Former Barn Find: 1973 Volkswagen Type 3 Fastback
Would you name your Prius? If you have a newer F-150, does it have a name? There’s something about certain cars that inspires their owners to ascribe to them a quality not inherent in a lifeless mass of steel, rubber, and plastic. Age helps, certainly, but age alone doesn’t make it a sure thing. When it comes down to it, some cars just have soul: light or dark, serious or quirky. Some cars need a name. So I present Bacon, a little yellow 1973 VW Type 3 Fastback. She’s offered for sale here on eBay, with an asking price of $15,000, though the seller will entertain offers.
The Volkswagen Type 3 entered production in 1961, arriving in showrooms in 1962. Offering both more interior and luggage space than the Type 1 Beetle, it came in three standard varieties– the Squareback station wagon, the Fastback, and the Notchback saloon– as well as providing the underpinnings for the Type 34 Karmann Ghia. By the mid-to-late Sixties, they were arguably the most modern vehicles in VW’s line-up: front disc brakes were introduced in 1965, and options included air conditioning, an automatic transmission, and electronic fuel injection– a first for a production vehicle. The engine was based on Volkswagen’s dependable flat four, but re-engineered to be very flat indeed. Repositioning components, including the cooling fan, allowed the engine to fit in a suitcase-sized, isolated compartment under rear of the car. The configuration, placement, and mounting of the “pancake” engine not only lessened noise and vibration in the cabin, but also enabled the car to offer a rear cargo area, complementing the front boot.
The example we see here is currently under the care of her second owner, having been a barn find rescue. The current owner, a professional mechanic for a Volkswagen restoration company, took on the car as a passion project. The seller reports that the car is in sound mechanical condition and is completely road-worthy, though it has led a somewhat pampered existence. Though it originally came with both fuel injection and air conditioning, neither of these are currently with the car, the fuel injection having been replaced with Webers. Both come with the car; in fact, it seems that almost every original part comes with the car, down to a dented door that was also replaced. The new owner will also receive a massive amount of documentation and paperwork, detailing the life of this relatively rare automobile.
Could you buy one for less? Yes, you could. But probably not one like this: the fact that this has been someone’s baby, not to mention the fact that the someone in question is a Volkswagen restoration professional, means that the buyer will be countless hours of labor, bottles of Mylanta worth of frustration, and a fair bit of money ahead of the game. As the seller notes, this would be a fine start to a concourse-level restoration. Or the new owner could bask in the knowledge that he’s driving what is likely the nicest example anyone will see that did not roll off a trailer. As much as it seems a shame to add to the 34,000 miles that have already passed under her wheels, this cheerful, exuberant Type 3 just begs to be driven. Maybe that reason alone is enough justification to bring home Bacon.
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Comments
With all due respect to the author, I think naming vehicles is the dumbest thing. Lonely truck drivers would name their trucks, with big letters, usually some womans name that left them. I always thought that was kind of sad. It’s a machine, not a person. The person that had that ’65 Willys CJ named it “Willow”,( I rolled my eyes when I saw that),,unjustified, as willow is the crappiest wood, so,,on to the V-dub. Always liked the Type 3, it was more of a “real” car. Always lived in the shadow of the Bug and K-G. They were great cars. Again with the Webers,,I’d have to think the VW f.i. would be the best in the business. Below 50 degrees, this thing will stumble like a poet on payday. I don’t know if $15g’s is appropriate, sure is clean. A great find.
I name all of my cars Betsy. That’s what Grandma called her 66 Malibu coupe. Works for me.
When I was living in Findhorn I got in the practice, like everyone else, of naming all my appliances. As a result everything worked perfectly and looked great, because after all, you wouldn’t dare mistreat your stove Sandra anymore than you would your wife Trixie, would you?
When I was in high school a friend of mine got to drive one of these. It was different than what I was used to riding in. Dad was an AMC fan and later owned a Gran Torino wagon. Anyhow we used to get rides to soccer practice or on occasion to a party. We spent enough time in that car that one day we were commenting on how different the Type 3 was from other bigger cars we were used to riding in. It is comical that the nickname chosen for this Type 3 is Bacon. We “dubbed” my friends VW the eggbeater. It reminded one of us of the sound his mother’s mixer made when she was baking.
For 15k they could at least have vacuumed it
Very clean, wonder what the compression reading is for each cylinder, that tells A LOT with Volksies.
I drove a cousin’s Type three once. Once was enough. I thought that a ’66 Type one VW was sportier.
I can think of many cars to buy for 15 that are going to be much more of a ride than this underpowed lemon …
Agreed. 15K can buy a lot of vintage fun. Maybe they’d take a lot less?
I had a station wagon of the same year. Roadholding was a disaster!
A friend brought one home from Germany as an Air Force pilot, I think it said “Variant” on the trunk. I thought I had seen one in Europe at the time that said “Deviant” but maybe I was wrong, or, it was a joke by the owner. In either case it varied or deviated from the regular one.
@Howard, naming vehicles is the dumbest thing?!? Oh I beg to differ. There are many other things that are eligible for the Dumbest award.
The vast majority of us drive or ride a vehicle that is modified to our taste be it window stickers, side pipes, or tires & wheels. We all want to be unique in this world. Older car carry their own idiosyncrasies with points, carbs, and drum brakes. Most unique things are named.
Finally, the most compelling reason to name vehicles. We are familiar with our vehicles from bumper to bumper. We are attentive to their needs to ensure their health. In return, these objects of our obsession/hobby thrill us, frustrate us, and give us a measure of pleasure.
If you are THAT intimate with something, you really ought to be on a first name basis… have some fun with it, get creative.
Don’t mind Howard. He always has something bad to say. I bought a new ‘67 square back while living in Germany. I was a dyed in the wool American car guy, but I loved that type 3. I’ve never owned another American car.
Not always, but you’re right, I am the sites curmudgeon and vocal on certain issues. It’s one reason our society is so out of whack, people like me, and especially like my old man, who REALLY hated everything, are a minority today. It’s as if today it’s, “go ahead, crap all over us, we have no voice” or our voice is squelched by this machine,,something my old man ( and folks like him) wouldn’t hear of and went to war because of it,,,so,,have a nice day.
And I differ on your differ. Naming things is usually reserved for something that may actually answer to that call. A human, a pet, but inanimate objects, such as cars or stoves, are merely machines, they aren’t capable of emotion, and psychiatrists will agree, naming those things that have no chance of giving back, is a character flaw from that father that never listened to them as a kid,or whatever, , and they probably have houses in the mountains because of them.
… to differ^3. Howard I 100% agree. No emotion. No name. No attachment. I do not name my hammer or wrench as they are mere tools. They stir no emotion in themselves or me. Now take granfathers 66 F100, or the mustang fastback, the 29 model A as ‘differ’ent examples. All of which evoke emotion in me and thus are privileged with names.
5 out 4 Pyschiatrists are bad at math but most would agree we are all a little nutz for obsessing over old, rusty broken down, no cupholders, challenging to drive vehicles. Give your favorite car a name. It will set you free. 🤣
Dear Howard, although you seem to know a lot about cars and have a lot of interesting stories to tell – there are at least two very important things you haven’t learned so far –
1. EVERYTHING will answer to a call or emotion, because EVERYTHING is connected.
2. most folks that where sent to war thought they where fighting for a good world, but the only reason they where/are sent was/is to enlarger the wealth of the ones that sent them – sad but true.
no worries
Jeff
Years ago, a girl I dated had one identical to this, in Vermont.
Nice car. Even nicer girl.
Had a green ’67 in high school … put 19,889 miles on it in ten months before I was rear-ended at a stop light by a GTO doing 90mph … doctor said the high backed seats saved our lives but I woke up on my back with rain coming in the window – the impact had ripped the seats from the floor … side window were totally gone but the rear window was still in one piece … had to climb out the window as the frame was shoved over the doors … my mom was so angry – “if you’d stayed on the back roads like I told you this wouldn’t have happened” … the GTO driver said he’d reached for a pack of cigarettes on the dash and when he looked up it was too late – he never touched the brakes … the girl with him hit the mirror and had to have over 100 stitches in her head – she later married the ambulance driver who, coincidentally, had been a driver for my dad’s trucking company …
I’ve named almost every car I owned. Now my son does too We have Gonzo the blue ford focus , Octavia the red ford focus , my son has Otto the VW Cabrolet.
The brand name of the station wagon was Variant.
Opel called his station wagons Car-A-Van!
I love it, what a cool little car. Well done, prior owners.
My very first car was a 1972 VW Type 3 Fast Back that was Bronco Orange ~ It was FI and really a fast little car with the 4 speed …
The one thing I loved about that car was I could park it in the drive way ( we lived in Salt Lake valley Utah ) and it never failed to start the entire time I had it from 1975- 1980 regardless how cold it was that little suitcase motor would pull the front wheels off the ground , I found this out quit by accident when my wet foot slipped off the clutch and the car lurched and ran a red light in front of a cop 🙄 always keep rubber pads on your peddles as they do wear out ~ especially when cruising the main drag on a Friday night ~ I got 2 tickets that night, But nothing was more fun than running the sand trails in Sandy Utah it would go anywhere !!! ( those trails are all gone now, it’s all houses now 😥 ) I sold it in 1980 as the family moved to Texas and I took over ownership of my older brothers 72 Dodge Charger , I would have another type three although I do think the AP is a little on the high side With the A/C and FI removed ( imho)
I would be interested at $8-10K
Haha. It’s ok. I have many charector flaws.
I never have named any of my 20 or so cars over the past 60 plus years, but, I have had a few that were quite old and high mileage for their time, a ’39 MG, an ’84 Dodge Caravan with the gutless 2.2 engine, and especially a ’56 Chevy with 140,000 miles and 14 years on it (not her) which I would give a little pat on the rump, or the hood, when they got me home from a long trip without any trouble and say, out loud sometimes, “thanks”. Totally absurd but we are sometimes.
So, Charlie, is that less absurd than referring to your classic ride as “her.”
I think not.
Actuallly, English is the only western language that doesn’t have gender specific nouns. In French, cars, or pretty much any sort of conveyance, are feminine. So it’s a short step to naming your car. Curiously, in English, we still refer to boats as “her”.
Owned two “Notchbacks” in my life, one we bought while in Europe to drive in the winter while the Porsche hid in the garage. Lowered it, adjustable shocks, 100 hp engine that burned the 100 octane fuel they had and went after the BMW 2002s with it. The high compression engine almost went away when we entered France for the ’76 Le Mons race and found out that the highest octane fuel in France was 83. Tip toed in and out of the country with a very light foot on the gas pedal. Fun car.
There is a young guy around here that drives a yellow Type 3 around. It isn’t in great shape, has a LOUD exhaust, and also has a name on a vanity plate. But, it is refreshing to see someone tooling around in one of these than another fart can Civic.
I even saw it displayed in a show one time – nice to see that he is proud of it.
Yeah been naming ships for centuries , why not cars too. I’m looking at one with hold up now. Believe me Otto has tons of personality
Item location:
Huntsville, Alabama