On 25/07/2011 23:21, Mark wrote:

That it was not officially imported till 1953 and didn't acquire
syncromesh on the top 3 gears until that year.
For 1954 the engine size increased from 1131cc to 1192cc with power
increased from 25 to 30 bhp.
1961 brought the 34 bhp engine, synco on first and more luggage space,
1962 a fuel gauge.
Hydraulic brakes were not fitted until 1964.*
12 volt electrics apparently had to wait for the 1300cc Beetle.

just to set you straight about one thing, Beetles had hydraulic brakes from
1950.

You sure about that. Up thread there is a reference to cable braked
Beetles and the article I cited certainly states that Beetles didn't
have hydraulic brakes until 1964 before muddying the waters with that
reference to 'standard models' without explaining the distinction.

I moved into a shared flat in 1964 and one of my flatmates had a Beetle.
All I can remember from then is that it was very tail happy in the wet.
It couldn't have been completely gutless as he towed a glider trailer
with it.

i had a 1954 Beetle in 1963, if i had to go back to that time again and buy
a 9 year old car with the same amount of money that i had available it would
be another Beetle.
unmercifully threshed (no speed limit on the M1 for another two years) but
totally reliable.

Since the Beetles of that era couldn't reach 70 mph the lack of a
national speed limit is irrelevant.

What were you driving in the early 60s ?

From 1962 - 1939 Rover 12 (IIRC that cost me £14)
1963 - 1955 Vauxhall Cresta
1964 - 1952 Riley 2.5

All would (and regularly did) exceed 70 mph.

--
Roger Chapman