Volkswagen : 411

Model Introduction

The Volkswagen 411, launched in 1968, was VW’s largest air-cooled car and the first to use unitary construction rather than a separate chassis. Styled under Heinrich Nordhoff’s team with a distinctive fastback profile, it was offered as a two- and four-door saloon and later as the Variant estate. Powered by a rear-mounted flat-four engine with fuel injection available from 1969, it also introduced MacPherson strut front suspension to VW’s range. Though criticised at the time for its unconventional looks and limited refinement compared with newer rivals, the 411 (and later 412) bridged the gap between the Beetle era and Volkswagen’s transition to front-engined, water-cooled cars in the 1970s.