So I stumbled on a compilation video posted on the YouTube channel The Wheel Network yesterday.
It is a bit of a mix of factory footage of Type 1 assembly at the Emden, Germany factory from 1974-1978, some of the final era of Type 1 production at the Puebla, Mexico plant from 2003, and then New Beetle production from the same Mexican plant in 2003 as well.
Now the thing that really caught my eye was in the Emden footage. At 3:48 in the vid a L-Jetronic FI engine is getting ready to be installed into 75-77 Standard Beetle intended for export to the US.
I have never come across any footage of the late era engines at the factory, especially US import models.
It is so funny how I just have this “thing” for these late era engines.
At around the 9:00 mark we are treated to a great view from the Puebla, Mexico factory of a 1600i engine being fitted and installed. You can clearly see the significant differences of the 1600i’s exhaust and muffler from the 75-79 US FI 1600’s and of course, all earlier carb engines. It looks like the O2 sensor for the is in a bung somewhat below cylinder 2 with the sensor lead going up and over the cylinder head.
The 1600i configuration also sported the finned cooling alternator pulley. I actually have one of these for Murbella’s engine rebuild as well.
It is sad indeed to watch the final 21,529,464th Type 1 roll out, ending 65 years of production.