First it became a necessity, then we fell in love with its cuteness and the cheap transport it offered. In the end we passed it on to the wealthy hipsters. The VW Type 2 has travelled a long way in its 70 year history.
Like many other iconic vehicles, the VW Type 2 had a humble “working class” beginning – based on the practical Type 1 (also known as the VW Beetle), the Type 2 was created to help Germany after World War II to recover and give foreign companies a compact transport vehicle to carry goods or people around. The creation of the Type 2 is attributed to a Dutch Volkswagen importer, Ben Pon, who saw a niche for a small bus and sent the idea to VW. Pon also later earned a huge fortune by exporting VW buses to the United States.
Right from the start of production in late 1949, the Type 2 was offered in several configurations, giving the choice between seats for passengers or a cargo compartment. Depending on the purpose and the market, the VW Type 2 was given several names: Combi, Transporter, Bus, Camper or Kleinbus. The idea of a van proved to be a success and the VW Type 2 became one of the pioneers in this market segment along with the French Citroen HY. Realizing the potential of such a vehicle, manufacturers from around the world naturally followed suit.
The original Type 2 prototypes were terribly non-aerodynamic, so wind tunnel testing was necessary. Along with other improvements, the engineers decided to divide the windshield into two, giving it a light V-shape. As a result, the van had better aerodynamics than the Beetle it was based on, and fans called this first model series of the bus “Splitty” after the iconic windshield. The improved aerodynamics helped the VW Type 2 maintain a decent speed on the highway, and this was a necessity, given that the van was initially equipped with the same 24 hp boxer engine which was in the lighter Beetle.
But that was only the beginning. The many and varied uses to which this VW could be put soon became apparent. German company Westfalia soon used the practicalities of the VW Bus to transform it into a compact caravan with amenities such as beds, stove, table and air conditioning. Some came with a pop-up top, giving the vehicle extra space and functionality. Thanks to clever design solutions, it was more compact than other motorhomes or trailers, giving users greater freedom to move around while retaining comfort. Later, several companies emerged with their own versions of Type 2-based caravans, but Westfalia was the best established and their vehicles were sold through Volkswagen dealers.
The Volkswagen Type 2’s identity was constantly reinvented and took a new turn in the 1960s as the hippie movement caught wind in its sails. The Type 2, along with the Beetle, was the vehicle of choice for hippies due to its low prices, high availability and cute looks. The huge frontal VW emblem could easily be transformed into a peace symbol, and the van was then used to transport hippies to various anti-war protests. This newfound persona of the humble van became etched into pop culture with musicians embracing the Type 2 as a hippie vehicle. Bob Dylan’s album “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan” featured a VW Bus on the cover, while The Grateful Dead was famously followed by a Type 2 convoy while touring. Over time, the VW Type 2 became synonymous with the hippie culture and it came to play that role in numerous pop culture appearances, including in movies, TV series and music.
An updated version of the Type 2 was introduced in 1967 and it is also known as T2 (the first version is also known as the T1). The most distinctive feature of the newer model’s exterior is a single windshield, which some call the “Bay window”, which is why this version is often referred to as the “Bay”. Among other upgrades, the newer model received a more powerful 47 hp engine. Later, engines up to 2 litres were introduced, increasing the power to 70 hp.
This Type 2 model series survived for a surprisingly long time, being built in South and Central America through the 90’s, with the last model rolling off the production line in Brazil at the end of December 2013. The reason for its almost endless popularity was, once again, the unmatched reliability of the practical – and now iconic van – as well as the low price. There was simply no cheaper way to carry up to a ton of payload without it getting really troublesome.
Strict emissions regulations caused VW to adapt a water-cooled engine to the T2 around the turn of the century, depriving it of its distinctive air-cooled sound. These models are easily recognizable with a grille in front, used to suck air into the radiator.
The VW Kombi, as it was called in Brazil, sold well in 2013, but it was too expensive to adapt it to the stricter safety requirements announced in 2014.
While Americans were crazy about the Type 2’s beautiful looks in the 1960s, and the decades that followed, the van continued to prove itself as a diligent workhorse around the globe. It was produced in Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and Australia during its lifetime. It left the factories as a van, passenger car, with dual and single cab, and was modified to suit any purpose. Some Type 2s were transformed into fire trucks. That was the reason for its popularity: a commercial vehicle that made sense in everyday life – it was cheap, spacious, and easy to maintain with parts that could be easily adapted from other cars in the VW line-up.
In Denmark we have always called the Type 2 the Volkswagen Bread Van – probably because of the design’s similarities with a pack of typical danish rye bread. It exists in the fond memories of everyone’s childhood and most people can probably tell one or more anecdotes in which the beloved van appears. Funnily enough, the hefty price rises that the Type 2 is experiencing in the used market are helping to create a kind of fatigue for the model for many classic enthusiasts. Now it has become more of a toy for wealthy doctors and lawyers with hipster mentality and thus come a long way from the image of faithful workhorse and cool hippie transport that made it so famous.
