whats the difference between a regular and a super beetle?

[davidray]

I just brought my wife a 73 bettle. Im getting a list of all the parts i need for the car and im not sure if its a beetle or super beetle. How can you tell the difference. Also, how can i tell what cc the motor is? Im mechanicly inclined, but dont know much about bugs. All help would be appreciated! Thanks

[boschmann]

Supers have a row of 4" vertical grills on the front apron under the front bumper. They also have a MacPherson strut front suspension vs. long side-to-side torsion bars.

[BoatCop]

boschmann laid out the basic mechanical differences, however there are others, mostly cosmetic in nature.

The super beetle has a larger trunk, with a broader hood. It's more square at the bottom and slightly more domed than the standard. The spare tire also lays down flat, rather than upright.

In later Supers, 1973 on, the windshield is curved and the cabin area is slightly bigger. Standard Bugs retained the flat windshield all through their production.

As far as what size engine you have, that depends on a lot of factors.
The engine code will tell what size. (if stock)
For 1973 model year:

D=34 HP 1200cc
AB=44HP 1300cc
AD=50HP 1600cc
AE/AK/AS=48HP 1600cc (AH if for the California market)
AF=46HP 1600cc

Now that's if the motor is still stock. It may have been rebuilt or switched somewhere along the line, so even the engine code numbers don't matter. The only way to tell for sure is to remove the heads and measure the bore and stroke.

[davidray]

thanks for the imput, you were alot of help. I guess its a super

[FreddieK]

I have the same problem. I have a 71 bug and the VIIN and Chasis numbers say it is a regular beetle, but it has the features of a super. It has struts on the front end, the spare sets flat, and it has the louvers under the front bumper. any ideas?

[BoatCop]

Originally Posted by FreddieK

I have the same problem. I have a 71 bug and the VIIN and Chasis numbers say it is a regular beetle, but it has the features of a super. It has struts on the front end, the spare sets flat, and it has the louvers under the front bumper. any ideas?

1971 and '72 Beetles and Super Beetles had the same VIN format. It wasn't until 1973 model year that VW changed the format.

In the later case, the numbers would start 113 for a Standard, and 133 for a Super.

[the Wanderer]

check the windshield! flat and it's probably a 1302 (1300cc) or 1302s (1600cc) with MacPherson struts round and it 's the 1303 type as described above. however these are the numbers for european cars.

[kelwa1]

When the VIN# is in doubt, use this eyeball technique -

The spare tire lays flat in all supers - 1302(years 71-72, flat windshield) and 1303(years 73-79, curved windshield). All supers have front MacPherson strut front suspension and a tighter turning radius.

Spare tire sits up, the car is a standard beetle sedan.

No exceptions, unless a P/O has made extensive mods.


By the way, all models are the same from the windshield and doors rearward ( chassis and bodywise ) .