Classic of the month
VolkswageN K70
Volkswagen K70 will be the star of our ZeitHaus museum in January – an especially innovative model from 1970 turning 55 this year.
The K70 ushered the beginning of Volkswagen’s transition from air-cooled rear-engined models to water-cooled front-wheel drive. This was the first such Volkswagen and was seen as a paragon of space efficiency and all-round visibility in the 1970s. Mounted above the front axle, the longitudinal engine was tilted 15° to the right; the car was also noted for its smooth ride thanks to its effective traction and direct steering.
Photo: Kai Schelenz
Photo: Kai Schelenz
Designed by Claus Luthe
The merger between Volkswagen, NSU, and Auto Union into Audi-NSU Auto Union AG put Volkswagen in a position to take on and develop the K70 as a Volkswagen. The car body had previously been designed with the iconic silhouette of the early 1970s by the chief designer at NSU, Claus Luthe, directed by the NSU head of development Ewald Praxl. Production at Volkswagen started in 1970 at the Salzgitter plant built specifically for this automobile.
A total of 211,127 K70s were built between 1970 and 1974. The K70 was discontinued in 1974, to be succeeded by the legendary Passat.
The model on presentation at the ZeitHaus museum bears the chassis No. 1 from 1970; the car has a 1,605 cc inline four engine delivering 55 kW (75 hp) powering it to a top speed of 148 km/h. The K70 was available new at an ex-showroom price of 9,450 DM.
Info
The cross-brand collection of the Autostadt's Zeithaus automobile museum comprises more than 270 vehicles from over 60 manufacturers.
A visit to the Zeithaus Museum is possible daily with a valid admission ticket during Autostadt opening hours.