Air Cooled VW Engine Size Chart(For All Engine Family)

Volkswagen’s classic air‑cooled engines powered some of the most iconic vehicles of the 20th century, including the Beetle, Karmann Ghia, Type 2 Bus, Type 3 Squareback, and Type 4 411/412 series. Their simplicity, reliability, and flat-four boxer design made them favorites among enthusiasts, restorers, and mechanics worldwide.

Below is a comprehensive guide to VW air-cooled engine sizes, organized by engine family. This makes it easy to identify your engine, understand factory displacements, and know the applications for each engine.

Air Cooled VW Engine Size Chart

Type 1 Air‑Cooled VW Engine Sizes (Beetle, Karmann Ghia, Thing, Bus)

Type 1 engines are the classic Beetle engines carried over to many other VW models. They range from small-displacement early units to 1600 cc engines widely used in the 1970s and 1980s.

Engine Code	Displacement (cc)	Power Output (HP)	Years / Vehicle Use
1‑	1131	25	Early Beetles (1945–1955)
2‑4	1192	30	Beetle (1955–1960)
D	1200	34	Beetle (1961–1965)
E	1300	37	Beetle (1965–1969)
F	1300	40	Beetle / Karmann Ghia
AB	1285	44	Beetle / Thing (1970–1973)
AC	1285	40	Beetle low-compression variant
H	1500	44	Beetle / Karmann Ghia (Late 1960s)
L	1500	40	Beetle / Thing
B	1600	47	Beetle (1970)
AD	1600	46	Beetle (1970–1975)
AE	1600	50	Beetle / Karmann Ghia
AF	1600	50	Beetle / Thing
AH	1600	50	Beetle / Karmann Ghia
AJ	1600	50	Beetle / Thing
AS	1600	50	Late Beetle
AK	1600	50	VW Bus / Beetle
ACD	1584	50	Late Beetle (1970s–1980s)
CJ	2000	70	Type 2 Bus (Late 1970s)
AP	1800	68	Type 2 Bus (Mid 1970s)
CA	1700	66	Type 2 Bus / Transporter

Type 2 Upright Bus Engines (Transporter / Kombi)

The VW Bus began with Type 1-derived engines but later used larger Type 4 engines. Common Type 1 upright engines include 1600 cc to 2000 cc variants.

Engine Type	Displacement (cc)	Power Output (HP)	Vehicle Use
Type 1 Upright	1600	46	Bus (1968–1971)
Type 1 Upright	1700	66	Bus (1971–1973)
Type 1 Upright	1800	68	Bus (1973–1975)
Type 1 Upright	2000	70	Bus (1975–1979)
Type 4 2.0L	1971	75	Bus / Vanagon (late Type 2)

Type 3 Engine Sizes (Squareback / Fastback / Notchback)

Type 3 engines were horizontally mounted “pancake” designs, allowing for a lower rear deck while maintaining similar displacement ranges.

Engine Code	Displacement (cc)	Power Output (HP)	Vehicle Use
O	1500	54	Early Type 3 (1961–1965)
K	1500	55	Notchback / Squareback
T	1600	58	Fastback / Squareback
U	1600	60	Later Type 3
PO	1600	61	Fastback / Notchback
TO	1600	62	Type 3 models
UO	1600	61	Type 3 engine upgrade
U5	1600	65	High-performance Type 3

Type 4 Engines (411 / 412 / Porsche 914 / Bus)

The Type 4 engines were the largest air-cooled VW engines, designed for heavier vehicles and higher performance applications.

Displacement	Bore x Stroke (mm)	Power Output (HP)	Vehicle Use
1679 cc	90 x 66	75	VW 411 / 412, early Porsche 914
1795 cc	93 x 66	80	VW Bus, Porsche 914
1800 cc	94 x 66	85	VW Type 4 vehicles
1971 cc	94 x 71	90	VW Bus / Porsche 914

Reference of All Air‑Cooled VW Engine Sizes

Size (L)	cc	Common Applications
1.0 L	985	Very early Beetles
1.1 L	1131	Early Beetles
1.2 L	1192	Beetle (1950s–1960s)
1.3 L	1285	Beetle / Thing / Karmann Ghia
1.5 L	1493	Late Beetle / Type 3
1.6 L	1584	Most Beetle engines (1970s–1980s)
1.7 L	1679	Type 4 411 / 412 / Porsche 914
1.8 L	1795	Type 4 / Bus / 914
2.0 L	1971	Big Type 4 engines, Bus, 914

Why Knowing Your Engine Size Matters

Understanding your air-cooled VW engine size is essential for:

Correct replacement parts
Accurate tuning for performance
Restoring vehicles to factory specifications
Selecting compatible rebuild kits, pistons, and cylinders

FAQs

Which Volkswagen is air-cooled?

Classic Volkswagen models with air-cooled engines include the Beetle, Karmann Ghia, Type 2 Bus (Transporter/Kombi), Type 3 (Squareback, Notchback, Fastback), and Type 4 (411/412). These vehicles use flat-four boxer engines that rely on air flow, rather than a radiator, to regulate engine temperature.

How much horsepower does a VW air-cooled engine have?

VW air-cooled engine horsepower varies by model and year. Early 1.1 L Beetle engines produced around 25 HP, while 1.6 L engines commonly ranged from 46–50 HP. Larger Type 4 engines, such as 1.8 L and 2.0 L units, could produce 75–90 HP.

How many cc is a 40 HP VW engine?

A typical 40 HP VW air-cooled engine has a displacement of about 1300 cc. Variants with slightly different compression ratios or tuning may produce similar power at slightly higher or lower cc.

How to tell the cc of a VW engine?

The easiest way is to check the engine code stamped on the case. Each code corresponds to a specific displacement and application. Alternatively, bore and stroke measurements can be used to calculate cc:

Displacement (cc) = (π / 4) × Bore² × Stroke × Number of Cylinders

Where:

Bore = cylinder diameter in cm
Stroke = piston travel in cm
Number of Cylinders = usually 4 for VW air-cooled engines

Example:
For a 4-cylinder engine with a bore of 8.6 cm and a stroke of 7.1 cm:

Displacement = (3.1416 / 4) × (8.6 × 8.6) × 7.1 × 4 Displacement ≈ 1584 cc

What is a disadvantage of an air-cooled engine?

Air-cooled engines generally run hotter than water-cooled engines, making them more susceptible to overheating in stop-and-go traffic or extreme conditions. They also tend to produce more noise, have less precise temperature control, and may require more frequent maintenance of seals and gaskets.

What’s better, 1.8 T or 2.0 T?

This depends on your needs. A 2.0 T engine typically produces more horsepower and torque, making it better for performance and heavier vehicles. A 1.8 T is often lighter and more fuel-efficient, while still offering strong performance. Vehicle application, tuning potential, and personal preference usually determine which is better.