A superb and rare photo, made from what we believe is the original
negative, of the final assembly
of the 100,000 Volkswagen T1
Transporter , in Germany also known as the Volkswagen Bus.
The Volkswagen Transporter,
also officially known as the Volkswagen
Type 2 (the VW Beetle or Käfer being the Type 1) and informally known
as the Volkswagen Bus ) was
the second automotive line introduced by German automaker Volkswagen. It was a
panel van introduced in 1950, initially based on Volkswagen's first model, the
Type 1, the economy car also known as the "Beetle". The Type 2 is the
forerunner of modern cargo and passenger vans. The Type 2 spawned a number of
imitators, both in the United States and Europe, including the Ford Econoline,
Dodge A100, and the Corvair 95 Corvan, the last even adopting the Type 2's
rear-engine configuration. As of January 2010, updated versions of this line
are produced for international markets, both as a passenger and cargo van, and
as a pickup truck. It is also unofficially known as a "microbus",
"minibus", "kombi" or "hippie van," the latter
due to its popularity with the 1960s/70s counterculture movement. The idea for
the Type 2 is credited to Dutch Volkswagen importer Ben Pon. (It has
similarities in concept to the 1920s Rumpler Tropfenwagen and 1930s Dymaxion
car by Buckminster Fuller, neither of which reached production.) Pon visited Wolfsburg in 1946, intending to purchase Type 1s for
import to Holland,
where he saw an improvised parts-mover and realized something better was
possible, using the stock Type 1 pan. He returned to the factory close the
deal, and in a doodle dated 23 April 1947 drew the first sketches of the van.
He posited a payload of 690 kg
(1,500 lb),
with the driver at the very front. Production would have to wait, however, as
the factory was having difficulties even maintaining Type 1 output. When this
abruptly changed, it took a short three months to produce a prototype, which
was known internally as the Type 29. It was soon realized the stock Type 1 pan
was too weak, and a ladder chassis with unit body construction was produced,
instead; by coincidence, the wheelbase was the same as the Type 1's. Engineers
reused the reduction gear originated on the Type 81, enabling the 1.5 ton van
to use a 25 hp (19 kW) flat four. Although the aerodynamics of the first
prototypes were poor (the original drag coefficient was 0.75), optimisation
took place at the wind tunnel of the Technical University of Braunschweig. It
was learned simple changes, such as adding a "vee" to the windshield
and roofline, made a big difference. The production Type 2 was aerodynamically
superior to the Type 1, with a Cd of 0.44, compared to 0.48. Volkswagen's new
chief executive officer Heinz Nordhoff (appointed 1 January 1948) approved the
van for production 19 May 1949, and the first production model rolled off the
assembly line to debut 12 November, now designated Type 2. Only two models were
offered, the Kombi (with middle and rear seats that were easily removable by
one person, and two side windows) and the Commercial; the Microbus (world's
first minivan, officially the Type 22) was added in May 1950, joined by the
Deluxe Microbus in June 1951.
In all, 9,541 Type 2s were produced in the first year.
An ambulance model was added in December 1951, which repositioned the fuel tank
in front of the transaxle and the spare tire behind the front seat, while
adding a "tailgate"-style rear door. These features became standard
on the Type 2 from 1955 to 1967. 11,805 Type 2s were built in the 1951 model
year. These were joined by a single-cab pickup in August 1952, and it changed
the least of the Type 2s until all were heavily modified in 1968. Unlike other
rear engine Volkswagens, which evolved constantly over time but never saw the
introduction of all-new models, the Transporter not only evolved, but was
completely revised periodically with variations referred to as versions
"T1" to "T5," although only generations T1 to T3 (or T25 as
it is called in Ireland and Great Britain) can be seen as directly related to
the Beetle. The Type 2, along with the
1947 Citroën H Van, among the first 'forward control' vans in which the driver
was placed above the front roadwheels. It started a trend in Europe,
where the 1952 GM
Bedford CA, 1960 BMC Morris J4, and 1960 Commer FC copied the concept. In the United States,
the Corvair-based Chevrolet Corvan cargo van and Greenbrier passenger van went
so far as to copy the Type 2's rear-engine layout, using the Corvair's horizontally-opposed,
air-cooled engine for power. Except for the Greenbrier and various 1950s-70s
Fiat minivans, the Type 2 remained unique in being rear-engined. This was a
disadvantage for the early "barndoor" Panel Vans, which couldn't
easily be loaded from the rear due to the engine cover intruding on interior
space, but generally advantageous in traction and interior noise. The Type 2
was available as a Panel van, a delivery van without side windows or rear
seats; Nippen Tucket, available in six colours, with or without doors;
Walk-Through Panel Van, a delivery van without side windows or rear seats and
cargo doors on both sides; High Roof Panel Van (German: Hochdach), a delivery
van with raised roof; Kombi, from German: Kombinationskraftwagen (combination
motor vehicle), with side windows and removable rear seats, both a passenger
and a cargo vehicle combined; Bus, also called a Volkswagen Caravelle, a van
with more comfortable interior reminiscent of passenger cars since the third generation;
Samba-Bus, a van with skylight windows and cloth sunroof, first generation
only, also known as a Deluxe Microbus. They were marketed for touring the Alps;
Flatbed pickup truck, or Single Cab, also available with wider load bed; Crew
cab pick-up, a flatbed truck with extended cab and two rows of seats, also
called a Doka, from German: Doppelkabine; Westfalia camping van,
"Westy", with Westfalia roof and interior; Adventurewagen camping
van, with high roof and camping units from Adventurewagen; Semi-camping van
that can also still be used as a passenger car and transporter, sacrificing
some camping comforts. "Multivan" or "Weekender", available
from the third generation on. Apart from these factory variants, there were a
multitude of third-party conversions available, some of which were offered
through Volkswagen dealers. They included, but were not limited to,
refrigerated vans, hearses, ambulances, police vans, fire engines and ladder
trucks, and camping van conversions by companies other than Westfalia.
This is a very nice and very rare photo that reflects a wonderful era of
Volkswagen ‘s automotive history in a wonderful way. This is your rare chance
to own this photo, therefore it is printed in a nice large format
of ca. 8" x 11" (ca. 20 x 27 cm). It makes it perfectly suitable for framing.
Shipping costs will only be $ 7.00 regardless of how many photos you
buy. For 5 or more photos, shipping is free!
(Note: A. Herl, Inc. does not appear on
photo, for ebay purposes only)
No copyright
expressed or implied. Sold as collectable item only. We are clearing out our
archives that we have gathered from various sources.
All items always sent well
protected in PVC clear files and board backed
envelopes.
We have
photographs that came from professional collections and/or were bought from the
original photographer or press studio! They are all of professional and
excellent quality.
After many decades
of professionally collecting photographs and posters we are clearing out our
archives. They make the perfect gift and are perfectly suited for framing. They
will look gorgeous unframed and will be a true asset nicely framed with a
border. They are a gorgeous and great asset in every home, workshop, workplace,
restaurant, bar or club!
First come -
first served. And you can always contact us for your requests. Please ask any
questions before the auction ends.