I don't personally know much about the square back.  I do know that my brother had one on his rental lot back in the early nineties.  The engine was shot, oil went through like a dose of salts, squirting out every possible point.  He sold it to a couple of guys from California for way more than any old vehicle should bring, and they acted overjoyed to get it.  mcneely

---- Anthony Egeln <regnsuzanne@YAHOO.COM> wrote: 
> It is still Frydae here on the east coast of the USA, and I am curious about the old VW that was called the square back.  It was sort of a VW station wagon. 

I had one for a very short time back in the late 70's.  Too short a time to really get to know it, as I plowed into a stopped car and totaled it on the second day I owned it.   My brain was all about a plane ticket to visit a girl in Boston, and my foot was on the gas.  

Anyway, what did VW call the engine in those cars? What was the configuration of the engine, and what sort of fuel economy did it achieve?

It seems to me that if one of these in decent shape could be had today, it might be a good, economical, easy to work on "around town" car for running errands and carrying various household goods.

What do the VW old timers think?

Thanks, Anthony

--
David McNeely