A Volkswagen doesn’t appear to change and does. Take the Volkswagen 1500. The bug. Same familiar shape but with 78 changes to make it work better.
The ’69 VW is the safest Volkswagen ever built.
It has front-end disc brakes and a dual braking system. There are non-tilt safety locks on all seats. Soft plastic dashboard control knobs, the point is there are no points. Recessed door handles inside have a safety lock (you have to unlock it before you can open a door).
The steering column is collapsible. If you bump something it won’t bump you. Volkswagen’s big wheels are still big but now you have new safety rims, so a sudden flat doesn’t have to mean a tyreless rim. Rear wheels track wider so they stick to their job better.
Two new big rear vision mirrors let you know what’s going on behind your back and side. Push the inside mirror and it pops out.
The bug has lap and sash seat belts on the front seats and anchor points all round, and there are new bigger windscreen washers to wash the bigger windscreen and new two-speed wipers to wipe it quicker.
But safety is only half the story. The ’69 Volkswagen is the most comfortable VW ever made. Take the bucket seats. Over the years they’ve been changed fifty times.Now they’re softer and more adjustable. You actually get more head and leg room than cars feet longer.
All four wheels are independently sprung and, on the back torsion bar, an equaliser spring has been added to keep the bug flat on the road. The torsion bars keep the ride softer, even fully laden. A new, fresh-air system makes the Volkswagen a little less air-tight and a heater demister works through six outlets.
Among the other important changes in the ’69 VW is a more powerful 1500 cc engine. It will take you 0-50 in 12 seconds flat and has a top speed around 80 that you can cruise at al/ Yes, it’s also the fastest bug ever.
You still get 32 miles a gallon and around 30,000 miles from a set of tyres. Volkswagen still believe that sometimes a change isn’t always a improvement
