Volkswagen Type 2

The Type 2 is the second model of the German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen and is a van based on their first model, the VW Beetle, aka Type 1.

Names and Nicknames

Similar to the VW Beetle also the Type 2 has gotten many different names from the people, most popular at least in Germany are VW-Bus and Bulli (or Bully).

Interestingly also the official model names Transporter and Kombi have been incorporated into the German language and have the meaning of delivery van and station wagon.

Variants

The Type 2 was available as

• delivery van without side windows and only front seats (VW Transporter),
• delivery van with heightened root (since second generation),
• van with side windows (VW Kombi)
• van with limousine like interior ((called VW Caravelle and VW Multivan since 3rd generation)
• van with skylight windows and sunroof (VW Samba, first generation only)
• flatbed truck
• flatbed truck double cabin
• low flatbed truck
• camping van (with Westfalia root and interior)

History

The idea for that van is said to come from the Dutch Volkswagen importer Ben Pon, who drew a first sketch of the van. The not very aerodynamic body of the first prototypes was heavily optimized at wind tunnel of the Technical University of Braunschweig. Three years after that sketch the first production model left the factory at Wolfsburg.

In comparision to the VW Beetle, which evolved nearly constantly over the time, the Type 2 knows several generations, which are nowerdays called T1 to T5, although only generations T1 to T3 were true Type 2 (see beyond for details).

T1

The first generation with the split front window was build from March, 8th 1950 until 1967. From 1950 to 1956 the T1 was build in Wolfsburg, since 1956 it was build in the factory at Hannover. Like the Beetle, it had an air-cooled four-[[cylinder|]] boxer engine (see also flat-4) in the rear.

The early versions of the T1 until 1955 were often called T1a while the later versions (with slightly modified body and technic) were called T1b.

T2

From 1967 to 1996 and from 1997 until now the second generation of the Type 2 is build. It was build in Germany until 1979, with heavier changes in 1972. Models before 1971 are often called T2a, while models after 1972 are called T2b. Models from 1971 and 1972 don't fit into this categorisation since the changes where not made all at once but slightly shifted in time.

The T2 had no more a split front window and was slighly larger than it's predecessor although the side doors are said interchangeable between T1 and T2.

The T2b had in comparision to the T2a a bigger engine room to fit engines from the VW Type 4 (VW 411, 412), the front turn indicators raised, bigger rear lights, more secure and bigger bumpers in box stile.

First prototypes of Type 2 vans with 4-wheel-drive were build.

There also exists several later models, usually called T2c with slighty heightened root (about 10cm), which where build for south and central america. The T2c was build in Mexico until 1991 with air-cooled and from 1991 until 1996 with water-cooled engines. Since 1997 the T2c is build in Brazil with air-cooled engines for the brazilian and with water-cooled engine for mexican market.

T3

The T3 was build from 1979 to 1990 the third generation of the Type 2. Until 1982 the T3 was available with the same air-cooled engines as the T2. Since 1981 water-cooled diesel engines and since 1982 water-cooled otto engines were available. From 1985 on there was also the T3 syncro available, the first serial Type 2 with 4-wheel-drive.

Until 2003 the T3 was build with slightly modified body (bigger windows, different ventilation, less room above the engine), injection engines and an equipment similar to the Multivan versions as VW Microbus in South Africa.

T4

The T4 was first VW Transporter with no more rear engine, no more boxer engine, no more air-cooled at all and no more rear wheel drive and therefore the first "generation" of the Type 2, which was no more a "Type 2". It was build from 1990 until 2003 and the people still call it VW-Bus, but nearly no one calls a T4 a Bulli.

See VW Caravelle for details on the T4.

T5

Since 2003 the fifth generation of the is sold.

Weblinks

• T2 IG (T2 Community of Interest, German text only)
• VW Bus Museum Salzgitter (German text only)