80 years of the VW transporter

[stitchdup]

From a volkswagen factory mule and sketch on napkin we ended up with probably the most worlds most popular recrational vans. The platxenwagen is from online but the others are my pics from the weekend. I included the id buzz as its was a concept for nearly a quarter century for the next generation transporters.

Platzenwagen ( less than 12 believed to still exist)

second generation 1955 transporter. This one was an ambulance originally and now a has a 2.3 so it can overtake on uphills now, lol

type 2 transporter. This was extremely clean and those tyres dont seem to have ever seen dirt or tar. It might have been lifted a couple of inches

t2.5 or 3 transporter. This was watercooled but we also had a rare factory diesel attending but it was gone before i got around with my camera 

t4 transporter. these are starting to get popular now due to the aircooled stuff costing lots now. They were good vans but many were what we call grey imports from outside europe so in effect we have 2 versions where only body panels can be swapped.

t5 transporter. These were very popular vans immediately on release and knocked the ford transit of the top locally. The transit was the van every builder had but when it got smaller the transporters took over. Very popular for modifying and it has 3 dedicated magazines from this shape onwards

t6 Transporter. just a slightly better version of the t5. 

t7 transporter. again just an improved t6. we did have a slightly different hybrid version attending but again it was gone before i got around. The hybrid version was styled halfway between a buzz and transporter but transporter size

Id. buzz. The current ev (pun intended) Theres about 6 of these local but only 2 are buszez, the others are work vans for the windmills. I kinda like the look of these but I've followed the concept since the first new beetle was released. 

[iamsuperdan]

Well, you know how I feel about this post!

 

Here in Canada, we stopped getting VW vans of any description after the T4 generation. Here, the T4 in passenger and camper versions was known as the Eurovan. Cargo was of course the Transporter. 

We have the ID Buzz, but they are insanely expensive at this time. Fully load passenger version only. Would love to see a cargo version, or the shorter wheelbase version, but I don't think that will happen.

 

 

I spent most of the 90s being the detailer / lot attendant at a local VW dealership while going through university. In 1992, we put a Westfalia into demo service, and for $100/wk, staff could rent it. So a buddy and did just that.

 

Anyway, here's my old beast.

1985 Transporter: TDI swap from an '04 Jetta, regeared transmission, South African front end swap, lowered on Eibach springs, Mercedes wheels, Tristar rear windows, interior from a Vanagon. Lots of fun, but the nickel and diming got to be a headache. The engine swap was the easy bit, iot was everything else that started to fail. Electrical gremlins, leaking coolant pipes, suspension failures...everytually got fed up and sold it. Some dude from New Hampshire flew out and drove it back.

And at a local VW show.

[Ace-Garageguy]

I had a decent '62 double-cab pickup, and a very clean '67 Westfalia...both right up there at the top of my "sure wish I had 'em now" list.  

[stitchdup]

I only had a lhd bay window commercial bus converted to a camper with no pop top. Blew engines regularly so we made the panel under the hatch removable and my dad and me could swap the engine in ten mins without a jack. We had many happy holidays in that old wreck but the none better mk2 escort was more fun to drive. If my dad hadn't passed away theres a very strong chance i'd still have it. The recent revell kit is the nearest i have but it has the other front end.

[89AKurt]

I just worked a car show, Sunday was VW Day, half the vehicles were VWs.

I borrowed a Vanagon Westfalia to camp at Moab, Utah.  Had a Jetta.  Parents had Beetles post WW2, this is in southern Utah where you would get arrested for driving here.

So I will have to watch this channel! 😁  I have also built military models, never saw that transporter before.  There is also a big Bus show in Jerome, AZ.

[Ace-Garageguy]

If there was ever a vehicle just begging for a Corvair swap, the old Bug busses and trucks were it.

Why I never did one of my own back then I'll never know, as I had gobs and gobs of Corvair stuff at the same time I owned the double-cab.

[oldcarfan]

In the US around 2007 or so we got a faux transporter. It was a rebadged Chrysler minivan sold as the Volkswagen Routan. I worked for a non-profit organization at the time and the boss was an old hippie so he wanted one for us to use. The local VW dealer gave us a good deal on a new one. It rode nice and seemed quieter than my neighbor's Dodge version. I'd almost like to find one, but I imagine finding body parts for it would be a bear as not a lot were sold. VW hoped to sell 45,000 a year and only sold 57,000 during the whole run.