Tag Archives: Transporter

Camp, Sell, Show ‘n’ Shine – Bristol Volksfest

A couple weeks ago I popped along to Bristol Volksfest at Easter Compton, to help some acquaintances from Bristol Advanced Motorists out with a parking competition that was being run in the main field.

Bugle Dune Buggy, Volksfest, Easter Compton,

Among the vehicles on display for sale was this 1964 Bugle Dune Buggy complete with turbocharged motor.

Volkswagen Karmann Ghia, Volksfest, Easter Compton,

Basking in the afternoon sun on very cool Fuchs rims above is a 1971 Karmann Ghia.

Volkswagen Type 2 T3 syncro DoKa, Volksfest, Easter Compton,

The owner of the 1990 Volkswagen Type 2 T3 syncro Dopple Kabina (DoKa) Pickup above told me that it had been in service with the Norwegian armed forces as a fire engine before being imported to the UK.

Volkswagen Transporter Caravelle, Volksfest, Easter Compton,

Graffiti Artist Banksy is vying with Damien Hirst to be Bristol’s most famous living artist and going on the number of tourists visiting his work in Bristol Banksy might well be Bristol’s living biggest tourist attraction, above a 1996 Diesel powered Transporter Caravelle presumed not to belong to Robin Gunningham pays tribute to Banksy.

Volkswagen Golf Mk IV, Volksfest, Easter Compton,

Over in the show’n’shine area a Golf Mk IV receives some tlc.

Volkswagen Polo GTI, Volksfest, Easter Compton,

I suspect the 2006 Polo GTI is bigger, heavier, more powerful and faster than the Golf that started the GTI badge fashion in March 1975, but I’d be interested to know if this one sitting on lowered suspension and tyres with stretched side walls can possibly run so well.

Thanks for joining me on this “Camp, Sell, Show ‘n’ Shine” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again, tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a Mercury powered special. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Jo & Brian – Volkswagen Type 2 (T1)

Being a racing fan who once attempted to give his FIAT 128 a Ferrari 312T2 paint job before thinking better of it, I have always admired those who managed to paint their road vehicles with convincing racing colour schemes. This months Saturday blogs will be a tribute to those who persevered where I gave up.

Gulf VW Type 2 (T1), Gold Cup, Oulton Park

I particularly liked the Gulf Oils paint job on this 1957 Volkswagen Type 2 (T1) because the names of works Gulf Porsche drivers Jo “Seppi” Siffert and Brian Redman appear just above the door handle.

Gulf VW Type 2 (T1), Gold Cup, Oulton Park

Not sure why this vehicle is carrying what appears to be a washing machine drum on the roof while it is parked up at Oulton Park for the Gold Cup, but if you have any amusing idea’s please do not hesitate to chime in below.

Thanks for joining me on this “Jo & Brian” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at an early Williams Grand Prix car. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Ben’s Bus – Volkswagen Type 2 (T1)

In 1946 production of the VW Beetle was in full swing at maximum capacity at the Wolfsburg plant when Dutch importer Ben Pon paid the factory a visit and observed an improvised parts transporter which he recognised could be vastly improved upon with a new vehicle using a stock Beetle Type 1 chassis pan. Pons first doodles of his proposed vehicle were dated 1947 and two and a half years later the first type 2 rolled off the production line.

VW Type 2 Transporter, Goodwood Revival

The split windscreen was not part of Ben’s original design but was incorporated to improve the aerodynamic efficiency after wind tunnel testing showed marked improvements of the split screen at the University of Braunschweig. The original Type 2 with just 25 hp were rated to carry 1,500 lbs / 690 kgs. Above is a 1959 Type 2 with hinged rear door used by leading historic race car restoration specialists Crosthwaite & Gardiner who pride themselves on manufacturing everything from a Bugatti nut to an entire Auto Union Grand Prix car.

VW Type 2 Camper, Summer Classics, Easter Compton

It was not long before the versatility of the Type 2 began to shine through with, panel vans, 2 and four seat pickups, buses, campers being offered while 3rd parties converted Type 2’s to run on railway tracks and a myriad of other applications. It was not long before Type 2s were manufactured in a new dedicated plant in Hannover.

VW Type 2 Transporter, Goodwood Revival

The Type 2’s underwent continuous development by 1967 a larger motor was producing 54 hp and the load capacity had increased to 1000 kgs / 2,205 lbs. production of the Type 2 (T1) ceased in Germany in 1967 but continued in Brazil until 1975. Above is a 1964 Type 2 Transporter that appears to have served the Kapellen Stadt Moers volunteer fire brigade in North Rhine Westfalen. Like all today’s featured Type 2s it’s a left hooker which goes to show just how popular these vehicles still are in the UK.

VW Type 2 Transporter, Rare Breeds, Haynes International Motor Museum

The period from 1947 to 1991 is often referred to as the era of the Cold War between the Western Allies and East Bloc, a period punctuated by tensions in which mutually assured nuclear destruction reared it’s head as a possibility from time to time. What I did not realise was that the Western Allies were not in a particularly harmonious economic relationship at the time.

Each member nation was keen to preserve it’s own industries from the predatory monopolism of it’s neighbours and alleged friends. This culminated in 1963, soon after the Cuban missile crises, in the Germans and French placing restrictive tariffs on imported US chicken, in return to protect it’s automotive industry the US placed restrictive tariffs on Type 2s, designating them as commercial vehicles, which cut US sales by two thirds at a stroke. These tariffs are still in place today and Ford who these tariffs were to aimed at protecting among others has resorted to importing vehicles built in Europe which comply with passenger vehicle ordinances and then taking them to a warehouse in Baltimore for the passenger vehicle compliant items to be stripped and shredded turning said vehicles to commercial applications.

Above is a 1966 Type 2 which unusually has sliding rear doors on both sides, this vehicle served the Fire services at Zurich Airport and then a small Swiss village before being returned to it’s original colours and converted for use as a race car tow and support vehicle. With the introduction of the Transporter (T4) in 1990 all previous Transporter/Kombi’s/Buses were retrospectively given T1 to T3 identities so original iteration Type 2’s built between 1950 and 1975 became Type 2 (T1), 2nd iteration Type 2s with larger bodies built from 1968 to present became Type 2 (T2) and third iteration wedge shape Type 2s became Type 2 (T3) also known as T25.

Thanks for joining me on this “Ben’s Bus” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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