The Volkswagen aircooled engine is an aircooled, gasolinefuelled, boxer engine with four horizontally opposed castiron cylinders, cast aluminum alloy cylinder heads and pistons, magnesiumalloy crankcase, and forged steel crankshaft and connecting rods.

There are two distinct families/variations of the aircooled engine namely Type 1 and Type 4. The Type 3 engine is a variation of the Type 1 engine with pancake cooling arrangement.

Variations of the engine were produced by Volkswagen plants worldwide from 1936 until 2006 for use in Volkswagen's own vehicles, notably the Type 1 (Beetle), Type 2 (bus, transporter), Type 3, and Type 4. Additionally, the engines were widely used in industrial, light aircraft and kit car applications.

#vintagecars #volkswagen #classiccars