It's a Type III

Essentially the same engine used on bugs and busses of the day except there is an extra hole for a rear engine carrier. The cooling fans are at the rear and intake rearranged to lower the engine overall height to accommodate a lower load floor. Affectionately called "pancake motors".

The next generation square back were the Type IV 411/412 models which share the engines with the aircooled Vanagons and Porsche 914's.

The Type III's were more comfortable than their Type I (bug) counterparts and had better equipment. But if you live in colder climates, they are subject to the same lack of adequate heat which afflict most aircooled VW's. 

As a daily driver, they are better than a Vanagon. Don't forget that they have the same maintenance requirements as cars of the same vintage. That means valve adjustments every 3000 miles, points, rotors, etc. 

Prices have climbed to the point that a 70's to 90's VW will be cheaper to acquire and run. They also get better MPG. If you are wanting a Type III as a "lifestyle" vehicle, then go for it. If you want something practical, buy a something newer.

Ben 
sent from my electronic leash

> On Feb 28, 2014, at 8:32 PM, 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