Beetle VS Super Beetle- What’s the Difference?

The Volkswagen Beetle, famously known as the “Bug,” was a small compact car produced by the German automaker between 1938 and 2003. The Beetle was available in two types: Type 1 Beetle and Super Beetle. With the naked eye, both models look the same. However, Beetle enthusiasts will tell you the two have some significant differences. For starters, the Type 1 Beetle came to the market earlier than the Super Beetle.

Today’s guide will walk you through the differences between the VW Beetle and the Super Beetle.

Significant Differences Between the VW Beetle and the Super Beetle

As mentioned earlier, the VW Beetle is the original Beetle that was introduced to the market earlier than the Super Beetle. Apart from the production date, there are other significant differences between the two. Let’s discuss the main differences between the VW Beetle and the Super Beetle in detail below.

✅ The Date of Production

The VW Beetle, or Type 1 as it was officially known, was first produced in 1938. Production continued until 2003, making it one of the company’s most successful innovations.

The German automaker started producing the Super Beetle from 1971 to 1979. The Super Beetle was built alongside the original Beetle. It’s worth pointing out that the Super Beetle was not a new invention. Instead, it was an updated and modified version of the Beetle. Unfortunately, the Super Beetle was not as successful as the original Beetle, forcing the automaker to stop production in 1979. The changes were designed to improve the suspension and driving experience while retaining the original design.

✅ The Body Design

One of the significant differences between the Super Beetle and the VW Beetle is the body design. While it’s difficult to see the differences when looking at the two models with the naked eye, the truth is that they are significantly different. The Super Beetle is longer than the original Beetle by about three inches. As a result, it has a larger trunk and more interior space. The longer body was also designed to improve the Super Beetle’s stability and ability to handle higher speeds.

Another significant difference in the body design is the width. The Super Beetle is also wider than the Beetle by around two inches. Similarly, this leaves more interior space, a larger trunk, and better stability. The extra width also allows for larger wheels and tires, resulting in better handling and grip on the road.

When it comes to the rear end, the Super Beetle comes with a more defined and angular back end, unlike the original Beetle. This is why the Super Beetle provides a more sporty and modern look. Also, the Super Beetle’s rear end is slightly wider to provide more interior space and improve handling. It’s also worth pointing out that the Super Beetle has a larger rear window to enhance the driver’s visibility and ultimate driving experience.

Regarding the front end, the Super Beetle has a more modern and aerodynamic appearance due to its long front end. It also has a curved front end that slopes down towards the road. This shape allows for a larger trunk and front hood. That also means it’s easier to access the engine to perform the required repairs and maintenance. On the other hand, the Beetle has a rounded front end.

The Beetle and the Super Beetle also have significant differences when it comes to the windshield. The original Beetle’s windshield is shorter than that of the Super Beetle. Moreover, the Super Beetle has a more raked-back windshield to improve aerodynamics and the driver’s visibility. It also has a broader windshield to provide a larger field of view.

Also consider reading: VW Sand Rail Build Guide

✅ The Suspension System

Apart from the body design, the original Volkswagen Beetle and the Super Beetle also had some differences regarding the suspension systems. The VW Beetle has a torsion bar suspension system designed to be cost-effective, simple, and reliable. It consists of two torsion bars on each side of the car. The torsion bar runs from the front to the rear of the VW Beetle. The torsion bars were designed to act like springs and are changed by the car’s weight to enhance the driving experience and handling.

However, this suspension system has its fair share of cons. For instance, the original Beetle is often bouncy on rugged roads because it does not have shock absorbers. It does not also provide good handling because the system is limited in adjustability.

On the other hand, the Super Beetle was upgraded to a MacPherson strut suspension system at the front. This new suspension system was designed to provide better adjustability, driving experience, and handling. It also consisted of a single shock absorber mounted inside a coil spring. Moreover, a lower control arm and strut tower was also added to the top of the shock absorber. Since the supermodel does not use torsion bars, it leaves more space in the front of the car for the trunk and the front hood.

The supermodel also has a semi-trailing arm suspension system at the back. Although similar to the original Beetle’s trailing arm system, the improved model came with a pivot point on the body to ensure linear wheel motion. This also improved the vehicle’s stability and handling.

✅ The Interior Features

Regarding the interior features, the original model had a simple, flat dashboard made of metal or plastic. The dashboard consists of a fuel gauge, basic controls for the wipers and the lights, and a speedometer. On the other hand, the Super Beetle has a more modern dashboard made of plastic or padded vinyl. It also had a curved design consisting of a clock and additional controls for the heating and ventilation systems.

When it comes to the seats, the VW Type 1 has flat and simple seats that are made of vinyl or cloth. Its seats also contained minimal padding and did not have adjustable lumbar support or headrests. The back seats are also small and leave little legroom. Unlike the original Beetle, the supermodel had more comfortable padded seats for better support. It also came with adjustable headrests for more comfort.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the Super Beetle was designed to be a more modern version of the original Beetle. As a result, it came with more advanced suspension systems, a larger body, and an improved luxurious interior. Due to these new features, the Super Beetle was more expensive than the original model.

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