Type cast
Conceived as a utilitarian van, the Volkswagen Type 2 soon expanded into a range of adaptable commercial and private vehicles.
Gentle evolution kept the Type 2 on VW’s sales list for almost three decades, and the model went on to remain in production until 2013.
Made in Germany, Australia, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa, it’s a vehicle that conquered the world in a quiet, efficient manner thanks to its usefulness and character.
Here’s our celebration of the inimitable Volkswagen Type 2 in its air-cooled form, presented in chronological order.
1. 1950 Volkswagen Type 2 Panelvan
The idea for the very first Volkswagen Type 2 is said to have come from the company’s Dutch importer, Ben Pon, who was inspired after seeing simple flat-bed trucks being used in the factory making Beetles.
His sketch helped give rise to the Type 2, which took its name logically from being VW’s second model.
These early split-screen vehicles were retrospectively referred to as the T1 when the Bay Window model arrived as the second-generation (T2) Type 2.
Launched in 1950 as the Panelvan, or Transporter as it was also known, it was based on a much-modified VW Beetle floorpan and made do with a 25bhp, 1131cc, flat-four engine.
Basic to the point of austere, the Panelvan caught on with buyers nonetheless, thanks to its versatility and car-like driving manners.
2. 1950 Volkswagen Type 2 Kombi
Keen to explore options with its new Type 2, Volkswagen introduced the Kombi as a no-frills way to transport people and luggage.
The two rear benches could be removed quickly to turn that space back into a van when needed.
There wasn’t much in terms of trim or concessions to carrying people rather than goods in the Kombi, yet it was quickly taken up as a taxi and minibus.
Mechanically, the Kombi was identical to the Panelvan, which meant a top speed of 50mph, plus it took a leisurely 22.5 secs to go from rest to 40mph.
3. 1950 Volkswagen Type 2 Microbus
If you liked the idea of the practical new Volkswagen but wanted some creature comforts, VW had the answer in the form of the Microbus.
Where the Kombi was simply a Panelvan with removable seats, the Microbus had fixed rear chairs.
The more expensive Microbus also had headlining and vinyl-panelled inner cabin sides to absorb much of the noise from the engine and outside world, making it the first real MPV (multi-purpose vehicle) as we know them today.
As well as this, VW’s Microbus also came with such decadence as chrome trim.
4. 1951 Volkswagen Type 2 Ambulance
From very early in its life, Volkswagen recognised the versatility of the Type 2 and offered a factory-made ambulance conversion.
A key difference for its ambulance conversion was a bottom-hinged rear door that provided a platform to help load a stretcher into the Type 2.
Although this design was not as practical as other vans converted to ambulances, the side door offered easy access, plus the VW’s soft-set suspension delivered superior comfort for medical staff and patients alike.
Most Type 2 ambulances were sold in Germany and Volkswagen continued to offer this conversion with the Bay Window Type 2.
VW also produced a bespoke fire tender and military versions of the Type 2, too.
5. 1951 Volkswagen Type 2 Samba
The most popular of the early, split-screen Volkswagen Type 2s arrived in 1951 with the Sondermodell, better known as the Samba.
It was a more upmarket version of the Microbus, which meant you got sumptuous upholstery, full-length headlining, coat hooks and even chrome rails in the boot.
A further nod to practicality with the Samba was that the seat nearest the opening side doors folded forward for easier access to the rearmost row.
These side doors came with windows to make the interior brighter, plus there were four roof-mounted windows. Indeed, it could have up to 23 windows with room for nine people.
Sambas also came with chromed hub caps, a front VW roundel and a full-width dashboard.
6. 1951 Volkswagen Type 2 Westfalia
A number of companies offered camper-van conversions based on the Volkswagen Type 2, but the best known of them is Westfalia.
The German firm got in early with its first converted Type 2 in 1951 as a one-off commission, which then led to a Type 2 conversion being shown at the 1952 Frankfurt motor show.
Following the success of this limited run of 50 camper vans, Westfalia went on to offer its Camping Box model, which had sold 1000 units by 1958.
That number grew substantially by the early 1970s, when Westfalia was making as many as 30,000 Type 2 campers per year with its trademark, pop-up roof design.
7. 1952 Volkswagen Type 2 Pick-up
Despite the rapid speed of development of the Type 2, Volkswagen did not add the much-asked-for pick-up version until August 1952.
In a country that was rebuilding at pace after the Second World War, a tough pick-up variant of the Type 2 was in demand, but VW waited to do things properly rather than convert the Panelvan.
As a result, its Type 2 Pick-up was a carefully thought out utility vehicle with a bespoke roof panel and cab, as well as a repositioned and reshaped fuel tank to allow for a completely flat load bed.
Other changes necessitated by the load bed were moving the spare wheel to behind the passenger seat in the cab, and adding cooling vents behind the rear wheelarches for the engine.
Folding sides made VW’s Pick-up extremely versatile and helped secure loads, and it proved a huge hit with buyers.
8. 1954 Type 2 Klv-20 rail bus
It might look like a Type 2 has become stuck on railway tracks, but Volkswagen’s Klv-20 was a conversion to run on Germany’s rail network as a compact service vehicle.
The Type 2 body is unchanged on the outside, but underneath there’s a separate chassis, steel wheels to run on the rails, and a hydraulic lift that allows a single person to raise and turn the VW through 180 degrees so it can travel in the opposite direction.
Power for the Klv-20 came from a 28bhp VW industrial engine and 30 were made by two companies: Martin Beilhack and Waggon & Maschinenbau GmbH. They remained in service until the 1970s.
9. 1954 Volkswagen Type 2 RHD
Volkswagen introduced right-hand drive for the Type 2 in 1954, opening up a number of important markets around the world.
It went on to produce the Type 2 locally in Australia from CKD (completely knocked down) kits from 1955 at its Clayton factory in Melbourne, alongside Beetles.
Following the addition of right-hand drive, Volkswagen gently updated the Type 2 in 1955, and these models can be identified by the peak above the windscreen that helped with improved cabin ventilation.
The 1.1-litre motor had been replaced by a larger 1.2-litre engine in 1953, and this was in turn changed for a more powerful 1.2-litre unit in 1959.
10. 1958 Volkswagen Type 2 Double Cab
German coachbuilder Binz had offered its own Double Cab conversion of the Volkswagen Type 2 since 1955, with estimates of between 250 and 550 built.
However, VW finally sold a factory Double Cab from 1958 – and it went on to become a staple of the range throughout the Type 2’s life.
To create sufficient space in the cab for rear-seat passengers, the load bed was 85cm (33½in) shorter than the standard Pick-up.
The three-person rear bench seat was removable, because Volkswagen promoted the space as secure storage in addition to the exterior load bed.
11. 1961 Volkswagen Type 2 High Roof
Volkswagen rounded out its Type 2 range when it added the High Roof version of the Panelvan in 1961.
It came with twin side doors to access the load area, which now boasted a height of 5ft 5in (1651mm), though it looked like more from the outside due to the Type 2’s styling.
VW claimed adults could stand upright in the back of the High Roof, which was optimistic.
However, this van found an unusual niche in Germany’s fashion trade where racks of clothes could be transported without having to remove the items from the clothing rail.
12. 1967 Volkswagen Type 2 Bay Window
Seventeen years after it was introduced, the Volkswagen Type 2 underwent its biggest change when the split-window windscreen gave way to the new Bay Window model, often referred to as the T2.
While some felt the new single-piece windscreen was not as good looking, there was no denying the Bay Window Type 2 was more practical.
This was achieved by making this new Type 2 5½in (140mm) longer, while the doors were also stretched to make entry and exit easier.
All of the usual body options were on offer from the start of Bay Window production, and the engine was enlarged to 1584cc with 47bhp for improved acceleration, cruising and fuel economy.
13. 1972 Volkswagen Type 2 Elektro Transporter
Volkswagen joined the growing number of car makers looking to develop an electric model when it revealed the Elektro Transporter in 1972.
Designed by Dr Adolf Kalberlah, it used a tray of batteries set under the central floor and they could be removed as a unit.
Charging was by a cable port mounted to the rear body and took 10 hours to fully charge.
Once brimmed with electricity, the Elektro Transporter could cover 43.5 miles and reach a maximum speed of 43.5mph, a consequence of the batteries and rear-mounted motor weighing 850kg (1874lb) on top of the weight of the Type 2.
In all, 70 prototypes were built and a further 20 sold to the public, and there was a plan to offer the Elektro as a New York taxi that didn’t come to fruition.
14. 1973 Volkswagen Type 2 – bigger engines
The 1.8-litre engine that arrived in 1973 to replace the 1.7-litre unit followed the now familiar Volkswagen route of using the same design, but larger cylinder bores.
An increase in bore size from 90mm to 93mm gave a capacity of 1795cc, with a slight increase in power to 67bhp.
If that didn’t sound like much, there was better news for the 1.8’s torque, which swelled to 92lb ft from the 1.7’s 81lb ft.
US-bound Type 2 VWs gained fuel injection and Californian examples also had a catalytic converter to address exhaust emissions.
The ultimate incarnation of the Type 2 pitched up in 1975, when Volkswagen repurposed the 1970cc engine from the 912 sports car into the Transporter.
It offered 70bhp and the prospect of a 100mph top speed to make it much more able to deal with autobahn and motorway driving.
15. 1978 Volkswagen Type 2 Syncro
The Volkswagen Type 2 was popular in far-flung parts of the world and many owners used them on expeditions, but there had not been a four-wheel-drive model.
Volkswagen tested five prototype Type 2 Syncros and the part-time, four-wheel-drive system gave them superb, go-anywhere ability.
However, the Type 2’s time being built in Germany was drawing to a close and production ended there in 1979 after 2.4 million had been produced at that point.
Syncro four-wheel drive would resurface in the T3, or Type 25 as it was known to some, and went on sale in 1985.
16. 2013 Volkswagen Type 2 Kombi
Production of the Type 2 ceased for Volkswagen in Germany in 1979, but it continued to be built in both Brazil and Mexico.
Its simplicity, rugged mechanical parts and practicality made it popular as a low-cost bus to get people around these countries.
In Mexico, the Type 2 Kombi started production at VW’s Puebla factory in 1970 and lasted until the end of 2001.
Brazilian manufacture of the Type 2 kept going even longer, running from 1957 all the way to December 2013.
The final 600 VW Type 2 Kombis made in Brazil came with a commemorative plaque and certificate, and all were finished in blue and white paint with Atlanta Blue upholstery – as pictured above, which accounts for this model’s seemingly out-of-sequence placement in this article.
17. 1979 Volkswagen T3
The third generation of the Volkswagen Type 2 is variously known as the T25, T3 or Vanagon, depending on where you are in the world.
One change was the angular styling that came with a longer body than the previous Bay Window model, which meant this new Type 2 provided increased cabin space for people – or loads if you opted for a commercial variant.
To begin with, the engines were air-cooled, flat-four units, but in 1983 they were dropped in favour of water-cooled, 1.9- and 2.1-litre ‘boxer’ engines. There were also 1.6- and 1.7-litre diesel engines, if you weren’t in a hurry to go anywhere.
All the usual body styles were offered and the T3 was also available with Syncro four-wheel drive from 1985.
18. 1990 Volkswagen T4
Forty years after the first Type 2 went on sale, Volkswagen finally abandoned its adherence to the rear-engined, flat-four layout with the T4.
The T4 ushered in a front-engined, front-wheel-drive design and, if anyone objected, it was hard to notice because VW produced around 1.9 million of them during a 14-year production run.
Customers could choose from a host of body styles, from basic van to kitted-out camper, and there were standard- and long-wheelbase versions.
A longer front-end style was added in 1996 to accommodate the VR6 engine that became an option that year with 138bhp, and was later improved to 201bhp in 2000.
19. 2003 Volkswagen T5
Running all the way from 2003 until 2015, the Volkswagen T5 descendant of the Type 2 was an evolution of the previous T4.
Longer, wider, taller and with an extended wheelbase, the T5 provided increased space for people and cargo, while continuing to offer a more car-like driving experience than most of its van rivals.
As before, VW sold it in a huge selection of body styles, including a choice of the basic Kombi minibus and Multivan (also called Caravelle in some markets) as a luxury people carrier.
Engine options ranged from VW’s humble 1.9-litre turbodiesel all the way to the punchy 3.2-litre VR6 petrol, although most T5 buyers opted for a diesel.
20. 2015 Volkswagen T6
Volkswagen launched its new T6 in 2015 as the spiritual successor to the Type 2 and there were no great surprises in the way it followed the same formula as its immediate predecessors.
Using an updated version of the T5’s platform, the T6 gained a fresh look, which was further updated in early 2019, and a broad range of body styles was on offer from the beginning.
Engine choice was exclusively turbodiesel until 2020, when VW introduced its first-ever electric van, the ABT e-Transporter with a range of up to 83 miles on a full charge.
21. 2021 Volkswagen T7
With the demand for greater electrification of powertrains, Volkswagen added the T7 Multivan to its line of Type 2 descendants.
Using the marque’s MQB Evo platform, this VW is available with a selection of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid power.
The Multivan is solely offered as a passenger vehicle, while commercial customers can now pick from VW’s Transporter range that is largely based on the latest Ford Transit.
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