model year 1974

Model Year 1974 "JEANS" (special edition S761)

Jeans beetle is presented to the public in September 1973, but the first models leave the factory in August. It's officially designated by the factory as "S761 Jeans" ( S for Sondermodelle, meaning special model or, more precisely special edition) but will be referenced in the VW lists as the "Jeans Bug". It's constructed on the model 111 and 112 of the model year 1974 (111: Type 1 - model 1200/1200 L - left-hand driving; 112: Type 1 - model 1200/1200 L - right-hand driving). Jeans will receive the color "Tunis Gelb" and the elements usually chromium-plated on the basic beetle, will be painted here in black. A black stripe is affixed on the flanks of the car with Jeans logo. Another logo is on the engine hood.

Bodywork :
The S761 edition will only be proposed in one color.

VW paint code : U3 (early production) / L16M Tunis Gelb
VW paint code : E9 / L16M Tunis Gelb

Front and rear bumpers, headlights trim, bonnet, boot and door lock, front blinkers, external mirror, exhaust tailpipes and the rear hood lock are painted in black. The trim strips and window frame are elements in anodized black aluminium. Note that running board don't have trim strips, that the bumpers are underlined with a silver stripe and the lock of the rear hood is a push button.

Interior :

Seats covered with blue jeans cloth with yellow sewings. Doors panels are also in blue color. Grey carpet with 4 rubber floor mates. At the roof: 2 white sunvisors and the headliner is a short model. it is also in white color.

Equipments:

The S761 edition received various equipments. Equipments are: 12 volts system, Lemmerz "GT" sports wheels, passenger sun visor, fuel gauge in the speedometer, "sport" gear lever, reverse light and the Blaupunkt "Wolfsburg" radio.


Blaupunkt "Wolfsburg" radio	"sport" gear lever

We can note some differences of equipment according to the legislation of the countries of delivery.


Head restraints M227	turn signal with side marker window on the housing M034 (Italy)	side mounted flashing indicator M046 (Denmark)

Excerpt of a birth certificate delivered by VW for a S761 Jeans beetle from October 73, delivery in France.

M040: fuel gauge in the speedometer
M095: "Wolfsburg" radio
M173: 155 SR 15 radial tyres
M282: passenger sun visor
M610: 12 volts system
M976: Lemmerz GT sports wheels 4½J X 15
S761: Special Edition Jeans.

Wheels:

4½J X 15 Lemmerz "GT" wheels.

Model 1974 "JEANS 74" (special edition S714 and S716)

Further versions were lauched in 1974: the "S714 Jeans 74" (model 111) is destined to the german market and the "S716 Jeans 74", destined to the export (on models 111 and 112). Few differences between these new editions and the S761 edition. We can note the introduction of new color/uphostery combinations and some equipments, as the wheels, heated rear window or gear lever.

Bodywork :
3 colors for the second production:


VW paint code: H7 / L32K Phœnix Rot	VW paint code: D8 / L20A Marino Gelb	VW paint code: D4 / L11C Brillant Gelb

Interior:

On the S714/S716 model, colors of the upholstery are associated to the different bodywork colors:

Jeans S714/S716 Phoenix Rot L32K: Black jeans cloth with orange sewings. Black door panel with pocket. Grey carpet with 4 rubber floor mates. At the roof: 2 white sunvisors and the headliner is a short model. it is also in white color.

Jeans S714/S716 Marino Gelb L20A: Blue jeans cloth with yellow sewings. Blue door panel with pocket. Grey carpet with 4 rubber floor mates. At the roof: 2 white sunvisors and the headliner is a short model. it is also in white color.

Jeans S714/S716 Brillant Gelb L11C: Green jeans cloth with yellow sewings. Green door panel with pocket. Grey carpet with 4 rubber floor mates. At the roof: 2 white sunvisors and the headliner is a short model. it is also in white color.


The padded dashboard (M228 option) and the seats with integrated headrest (M227 option) equip the S714 Jeans beetle (German market).

Equipments:

S714 et S716 Jeans were equipped with heated rear window whose switch is located under the control panel, above the carry-fuse. They also received H4 Halogen headlights. Inside, the speed gear lever receives a golf ball in manner of pommel and the doors panels have pocket. Rear view mirror with day/night position (M206 option).
As on the Jeans S761, We can note some differences of equipment according to the countries of delivery.

Excerpt of a birth certificate delivered by VW for a S716 Jeans beetle from february 74, delivery in Belgium.

M040: fuel gauge in the speedometer
M102: heated rear window
M167: passenger handful with coat hooks
M206: rear view mirror, inner, anti-dazzle.
M227: Seats with integrated headrest
M248: Ignition starter switch without steering lock
M282: passenger sun visor
M610: 12 volts system
M716: Special edition Jeans 74

Wheels:

4½J X 15 Lemmerz "GT" wheels for the German market Jeans beetle (S714 edition)

Lemmerz wheel (4½J X 15), named commonly "Champions", that equip the S716 edition. (export)

some rims didn't have the center painted in black.

Mechanical : identical on the S761, S714 and S716 models.

Chassis:

Front axle with torsion bars.

Brakes: Dual-circuit brake, 4 drums.

wheelbase: 2400 mm.

Engine: 1200 / identification letter: D

Bore (mm): 77
Stroke (mm): 64
Effective capacity (cm3): 1192
Compression ratio: 7,0
Maximum power: 34 hp at 3600 rpm
Maximum torque: 84 Nm at 2000 rp
Electricity: 12 volts system, with alternator.

Identify a Jeans

Here are some information to recognize a Jeans beetle.

the chassis number is near the battery.

For the S761, S714 and S716 edition, the chassis number must start by 114 (4 for model year 1974), followed by 7 digits.

The production plate is located on the front apron, near the bonnet lock. It gives interesting information: the color and date of production of the beetle. For the date, you will find all the information here: production plates decoder of SE Beetles website.
The characters, placed vertically, indicate the color code.

The U3 code is used on the very early Jeans beetles L16M Tunisgelb built in August 1973 (S761 edition).

The E9 code indicates the color L16M Tunisgelb of the S761 edition.

The H7 code indicates the color L32K Phoenixrot of the S714 / S716 editions.

The D8 code indicates the color L20A Marinogelb of the S714 / S716 editions.

The D4 code indicates the color L11C Brillantgelb of the S714 / S716 editions.

Very interesting element, this card giving details of the car, like options (M equipments also called M-codes). this card is sometimes present with the documents of the beetle, kept by its former owners.

On the first line, the chassis number, engine number, and an unidentified number.

On the second line, the equipments (options) present on the beetle. They are defined by the M-Codes.

- A05	I didn't find the significance of this code.
- 040	M040 Speedometer with fuel gauge.
- 095	M095 Radio "Wolfsburg".
- 173	M173 155-SR-15 radial tyres.
- 282	M282 Passenger sunvisor.
- 610	M610 12 volts equipments.
- 616	M616 Reverse lights in rear light.
- 761	M761 Special edition S761 Jeans.
- 976	M976 Lemmerz "GT" sports style wheels.
On the third line, different infos as the model of the beetle
111 011	111 left hand drive, 011: 1200 engine
E9 E9 30	E9 color L16M Tunis Yellow, 30 code for the upholstey in blue jeans fabrics.
995	importer number.

On the card below, there is another color code (U3). This code is used on the very early Jeans production in August 1973.

The label below is sometimes still present in the beetle, near to the chassis numbers, under the rear seat.

There is some information, such as the color / upholstery combination (E9 E9 30 = L16M color / blue jeans fabrics), or code 761 (special Jeans S761 series).

Below, a slightly different label, but where we find the same information (D8 D8 30 = L20A color / blue jeans fabrics) and the code 716 (special edition Jeans S716)

Brochures: (S761)

Brochure for 1974 jeans. Measurements: 92 x cm 46 cm (in English, 1973.)
the other face of the prospectus is dedicated to the 1303 "Big"

Brochures: (S716)

Launch of the second edition of Jeans beetles (S716 export). This brochure indicates the new available colors, the Phoenix Red model with black interior and the Marino Yellow model with blue interior (Belgium, March 1974)

Ads: