Freelander 1.8 stalls from start,then runs fine

How is your air filter element?
Dirty fuel will do the same.
Check those and if is ok test spark plug leads and coil.
Stop using ethanol if you are.

i have owned three.. worked on heaps

probably your plug leads in wrong order

1972 VW 1600 cc is: 1 - 4 - 3 - 2

the plug leads can break or pull off at plug ends or breakdown internally during a plug change

if not ,,a coil ,,,or points gap ,or dissy cap .dissy .carbon tip or leads arcing

very rarely any fuel problems
a good jetted webber carby fixes that

if no better ......motor may have burnt a valve

free bee link for others if needed pdf 323 pages
Beetle - Haynes Manual - 1954-1979 54mb - Proventheory

www.proventheory.net/downloads/Beetle&Karmann.pdf

crank/cam sensor

check for loose, cracked or disconnected vacuumn lines or connectors that are missing a vacunmn line.

alot of the 4 cyl vehicles spark plug leads are joined to distributor cap and come as complete assembly leads and cap.the new leads have cylinder numers on them and/or on dissy cap.
twist and pull to remove leads out of haed(spark plugs),remove 3 screws from dissy cap and replace.

try replacing the throttle position sensor

Is petrol cap blocked

check your vac. lines if there is a crack or one of them is off it will **** way to much air and there will be missing and no power. start by looking at the lines and listening for air.

First change fuel filter and then change air filter. A turbo requires good air flow to spool-up correctly

If I am right, the firing order is,1-3-4-2. With the dissy cap removed, have someone turn the engine over so you can see which way the rotor arm goes. Set the engine to TDC and the rotor arm should point to the No1 cylinder at the start of the firing order. If it rotor points away from the No 1 cylinder then slacken the dissy housing and move the diddy until the rotor ppoints to the No1 cylinder. Now pHT lead from the No1 spark plug to the No 1 possition on the dissy cap. The next lead goes on the next available possition on the dissy cap in the way of the rotation of the rotor then to the No3 spark plug carry on the same with 2 and 4 and that should solve your problem unless you have a different firing order.