Sixty six year ago, the first ever Volkswagen Transporter Van made its way into the UK market. Dubbed the T1, this iconic vehicle set the milestone for one of the biggest revolutions in the history of commercial automobiles.
Today, tens of thousands of VW vans are sold each year across the British territory. From the classic Beetle to the spacious Volkswagen Crafter, we explore the history of the VW van and how it came to be the main choice of over 6 generations.
The Beginnings
In 1945, Volskwagen launched its very first Type 1 Beetle, a compact car with a rear side air-cooled engine, luggage storage and chromed bumpers. As a sportier model, it wasn’t as practical for business or work use, which is how the VW Type 2 (T1) came to life in the 1950s.
The first of the Transporter generation, the T1 reinvented the concept of vans and continues to represent a setting stone in the history of campers and commercial vans.
1950-1967: VW T1 - Type 2
The VW Type 2, also known as the Microbus or the Kombi, is the first van from the Transporters series launched by Volkswagen in 1950, based on a design sketch by Dutch businessman Ben Pon.
As one of the precursors for passenger transport and modern cargo, the T1 featured its signature split windshield and the same rear engine layout of the Type 1 Beetle. Although production in Germany was stopped in 1967, Brazil continued to make them until 1975.
1967-1969: VW T2 - Type 2
The T2, a larger and much heavier version of the original Type 2 was released in 1967. Volskwagen decided to remove its distinctive split windscreen feature, adding a slightly bigger engine (1.6L) and higher voltage to the battery.
In 1971, the engine was yet again upgraded to 1700cc, but only for US and Canadian models. The new Type 4 engine paved the way for the first automatic transmission which became available in 1973.
With several exterior revisions throughout 1972 and 1973, the final shape of the T2 was finally completed in 1974. During the last part of the decade, the first T2 4 Wheel Drive (4WD) prototypes were also built and tested.
1979-1992: VW T3 - Type 2
Once again, the third generation of the Transporter series became even larger. The T3, also known as the T25 in the UK, was one of the last Volkswagen vans to use an air-cooled engine and in 1983, it was replaced with a rear-mounted water-cooled engine.
As opposed to the T1 and T2, VW T3 was even heavier and was often dubbed by enthusiasts “The Wedge” thanks to its square edges.
1990-2003: VW Transporter T4
Launched in 1990, the Volkswagen Transporter T4 was the first van produced by the automobile giant to feature a water-cooled front engine. It was marketed as “Transporter” in Europe and “Eurovan” in the States.
VW T4 had a permanent Four-Wheel Drive system, sliding doors on one or both passenger sides and was available in 3 different roof heights. Transporter became a very popular base for building campervans and even Volkswagen themselves sold camper versions of the T4.
2003-2015: VW Transporter T5
The fifth generation of Volkswagen Transporter was revealed to the public in early January 2003, and by April the same year it had already already rolled off on production lines. Unlike the older versions, the T5 was only sold in Europe as the US market classifies it as a lightweight truck, incurring a 25% chicken tax on importation.
VW Transporter T5 had an aerodynamic design and featured a larger dashboard and a smaller bonnet. In 2010, the company introduced the T5 GP with a new facelift and an 180 bi-turbo engine.
In 2006, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles also launched VW Crafter, its largest 3 to 5 tonnes van which officially replaced the LT model first introduced in 1975.
2015-Present: VW Transporter T6
The sixth and latest generation of the Transporter series, the T6 is believed by many to be another facelift of the T5.
Although it launched with Euro 5 non-AdBlue power-plants, it’s also offered with a Euro 6 diesel engine. The external design is obviously different from its predecessor and the dashboard has been upgraded to two versions.
From the practical Volkswagen Caddy to the robust VW Amarok, it’s clear that Volkswagen vans have come a long way. However, the Transporter series continues to have a unique appeal amongst globetrotters, builders and business owners alike.
Whether you are an independent trader looking for a new van, or you’ve been offered a company car allowance from work, Nationwide Cars provides a range of new, cost-effective Volkswagen vans that meet your requirements.
For free and impartial advice, contact our team today!
