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T2 VW van
Pon’s idea captured the attention of the Volkswagen chief executive Heinz Nordoff, in 1948. The following year, the VW van was born, released to the world at the Geneva Motor Show. This first VW van was known as a Type 2, the Type 1 being the original Beetle. The V found on the front of the very early split screen vans was a simple way to improve aerodynamics which actually made it more aerodynamic than the Beetle.
The simplicity and versatility of the VW van allowed it to be produced in many different forms for many different roles, these included milk floats, ambulances, flatbed pick-ups, delivery vans, buses and of course it’s most popular form as a camper van. The Type 2, along with the 1947 Citroën H Van was two of the very first vans in which the driver was seated above the front wheels.
VW Camper van
In 1967, VW Campervans evolved from having a split windscreen design to having a bay window style windscreen in which the front glass was one large curved piece, wind up windows and a top speed of 80mph. But in 1979 all that personality stopped and was replaced by the wedge, the comfy camper became a bungalow on wheels (hope this does not offend any T25 owners). Later improvements included bigger engines (up to 2000cc) and better reliability – at one point VW gave watches away to owners who managed to do 100,000 miles.
VW Campervans have been popular for generations; they were associated with hippies and baby boomers in the 60’s and 70’s and are still popular today especially with the surfing community. Many people do all sorts of modifications such as the fitting of alloy wheels, lowered suspension, tinted windows and wild paint jobs. There were 5 Million of these vehicles made by VW so they must have done something right when they made the VW Van.
http://www.jerseycamperhire.com/history-of-the-vw-camper.php
- delivery van without side windows or rear seats (Panel Van)
- delivery van with raised roof (Highroof Panel Van), or Hochdach
- van with side windows and removable rear seats (Kombi, from German Kombinationskraftwagen (combination vehicle), i.e. both a passenger and a cargo vehicle combined)
- van with more comfortable interior reminiscent of passenger cars (Bus; also called Caravelle since the third generation)
- van with skylight windows and cloth sunroof (Samba-Bus, first generation only; also called Deluxe Microbus)
- flatbed truck (Pick-up), or Single Cab, also available with wider load bed
- flatbed truck, Double Cab, with two rows of seats (Crewcab Pick-up)
- camping van (Westy; with Westfalia roof and interior)
- semi-camping van that can also still be used as a passenger car and transporter, sacrificing some camping comforts (Multivan, available from the third generation on)
T1 history
The first generation of the VW Type 2 with the split front window, called the Microbus or Splittie among modern fans, was produced from March 8th, 1950 through the end of the 1967 model year. From 1950 to 1956, the T1 was built in Wolfsburg; from 1956 it was built at the completely new Transporter factory in Hannover (usually spelled "Hanover" in English). Like the Beetle, the first Transporters had a 1.2 L, 25 hp (19 kW), air-cooled four-cylinder boxer engine mounted in the rear. The 36 hp (22 kW) version became standard in 1955 while an unusual early version of the 40 hp (25 kW) engine debuted exclusively on the Type 2 in 1959. This engine proved to be so uncharacteristically troublesome that Volkswagen recalled all 1959 Transporters and replaced the engines with an updated version of the 40 hp (25 kW) engine. Any 1959 models that retain that early engine today are true survivors. Since the engine was totally discontinued at the outset, no parts were ever made available.The early versions of the T1 until 1955 were often called the T1a or "Barndoor," owing to the enormous rear engine cover, while the later versions with a slightly modified body (the roofline above the windshield is extended), smaller engine bay, and 15 in (381 mm) wheels instead of the original 16 in (406 mm) ones were called the T1b. From the 1963 model year, when the rear door was made wider (same as on the T2), the vehicle was referred to as the T1c. 1963 also saw the introduction of an optional sliding door for the passenger/cargo area instead of the standard outwardly hinged doors.
In 1962, a heavy-duty Transporter was introduced as a factory option. It featured a cargo capacity of one metric ton (1,000 kg) instead of the previous 750 kg, smaller but wider 14 in (356 mm) wheels, and a 1.5 L, 42 DIN hp (31 kW) engine. This was so successful that only a year later, the 750 kg, 1.2 L Transporter was discontinued. When the Beetle received the 1.5 L engine for the 1967 model year, its power was increased to 44 hp DIN (32 kW).
German production stopped after the 1967 model year; however, the T1 still was made in Brazil until 1975, when it was modified with a 1968-79 T2-style front end and big 1972-vintage taillights into the so-called "T1.5" and produced until 1996. The Brazilian T1s were not identical to the last German models (the T1.5 was locally produced in Brasil using the 1950s and 1960s-era stamping dies to cut down on retooling, alongside the Beetle/Fusca where the pre-1965 bodystyle was retained), though they sported some characteristic features of the T1a, such as the cargo doors and 5-stud (205mm bolt circle) rims. VW do Brasil production aircooled vehicles (including the VW Brasilia) are a rare find in the USA and usually sought after by collectors; the website vintagebus.com has several rare pics of the T1.5.
Among American enthusiasts, it is common to refer to the different models by the number of their windows. The basic Kombi or Bus is the 11-window (a.k.a. 3-window bus because of three side windows) with a split windshield, two front cabin door windows, six rear side windows, and one rear window. The deluxe model featured eight rear side windows and two rear corner windows, making it the 15-window (not available in Europe). And the sunroof deluxe with its additional eight small skylight windows is, accordingly, the 23-window. From the 1963 model year, with its wider rear door, the rear corner windows were discontinued, making the latter two the 13-window and 21-window respectively.
T2 History
In 1968, the second generation of the Type 2 was introduced. It was built in Germany until 1979, with production shifting to Mexico in 1980 and to Brazil in 1996. Models before 1971 are often called the T2a, while models after 1972 are called the T2b.This second-generation T2 lost its distinctive split front window and was slightly larger and considerably heavier than its predecessor. Its common nicknames are Breadloaf and Bay-window, or Loaf and Bay for short. At 1.6 L and 48 DIN hp (35 kW), the engine was also slightly larger. The new model also did away with the swing axle rear suspension and transfer boxes previously used to raise ride height. Instead, half-shaft axles fitted with CV joints raised ride height without the wild changes in camber of the Beetle-based swing axle transmission. The updated Bus transaxle is usually sought after by off-road racers using aircooled VW components.
The T2b was introduced by way of gradual change over three years. The 1971 Type 2 featured a new, 1.6 L engine with dual intake ports on each cylinder head and was rated at 50 DIN hp (37 kW). An important change came with the introduction of front disc brakes and new wheels with brake ventilation holes and flatter hubcaps. 1972's most prominent change was a bigger engine compartment to fit the larger 1.7 to 2.0 L engines from the VW Type 4, and a redesigned rear end which eliminated the removable rear apron. The air inlets were also enlarged to accommodate the increased cooling air needs of the larger engines.
This all-new, larger engine is commonly called the Type 4 engine as opposed to the previous engine first introduced in the Beetle. There is no "Type 2 engine" or "Type 3 engine", because those cars did not feature all-new engines when introduced. They used the "Type 1 engine" from the Beetle with minor modifications such as rear mount provisions and different cooling shroud arrangements.
In the Type 2, the VW Type 4 engine was an option for the 1972 model year onward. This engine was standard in models destined for the US and Canada. Only with the Type 4 engine did an automatic transmission become available for the first time in the 1973 model year. Both engines displaced 1.7 L, rated at 66 DIN hp (49 kW) with the manual transmission and 62 DIN hp (46 kW) with the automatic. The Type 4 engine was enlarged to 1.8 L and 68 DIN hp (50 kW) for the 1974 model year and again to 2.0 L and 70 DIN hp (52 kW) for the 1976 model year. As with all Transporter engines, the focus in development was not on power, but on low-end torque.
1973 also saw the most noticeable exterior changes. The front turn indicators were squared off from the previous version and set higher in the front valence. Larger taillights were added to comply with U.S. lighting requirements as were larger bumpers. Crash safety improved greatly with this change due to a compressible structure behind the front bumper. This meant that the T2b was capable of meeting US safety standards for passenger cars of the time, though being vans they were not required to. The only thing that shrunk on the new model, or so it seemed, was the large and distinctive "VW" emblem on the front of the early model.
Later model changes were primarily under the skin. By 1974, the T2 had gained its final shape. Very late in the T2's design life, during the late 1970s, the first prototypes of Type 2 vans with four wheel drive were built and tested.
The T2 also has the distinction of being the basis for one of the most sought-after and valuable toys in history. In 1969, Mattel introduced a new model to their line of Hot Wheels die-cast toy cars. This was the "Beach Bomb," a customized Type 2 complete with surfboards. Made in very small numbers, two variations of the toy were produced. The earliest model had the surfboards placed in boxes over the rear fenders; the later and slightly more common version lost the boxes and placed the surfboards on the roof. Only one "hot pink" unit of the early version was ever manufactured and sold. This rare colour and body combination sold at auction for a record $66,000 USD in 2002 and is currently insured for $100,000.
The T2c, so called since it got a slightly raised roof - by about 10 cm - in the early 1990s, was built for the South American and Central American markets. The T2c was produced in Mexico until 1991* with the 1.6 L air-cooled Type 1 engine, and from 1991 until 1996 with water-cooled engines from the VW Golf (a VW/Audi 1.4L). Since 1997, the T2c has been built in Brazil with air-cooled engines for the Brazilian market and with water-cooled engines for the Mexican market, the latter easily identified by their large, black-coloured, front-mounted radiators.
Since production of the original Beetle was halted in late 2003, the T2 remained the only Volkswagen model with the traditional air-cooled, rear-mounted boxer engine when the Brazilian model shifted to water-cooled on December 23, 2005. Previously, the watercooled T2c was sold in Mexico between 1991-2002.
The shift to water-cooled powerplants is in response to Brazil's emission laws which goes into effect for 2006 and beyond. The new water-cooled engine will run on petrol as well as alcohol, which costs about 50% less than ordinary fuel. 2 The engine is a EA-111 1.4 8v Total Flex. 1390 cm³, 78 cv (brazilian hp) on petrol, and 80 cv when run on ethanol.
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