Specifications: Transmission

The Beetle has rearwheel drive because the engine, the gearbox and the differential are placed at the rear of the car. All gearboxes till 1961 are placed in a bipartite moulded house according to the transaxle principe. Since 1962 the gearboxes are placed in a moulded house according to the transaxle principe.

A gearbox from a Beetle gearbox

In this table are standing the different gear ratios of all hand shifted Beetles. The "S" means that gear is synchromeshed.

Beetles
'39-'53
Beetles
'54-'61
Beetles
'62-'70*
Beetles
'71- --
Beetles
1967
1st gear 3,60 :1 3,60 :1 3,80 :1 3,78 :1 S 3,80 :1 S
2nd gear 2,07 :1 1,94 :1 S 2,06 :1 S 2,06 :1 S 2,06 :1 S
3rd gear 1,25 :1 1,22 :1 S 1,32 :1 S 1,26 :1 S 1,26 :1 S
4th gear 0,80 :1 0,82 :1 S 0,89 :1 S 0,93 :1 S 0,89 :1 S
Reverse 6,60 :1 4,63 :1 3,61 :1 3,61 :1 3,61 :1

* Gear ratios '62-'70; 1967 excepted

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© 1999/2000 Jan-Pieter Kansen