Aircooled VW South Africa

Morning all

From what year model did the VW Beetle have vw beetle IRS rear suspension and was it available here in SA?

I've only seen swing axle's before and never a IRS.

SA Beetles never had IRS

Is a swing axle beetle not technically also IRS? Just not with loose shafts and CV joints


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Thanks Pine, is there any aftermarket way to convert it into IRS and (if so) do you maybe know if its locally available?

johanmarais wrote:Thanks Pine, is there any aftermarket way to convert it into IRS and (if so) do you maybe know if its locally available?

I suppose anything is available, but perhaps it would be the easiest to get a 1302 or 1303 donor Beetle. The biggest problem will probably be to source an IRS gearbox, the whole conversion process is explained here: http://www.bajaclub.co.uk/PDF_Documents/IRS.PDF

you could also use trailing arms from a 944

Dixon, you are right, but in VW circles, the semi-trailing arm version is referred to as IRS and the one we know as swing axle.
In reality though, they are both independent (IRS)

My one beetle was made IRS as by the previous owner, not sure what they used. Will take some picks tomorrow. My box came out of a Fugly kombi and changed by Pierre to stage1 with CV joints


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Thanks for all the info(s)

I'm playing around with the idea of a Subaru swap with Subaru gearbox.

I've done an EJ25 swap onto a Beetle box before on a trike and I'm in the planning stages of a new build and would like a Subaru swap with gearbox swap into a Beetle.

Will I be right in saying that the 1302/1303 is the Super Beetle?

johanmarais wrote:Will I be right in saying that the 1302/1303 is the Super Beetle?

That would be correct, yes. Not to be confused with the South African 1600S curved windscreen Beetle though

Here is one pic I have with me now



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Pine wrote:That would be correct, yes. Not to be confused with the South African 1600S curved windscreen Beetle though

Thanks Pine

dixtoy wrote:Here is one pic I have with me now


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Thanks dixtoy, that photo helps allot.

So what should I look for if I'm browsing the classified sites?

I would think if you find a scrap type 4 you could use its rear suspension and weld it on to a beetle pan with some modified brackets. What area you in? I have a 412 rolling body with a gearbox that we could talk about should you want to go that route. I'm in Heidelberg GP.


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dixtoy wrote:I would think if you find a scrap type 4 you could use its rear suspension and weld it on to a beetle pan with some modified brackets. What area you in? I have a 412 rolling body with a gearbox that we could talk about should you want to go that route. I'm in Heidelberg GP.

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Vanderbijlpark, not that far from you.

Hope these pics help