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Below, you will find a list of the main Beetle year / model changes that happened from August 1967 onwards.If you have any further alterations to add, please let us know.
Production Changes 1967 118000001 (August)
Upright headlamps - as used on Type 3s (and post '68 Type 2s).
Shortened Bonnet and Deck lid.
Larger Europa style bumpers (excluding 1200s, which continued to use blade bumpers).
Tombstone rear lights (excluding 1200).
Revised interior handles on doors to the later style, similar to a mk1 Golf.
Automatic stick shift becomes available as an option
Updated steering wheel and steering column.
Production Changes 1968
119 000 001 (August)
Lockable petrol filler flap operated by cable pull; bonnet release moved into glove compartment; front heating vents moved back to beneath the door openings and controlled by remote levers on footwell sides.
119 000 002 (August)
1300 available with front disc brakes.
119 000 008 (August)
1300 available with semi-automatic transmission. Double-jointed rear suspension available in the USA with manual gearbox.
Production Changes 1969
110 2 000 001 (August)
Optional 'L' (luxury) package introduced for 1300 and 1500 models (but not the 1200); dashboard moulding strip discontinued; road wheels now painted silver; speedometer casing no longer chromed but matt finish; pre-heating of carburettor by hot air from left cylinder head transferred to right head.
110 2 000 002 (August)
Solex 30 PICT/2 carburettor fitted with additional mixture screw.
110 2 000 003 (August)
Engine lid on 1500 fitted with air louvres in two banks of five.
Production Changes 1970
110 2 528 697 (January)
Clamps holding petrol tank in place have rounded edges, previously square.
111 2 000 002 (August)
Front end of bodywork revised on 1302/3, including bonnet, to accommodate MacPherson strut suspension
Engine changes
Jack now sited below rear seat
Stronger bumper brackets with integral towing bracket at rear left
Crescent-shaped ventilation louvres introduced behind rear side windows but not on 1200
Thermostat fitted to air cleaner
1302S fitted with front disc brakes to the same size and specification as the 1500, backing plates modified
Front drums on 1302 (with 1200 or 1300 engine) increased in diameter to 248mm and shoe width to 45mm. Rear drums remain unchanged.
111 2 000 003 (August)
Crankcase halves made from better quality and more heat-resistant alloy.
111 2 325 213 (November)
Front torsion bar beam fitted with towing eye, on torsion bar 1200/1300 models.
Production Changes 1971
111 2 920 875 (June)
Double vacuum distributor modified to single vacuum, retard take-off for ignition timing discontinued on Solex 30, 31 and 34 PICT/3 carburettors, but not for cars destined for North America.
112 2 000 001 (August)
Height of rear window increased by 4cm; revised engine lid with two banks of seven louvres and two banks of six.
112 2 000 002 (August)
Windscreen wiper switch transferred from dashboard to stalk on right-hand side of the steering column.
112 2 000 009 (August)
Exhaust gas recirculation system added for cars to California.
112 2 073 652 (September)
Clutch operating arm lengthened and smoother in use.
Production Changes 1972
113 2 000 003 (August)
Coil spring clutch replaced by diaphragm spring cltuch.
113 2 000 004 (August)
Curved windscreen 1303 launched with revised bodywork
Bonnet made shorter to accommodate panoramic windscreen
V-over-W badge on bonnet discontinued
Black plastic push button on bonnet handle
Modern moulded (padded) dashboard introduced on 1303 with speedometer contained in shroud
Seats mounted on safety-inspired pyramid structure
Windscreen wipers modified to fit new windscreen.
113 2 000 011 (August)
Fusebox relocated below the centre of the dashboard on new 1303.
113 2 196 230 (September)
New thermostat for accelerator pump on 31 PICT/4 carburettor; oil bath air cleaner replaced by large plastic box with dry paper element.
113 2 362 151 (November)
30 PICT/3 carburettor fitted with foam float.
Production Changes 1973
113 2 522 922 (January)
Crankshaft pulley and generator pulley no longer painted black but have metallic finish.
113 2 687 765 (March)
Twin pre-heating tubes fitted to inlet manifold and tailbox.
113 2 802 561 (May)
Petrol filter built into fuel line replaces tank strainer.
114 2 000 001 (August)
MacPherson strut suspension modified to give negative steering roll radius rather than positive as previously. Sills strengthened at jacking points.
114 2 147 150 (September)
Solex PICT/4: vent hole fitted in accelerator pump.
Production Changes 1974
115 2 000 001 (August)
Front bumpers fitted with indicators; rear valance modified in shape
Front indicators for US cars continued on top of wings and not in bumpers
Steering changed to rack and pinion(1302/3)
American-spec cars fitted with fuel injection, but only those destined for California also have catalytic converters. All American-spec versions received catalytic converters from the start of the 1977 model year.
Production Changes 1975
115 2 266 092 (July)
Last 1303 manufactured.
116 2 000 001 (August)
Number plate pod on 1200 gains corrugations and is made of plastic; 1200 engine fitted with paper air cleaner to replace oil bath, at last, the 1200 is fitted with 12-volt electrics.
Post - 1975
Through 1976 and 1977, the Beetle continued without modifications and, as production and sales declined, eventually took its final bow at the beginning of 1978. The very last sedan produced in Germany, a 1200 with chassis nº 118 2 034 030, rolled off the Emden production lines at midday on 19 January 1979 at noon. The placard on its roof read, "Käfer, made in Germany 16,255,500, Production weltweit 19,300,000".
From 1979, Germany imports his Beetles from his firm in Mexico. The 1982s models loose its louvres on the rear hood and win a wish-wiper tank; electric pumpe integrated.
In 1985, an anniversary model is presented. It is metalic gray with tinted glasses and equiped with very beautiful seats and a steering wheel from Golf. Around 2.000 Beetles of this type will be sold in Europe.
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