VW celebrates 70 years of the Transporter

Volkswagen is celebrating 70 years of its iconic Transporter.

The Transporter — also known as Bulli, Kombi, VW bus or microbus — first rolled off the Volkswagen’s Wolfsburg production line on 8 March 1950, and since then 13 million have been sold. For six generations, globetrotters have travelled the world in it, businesses have relied on it and families have driven it every day.

To celebrate the landmark, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has collated this ultimate guide to the historic vehicle:

Volkswagen T1: 1950 to 1967

Revealed as a hand-built panel van prototype in 1949, the T1 eventually launched as a rear-engined panel van, passenger van and eight-seat bus. In 1951, the iconic Samba model was revealed with all-round windows and folding sunroof. By 1967, around 1.9 million people had purchased the T1 with its splittie windscreen, making it a global success.

Volkswagen T2: 1967 to 1979 

The T2 took the utility of the van on a step further with a new front end and air intake grille. A sliding door was now standard, and the pop-up roof camper version became an instant hit. In 1972, the T2 went electric with a zero-emission version available to buy. During its run, 2.14 million vehicles were built.

Volkswagen T3: 1979 to 1992

The T3 adopted a wider body offering more passenger and cargo space and improved safety. A flat engine, available in diesel, was introduced and, in 1985, a raft of innovations were added: catalytic converters, turbochargers and all-wheel drive, while the California and Caravelle became popular.

Volkswagen T4: 1990 to 2003

The T4 was the first Transporter to be front-engined and front-wheel drive. With this came a new design, longer front end, new suspension, more varied engine choice and even better handling. The T4 was phased out in 2003 having sold 1.9 million models across the range, which now included the California.

Volkswagen T5: 2003 to 2015

The T5 was an evolution of design focussing on the interior and the driver's area, as well as a variety of petrol and diesel engines and an all-wheel drive system. The California was built in Hannover for the first time. In total, 1.65 million T5s were produced.

Volkswagen T6 / T6.1: 2015 to 2019 / 2019 to present day

New engines, intelligent driver assistance systems, new infotainment and a front-end redesign have defined the modern T6 era — while the two-tone paint scheme serves as a nod to the original model.

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