Maybe in certain markets, a 1600 version would probably just about pass muster in the Type 1 and others in Western markets.
Some places, maybe just. As a taxi model, it wouldn't be outrageous.
Not Fedden himself meant the state/co-op-owned company that carries his name
That's clearer in my mind, thx. I've been thinking there's no gov't involvement at all, past the initial takeover: turn over immediately to private ownership. And I wouldn't rule out Fedden himself playing a part, if *VW management needed a designer, they'd just need to ride herd on his more outlandish ones.
With the UK government basically acquiring the rights to produce the EA266 and related derivatives at a discounted price from Volkswagen in order to replace its own aging model lineup at the lower-end of the range as a sort of make-work scheme to keep the British unions sated.
Given HMG involved, that isn't a bad idea; as noted, I'd leave it to private business. That said, a private deal between *VW & Austin, or Datsun, to build a "microcar", wouldn't seem completely crazy--especially given *VW is getting a piece of the action, without bearing the full cost.
[Type 3] was apparently conceived with a longer wheelbase during development before sharing the Beetle wheelbase
I've never heard that before.
The solution IMO would be for the Beetle and EA97 to be twinned in terms of platform yet both soon featuring the Type 3 pancake engine (in 1.1-1.6-litre displacements), whilst being differentiated in terms of bodystyle with the Beetle being a 3/5-door hatchback and the EA97 being a 2/4-door saloon. [/quote]
TTL, if the *Type 1 was a bit longer-WB (& with a 4dr almost from the start, that would be sensible), the Notch would be, too; I imagine them on a common pan. (TTL, it wouldn't still be Type 3, tho.) I'm hoping to avoid more bodystyles & stampings, to keep production cost down, &, in essence, keep OTL's VW "style" as long as I can: that is, one model, styling not radically changed, for decades.
By the time a *Type 3 comes along, tho, it might end up being on a *Golf platform anyhow--or might just never happen at all.
(TBH, I'd sooner have a watercooled *Type 3 than the Rabbit, & leave the *Rabbit for an Omni-fighter.)
Had the following link in mind regarding the rally car reference to a 911-engined Type Four, though it seems a 90 hp 2-litre 4-cylinder Type 4 variant was considered.
I do like the EA41 & Porsche 555.
That said, have I been crossing myself up, calling the Bus a Type 4?
No, I'd give it the flat 6 as an option, & IMO, the OTL Type 4s never happen. (I'm also thinking in somewhat different Type numbers than OTL...) There wouldn't be any cross-design with my Porsche analog, tho there would be idea transfer, since (at first, anyhow) it would be little more than a rebodied Type 1; as time went on, the goals would diverge too much--& that company's founder wouldn't be quite so prolific.
Come to think of it, TTL, if Porsche himself conceived the *EA57, it might end up being produced somewhere domestically, like Turkey or Egypt...