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Changes in the Type IV VW over the years
(TO BE CLEAR; The Type IV is the model 411 and the 412 and not the bus)

     The Volkswagen Type 4 was a midsized 2 or 4-door sedan or 2-door station wagon built by Volkswagen. It was produced between 1968 and 1974. It was larger than the Volkswagen Type 3 and had a more powerful engine. The Type 3 and Type 4 were the last of VW's air-cooled models and preceded the massively successful Golf/Rabbit.

The Type 4 introduced many firsts to the Volkswagen lineup. These firsts included: unibody construction, MacPherson strut front suspension, rear suspension with coil springs and trailing wishbones, hydraulic clutch (for models equipped with a manual transmission), and the first fully automatic transmission in a Volkswagen (previous cars used an automatic (vacuum-actuated) clutch, but still had to be shifted manually). It was also Volkswagen's first 4-door sedan. The MacPherson strut front suspension was later successfully used in the Super Beetle.

The Type 4 included the 411 (produced from 1968 to 1972) and the 412 (produced in 1973 and 1974). Each model included a sedan (fastback) and a station wagon version. Both models were fuel injected, one of the first mass production vehicles to include this feature after the Volkswagen Type 3 (which also received fuel injection in 1968).

The Type 4 was reputedly a favorite project of Volkswagen head Heinz Nordhoff who felt that the larger vehicle would be attractive to families in North America.

While the Beetle's battery was located under the rear seat, the Type 4's battery was located under the driver's seat. In the rear of the car was located a gasoline operated heater that was fired by a glow plug accessible from a hidden rear window deck plate.

The design of the Type 4 was used when the Volkswagen Brazilia was produced for the Latin American market.

While the Type 4 was discontinued in 1974, the Type 4 engine became the power plant for Volkswagen Type II  produced from 1972 to 1979, and continued in modified form in the Volkswagen Vanagon (air-cooled from 1980 through mid-1983, and water-cooled from late 1983 through 1991).

   1968: Started production with dual carbs. 411 two door and four door and Variant (station wagon). Type IV engine; disc brakes; double jointed rear axles; ball joint front suspension. 
   1969: No changes. 
   1970: Smog Control equipment added. 
   1971: Bosch Electronic Fuel Injection, all models. 
   1972: No changes. 
   1973: Changed to the 412 models with a slightly larger body with considerable changes in trim; paper filter air cleaner; new camshaft; new coil spring shock absorbers and stabilizers; new heavy duty disc brakes. 
   1974: The Type IV, 2 door, 4 door and wagon has not changed on the outside with the exception of being slightly longer because of the self restoring energy absorbing bumpers. What else can you say about them? New front and rear wheels give the 412 a wider track and wider appearance than before. The 412 2-door still comes with the fuel injected 1679cc: engine and standard trans but the 4-door and wagon come with automatic trans and a fuel injected 1795cc engine as standard equipment. A
larger fan for the fresh air blower and a quieter muffler about rounds out the changes made this year. 
   1975: These are no longer being manufactured.

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