transmission. In the late 60's & 70's they were available with an "Automatic Stick Shift", which was basically a 3-speed manual tranny, which, instead of using a conventional clutch, was coupled to the engine using a torque converter, which could be disengaged through the shifter, rather than by foot.
The weight of the driver's hand on the shifter closed a switch which activated a vacuum servo, which in turn, separated the vanes in the converter far enough to release the transfer of power, allowing the trans to be shifted.
Putting it simply, you still had to stir the gears, but there was no pedal-pumping.
The downside to this set-up was the lack of a solid connection between the engine & trans: If your parking brake didn't work, you'd better have level ground to park on. Also, you had one less gear, and even poorer acceleration than the 4-speed fully manual.
The 'Electric -over -vacuum -over -mechanical -over-fluid' coupling also required frequent, delicate adjustment, making it a real pain in the neck. There was a sensitivity adjustment in the shifter. There was a vacuum adjustment in the control valve, & finally, a mechanical adjustment between the servo & the converter.
It was a great idea in theory that just didn't work well in the real world.
2007-11-03 00:16:31 · answer #3 · answered by schizophreniabeatsdiningalone 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The automatic stick shift was added as an option to the Beetle in the '68 model year. It had a torque converter and a vacuum servo operated clutch activated by switches on the stick that sensed movement. I don't know how long they offered it, but I don't believe the Beetle ever had a conventional automatic.
2007-11-02 02:55:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Later in the early 70's the did. But they were NOT really automatics as such. They HAD a clutch that was commanded by micro position switches and actuated by vacuume. You provided the omph! to push the gear box from first to third or whatever.
2007-11-02 02:39:09 · answer #5 · answered by De Deuce 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In 1968 VW came out with the 3 speed automatic.
2007-11-03 11:31:26 · answer #6 · answered by dewhatulike 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes they did. Or at least a semi-auto. It had an electric clutch that activated clutch when you touched the shifter and you shifted the gears like a manual transmission. (1971 Super Beetle).
2007-11-01 22:17:30 · answer #7 · answered by Earl O 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
VW had a term for their automatic -- forget what they called it. But Dodge Guy has it right, they were available in the US from I think 1968 onward, and required manual shifting (without a clutch). D
2007-11-01 22:12:57 · answer #8 · answered by HeavyD 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes they did it was automatic but you still had to change gears on it,you just didn't have a clutch it was a weird car to drive but ran extremely well i had a 68 that was like this ,and i liked that car,it was only a 3 speed but a real blast to drive,good luck.
2007-11-01 22:07:15 · answer #9 · answered by dodge man 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I drove one for years and never had a problem,how ever the car was very slow.
2007-11-03 22:27:18 · answer #10 · answered by kwhotrods 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋