The Type 4 (411 and 412) was Volkswagen’s mid-sized offering in the late 60s and early 70s and was offered in three body styles: four-door sedan, two-door coupe and three-door wagon. Interestingly, the 411 was VW’s very first four-door sedan, although we are featuring the other two body styles today.
This family of cars had a remarkably short lifecycle for a VW, but was replaced by the Passat as part of VW’s massive modernization campaign, which introduced their high-volume, front-wheel drive mainstream cars. Luckily, the Beetle and van would solider on for a good while with the engine in the correct location. These received a styling refresh for the 1973 model year, and that’s when the name went from 411 to 412. Both cars featured here are 412s.
The wagon for sale here is a project car not known to run and without DMV registration. The Coupe is a claimed daily driver. Both have cosmetic needs, but the Coupe has fewer unknowns. Good news for wagon lovers is that just about any air-cooled VW engine will swap in; so the engine and transaxle shouldn’t break the bank. Bits specific to the Type 4 might be a different story, however.
The price of entry on each is pretty low. There are rare enough to be essentially unheard of among all except VW faithful. That keeps prices relatively low and I think each represents a lot of potential coolness for a low entry price.
Click for Craigslist ad #1 (wagon)
El Cajon, CA
$2,500
Click for Craigslist ad #2 (coupe)
Lakewood, CA
$3,500
Who needs four passenger doors in a wagon?
Practical wagon could haul a fair amount of stuff – on top of the engine, of course.
Interior is luxurious by 60s/70s VW standards and pretty darn good by any other standard.
Here’s car #2, the coupe.
These have very cool fastback styling.
Typical of VW at the time, the engine is a rear-mouted, horizontally opposed four cylinder driving the rear wheels.
Ad text (wagon):
I have up for sale a solid 74 412. This is not a car you see everyday it does run has new dual webers no rust clean interior. This car is no longer on the books at DMV so you will need to do a vin search ($39) needs some work to be road ready. I don’t want to sell it but money is tight so I have to do what I can so no low ballers I am asking $2500 open to reasonable offers. Call Brett show contact info