74 412 Manual Transmission..how rare?

[RoWaMe]

Interesting observations from Mr Greenwood, that they were available in all years on the 4-speeds... I cannot question his observations; maybe they were some gray market, Canada or Euro-delivery cars. Well, best of my knowledge is that they were available for the US (not same as Canada) market only in '74 and only on the 2-door sedan. Those were indeed a tiny fraction compared to the ones sold as automatics. BUT: if you can dig up the "Car Book" or other source for 1973, you'll notice that the car with the best fuel economy that year was a 412 wagon with stick shift! It was never "officially" imported that year but somehow VW was able to finagle it into the list. There's a very nice light blue/silver 412 2-door sedan somewhere in Michigan that comes to the VW meet at VW's HQ in May. Even has those wacky "phone dial" (aka "turtle") VW accessory alloy wheels!

[kevw412]

In Canada, 4 speeds were standard equipment in all models. Automatics were optional. I recently seen a 1973 412 wagon with a four speed. In the US, I think automatics were standard equipment with the four speed a delete option in four door and wagon anyway. Two door sedans came with a 4 speed as standard because it was more "sporting".

[raygreenwood]

Yep...I should clarify. The 4 speed was available in all models, in Europe. In fact the 4 speed was considered standard in Europe. All of the 4 doors and all of the wagons were shipped to this continent with automatics. ALL of the two door sedan models (unless ordered otherwise) were shipped with 4 speeds to this continent. I would agree, that if you find a wagon or four door with a 4speed, that it is probably a gray market import..or a dealer or private conversion (as they were quite simple to do). Trying to place where I got the info, but the 2 doors were considered the "sport model" and were always shipped with 4 speeds unless ordered otherwise. Of the few I have seen and owned, I have never seen a 2 door without a four speed. They also always had blue series springs, front and rear and front and rear sway bars with a slightly larger rear sway bar than that of the four door. For the record, these were extremely modular production cars. All models...european or american...has all drillings and openings to accept all standard options that were available. These include: (look under your carpet guys and gals) indentions in the trunk and under the dash for locating power brakes and steering columns for both left and right hand drive. They simply needed to be punched in the appropriate locations on the assembly lines. Also in all 2 and 4 door sedans...there are stanchions or threaded openings right behind the rear quarter windows under the padding, to install either shoulder harness winders or (more likely) pop out window locks. Feel around under the padiing behind your rear window and you will find them. Also wagons have all of the needed threaded mounting points already in the axle carrier to use the rear sway bar from the 2 or four door model. Its a ten minute bolt up. Just some info. Ray