It's hard to believe that the Volkswagen camper van has been colse to for 60 years, but it first appeared in 1950 and it is still going strong. There were only two models of the Vw at the beginning, and these were the illustrious Beetle and the Minibus.
Taking on America
Long before the Japanese imports made it to the U.S., Vw was a hit with the American buying public. The camper van was arguably the first international automobile to claim America's interest. It was the father of mini vans and also the conversion vans of today.
The produce intent of the Vw camper van was to sleep two children and two adults. The idea of the rear motor helped to give quieter transport for the front seat riders and to bolster the traction of the rear tires of the lightweight vehicle. Early models did not have the conveniences of some of the newer models such as kitchenettes, Rv hookups, running water, and electrical outlets.
Who's Behind the Wheel?
The recognized originator of the Vw camper is Ben Pon, whose sketch was the basis for the mini van. The first one was called the Type T2 Transporter, and each successive one to his produce has had an incrementally higher number.
T5 is the latest. Pon's produce made van proprietary more affordable for everyone and filled a need for an frugal car that could be used commercially by many dissimilar trades, such as food delivery and construction.
At a time when no one was discussing fossil fuels and global warming, Vw had the solution. By the 1970's, Vw camper vans were called hippie vans because they were cheap and people could sleep in them when they were on the road, and many people could be portable in them, which was the lifestyle of the hippie.
Where Were They Made?
Of course, Vw is a German company, but plants were set up where the vehicles could be unquestionably moved to markets in America and Canada. Mexico and Brazil had some of the larger output plants. The T2 model remained the suitable in Brazil where it was produced as late as 1996.
With the arrival of the T3 and T4, the mini van received a more superior motor and the front end visually changed to be more slanted and less round.
Still Popular
Older model Vw camper vans are still considered collector's items. You may find them online or in vintage auto magazines. Westfalia has been the firm that has done the most conversions of the Vw mini van, and they still are the leader today.
