Fewer cars in the history of the world are more recognized than the Volkswagen T1. The two-tone paint, the split front window and its reputation as a reliable and well-engineered vehicle has led to it not just being a van, but a piece of automotive legend, whose legacy has continued to this day and will continue long into the future. But how did a humble van from a recovering Volkswagen become one of the greatest vehicles in the history of the automobile?
The official designation of the model is the Volkswagen Type 2 (T1). However, the first generation was endearingly named the “microbus”, due to its bus-like shape but a far more compact size. The origins of the car can be traced back to a Dutch Volkswagen importer, who visited Wolfsburg in 1946 to buy some Type 1s (better known as the Beetle). However, he managed to glance upon a Plattenwagen, a sort of improvised pickup truck made from the type 1. He saw a market for these back home in the Netherlands, so he went home and came back a few months later with a design, which he asked then to create, resulting in a 25hp van, which instantly sold out in the Netherlands, prompting an increase in production of the type 2, and it being exported around the world.
Features on the car such as the split windscreen are not just design elements. Splitting the front windscreen allowed the engineers to fit the ‘windows’ at a steeper angle, allowing for lower drag and a better driving experience. The T1 could be built in many different forms, including a van, a bus and a pickup truck. Although it is the bus that is most famous, the van actually sold better, being nicknamed the ‘Transporter’, which is now the name of a van in Volkswagen’s lineup, to pay homage to the T1. That’s not all. The Volkswagen California is heavily inspired by the Vw Campervan, an RV version of the T1 bus.
The T1 was produced from 1950 to 1967, after which it was replaced by the T2, which sold well, but failed to capture the imagination like the T1 did. The T1 today is one of the most popular cars to restore, due to the fact that the engineering is simple and many donor vehicles are available (Non-runners that can be used for parts).
So, why did the T1 become embedded into car history, so much so that people still want these today? The van was not powerful, it wasn’t great to drive or fuel efficient. But it was useful. It spawned so many different variants, that you could find a T1 for your specific purpose. In recent times, people have decided to look back at the ‘good old days’ and nothing is ‘better’ in the good old days than a T1. This has led to an increase in values for restored cars, leading to an entire industry being created in restoring these cars. The T1 may not be a Lamborghini Miura, but it definitely brings a smile to people’s faces in the same way.
Comments