"steering control 1971" (contd from "411/412

[Lars S]

(...continuing from the "411/412 Litterature" topic)

412s2 wrote:
"To not effect the movement at the steering wheel, VW must have developed a powered steering system where there is no physical mechanical link between the steering wheel and the road wheel, as opposed to a power assisted system? "

Im afraid the book (http://www.karl-goerner.de/vw.htm) does not tell wery much details about the system but a computer, wind-sensors and a servo motor was involved. It is reported that the system, even at gusty sidewind, could keep a 411 on straight track without moving the steering wheel.
However the system was conisidered as being to refined.

Are there no (german) VW-engineers from that time (watching this forum?) still being able to tell us about this (and much more)?

/Lars

[412s2]

Thanks for starting this thread Lars. 

I’m really interested to hear more about the development and history behind the Type 4 too, I think we’d be lucky, but it would be great to hear from some of the engineers and product planners of that time!

Die Grossen VW does sound like an interesting book, unfortunately I know very little German  I’ve seen Wally mention the 100 PS 2.0 litre 412 prototype that also features in that book. Are there any other gems from the book you can tell us about?

Does it say why the car has a unique manual transmission? I wonder if they were going to use it in a stillborn project like EA266, the VW 191?

I’m hoping to visit Wolfsburg later this summer and I’ll be giving all those strange prototypes over there a close inspection! Man, I’m such a geek!

[Lars S]

Yes, the 411 history is wery interesting! In "Die Grossen VW" the 411/412 is covered in some 25pages, (some 30+ pictures are included). Im happy to recieve tips on other books that covers the 411/412.
Regarding the steering control: they really must have put a lot of energy in developing this high tect thing and just a couple of years later the 412 disappeared and (almost) all new VW cars were front wheel driven and not side wind sensitive...

Yes, there are of course other gems, in 1971 a rotating disc was tested as head light washer, another is how completely the whole car was redesigned just after 10 months in the market.

Alot of those days magazine reactions are also covered: the 411 did not have an easy time in the papers....believe me...but thats why we are loving it!

Sorry, do not think the unique trans is mentioned.



/Lars