Car No. 55
2/1977
Motor: 2,0 l
VW Type 2 Transporter/Bus was introduced as the successor to the VW Type 1 Bus from 8/1967.
The Type 1 model had been incredibly popular with almost 200.000 specimens sold throughout the 60’s. Several years intense work was put into developing a bus, that was even better - especially in terms of engine and handling.
The VW Type 2 Bus was updated from 8/1971 to the 1972 model with a larger engine range, an update of the cabin with more safety equipment and the turn signal lamps located just below the windscreen instead of down at the front bumper.
From the beginning of its introduction it was available with a 1,6-l bus engine or the so-called 1,7-/1,8-l ”pancake engine”, but from the 1972 model it was also available with a 2,0-l direct injection engine.
The VW Type 2 camper was produced until 1979, where it was replaced by the VW Type 3 (T25) camper, but especially the last couple of years the air-cooled Type 2 camper 2,0-l with direct injection engine (mostly exported to the US) became incredibly popular - but also very expensive!
Like the Type 1 Bus it was introduced in many variants as pickup, double cabin, closed ”panel van” and in different passenger variants with varying number of windows and sliding doors either on one or both sides. At the same time, it was available as a Westfalia camper version, and this is actually the one I will describe below.
History
Back in 2009 I travelled to Greece, where we had a customer specialising in specifically VW Type 1 Beetles and VW type 2 Busses. He had run into financial difficulties and was on an instalment agreement with us, but it was difficult for him to keep even a fair agreement. During my visit to his company just outside Athens, I learned that he also dealt in used classic VW vehicles. Here I found an aubergine-coloured VW 1303 Cabriolet with a black top and a heavily faded green VW Westfalia camper with 2,0-l direct injection engine and automatic transmission. I negotiated both cars into a deal and I ended up owing him some money. I had the cars transported to Denmark and quickly sold the VW 1303 Cabriolet, but I had a strong desire to keep the Bali green (colour code 3008) with the matching green checkered original interior.
The car was technically in good condition. It was by no means rusty, but it was “tired” and had to be completely disassembled, renovated, completely repainted, have replaced rubber strips and everything that belongs to such a restoration of this VW type. We did the restoring job in our own workshop. We installed same type Blaupunkt radio, that it had originally, and towing attachment.
I have personally enjoyed this bus a lot with its gas stove, fridge and all nice facilities installed. When my twin girls were younger, they loved going on 1 or 2 day trips. All in all, it still gives a lot of joy to the family – now mostly on one-day trips to the beach where the associated awning can be rolled out to shield from sun or dew.
