Volkswagen 1600 1961–1973 car dimensions: 4225 mm long, 1605 mm wide and 1475 mm high. Unladen weight is 920 kg. Braked towing is 650 kg.
The cabin seats five with adjustable front bucket seats and imitation leather upholstery. Instruments include a speedometer, fuel gauge and clock on higher trims, with simple pull-knob controls for lights and wipers. Fresh-air heating with footwell outlets and an optional petrol heater provide warmth. air conditioning was never factory-fitted. No electronic driver aids appear in period specs.
Front luggage space is 6.5 cu ft rising to 7.8 cu ft after the 1970 nose stretch. The rear compartment over the engine holds about 12 cu ft, giving useful dual-boot capacity for a compact fastback. the engine is reached via a floor hatch.
Trailer ratings from period data are 1025 lb unbraked and 1433 lb braked. Payload is listed at 400 kg. The flat engine layout and dual luggage areas suit light family or touring use, though no heavy-duty cooling or reinforced suspension packages are noted for the Fastback.
The cabin seats five adults in deep, well-upholstered adjustable front bucket seats with armchair comfort and a wide, cushioned rear bench. Fresh-air heating reaches multiple outlets in the footwells and windshield, with an optional auxiliary gas heater for quicker warm-up. Padded dash, pivoting padded sun visors, armrests, grab handles and assist straps add to the feel. Cloth or leatherette trim, carpeting on higher grades, and two luggage areas make it practical day to day.
Runs on regular petrol. claimed around 34 mpg
Air-cooled engine needs no antifreeze
Oil change every 5,000 km. chassis grease every 10,000 km
Front disc brakes standard from introduction
Dual-circuit brakes and safety steering column from 1967
Seat-belt mounting points front and rear
Fuel economy sits around the mid-30s mpg on regular petrol according to period figures. The air-cooled flat-four never needs antifreeze and seldom needs oil top-ups between changes. Tank capacity is about 40 litres with a reserve warning.
Servicing follows familiar Volkswagen patterns. Engine oil capacity is roughly 2.5 litres and changes come every 5,000 km. Gearbox oil lasts far longer. Grease points need attention every 10,000 km. The pancake engine sits low and is reached through a rear panel. many parts interchange with other air-cooled models.
Safety kit includes standard front discs from the TL’s 1965 launch, dual-circuit hydraulics and a collapsible steering column from 1967, a padded dash, deep-dish wheel, recessed door handles, automatic front-seat back locks, and four seat-belt anchor points. Four-way hazard flashers arrived later. No official crash-test stars appear in the record.
Living with the car means watching rust in sills, wings, jack points and the spare-wheel well. Keep the air-cooled engine properly tuned and the heating ducts clear. Parts remain widely available and the mechanical layout stays simple for home maintenance.
Length 4225 mm, Width 1605 mm, Height 1475 mm, Wheelbase 2400 mm (1600 1961–1973)
Sources: manufacturer data, motor-car.net.