I don't think it is a misprint - I think it is confusion over what they
mean by automatic.  I believe what the authors are trying to say is that
the four wheel drive system is "automatic" in that the driver does not have
to turn four wheel drive on and off via some kind of switch or other control.
If the Syncro system detects that the rear wheels are loosing traction it
redirect some of the power to the front wheels without driver intervention
of any kind.  In this respect, it could be called "automatic".  I have never
even heard of a Syncro with an automatic transmission.

On Jul 23, 13:27, dave wrote:
> Subject: Syncro's Transmission....

[snip]

-> Can Syncros come with an Automatic transmission? Personally, I have never
-> seen one with an auto, and had even been told by a mechanic or two that
-> they only come with standard transmissions.

-> I recently bought a book called "Volkswagens: Beetles, Buses & Beyond by
-> James Flammang. It covers the history of VW's from 1946 - 1988 (sort of,
-> the book was printed in 1996).

-> Any rate, on page 194 the author talks about Syncros. He prints: "In
-> 1986, Volkswagen introduced an Automatic four-wheel drive version of the
-> Vanagon, called the  Syncro."

[snip]

-> One detail I simply have not seen, is an Automatic Syncro. Could I be
-> missing something very common? Or perhaps this is just a gross misprint.

--
John S. Cronin                             phone: (404) 894-6164
Office of Information Technology Operations and Engineering 0715
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332
Internet: john.cronin@oit.gatech.edu