What years was the AutoStick offered by VW? Is there any information on production numbers?
Hiya Nova,
The AutoStick made its appearance in the 1968 production year. It was featured in both Bugs and Kamann Ghias. Although most sources list 1975 as the last production year for the M-9 option (Automatic Stick Shift) there were a few produced in the 1976 model year. The factory had not depleted its stock of AutoStick units in 1975 and had to move what remained out the door in 1976.
Numbers are much harder to come by. I haven't seen any actual production numbers for AutoSticks. But I have seen a 10% of total Type 1 production notation a couple of times. If that were true that would mean that (for example) in 1969 about 37,000 AutoSticks were sold in the USA (out of a total of 367,000 units).
VW produced a total of 610300 Type 1 and Type 14 with Automatic Stick Shift, since August 1967 (1968 Model) until 30th of July, 1976.
It will be nice to have a detailed production number for every type, and for every model year. Also, It will be nice to have the VW Saxomat production figures.
Best regards,
Rodrigo Kurmen
Hola Rodrigo,
Type 14? Please explain what a Type 14 is.
Hi Mike,
Type 1 means Beetle. Type 14 means Karmann Ghia, based on Beetle. These models have Automatic Stick Shift Transmission, as an option.
Type 3, Notchback, Fastback, Squareback (Variant) and Karmann Ghia type 34, as long as Type 4 share the same fully automatic transmission, as an option.
Best regards,
Rodrigo Kurmen
i'm very interested to know how many KG 'verts were built with the AS option?
Hiya baco,
Welcome to the forum!
Your question does not have an easy-to-find answer. As I noted in the thread above I have found only percentage-type answers for AS Bug production. How many AS KGs (and verts at that!) were produced would take a bunch of searching, I'd think.
If I really wanted an answer to that question, I'd contact the
Stiftung Automuseum
Diesel Strasse 35
D 38346 Wolfsburg
Germany
Their e-mail address is extl.automuseum@vwmail.de
Inasmuch as the folks above are the official VW Museum they would be most likely to have the information you seek.
Mike
1970 AS Bug
Thanks! I have already emailed to receive my "birth certificate." I also asked about build # information by body type. VW seems to have kept exceptional records; I assume they have this info.
It would be great to see how many Autosticks were made year by year, and Yes, VW seemed to keep good records and still have those records.
The Only special edition Beetle , well it wasn't really a special edition as such, but Australia did NOT have any special edition Beetles.
Even the colors were different to Volkswagewerk Beetles... There was No metallic paint ever used on Beetles in Australia and the colors used were usually limited to 4-5 at the one time...
Sun Roofs were never offered in the late 1968> beetles and they are very rare in the early models too. As Beetles were totally made here until >1968 when Austo Sticks were fully imported, and manual beetles CKD assembled with some Australian made parts....
No Sun Bugs.... No GT Beetles.... No Baja Beetles.... No Marathon Beetles
Lee Noonan 68AutoBug Australia
http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug