Feature: the Kombi turns 70

Bulli, Kombi, Microbus, Transporter or Volksiebus ... whatever you call it, there's no doubting its global significance. Six generations later and 13 million sold, we celebrate 70 years of this iconic Volkswagen

1947 ALONG CAME PON

Dutch Volkswagen importer Ben Pon is credited with "doodling" the original sketch of what was to become the first Kombi on 23 April when visiting the VW plant in Wolfsburg.

1949 PROTOTYPE TRANSPORTER

Unveiled as a hand-built panel van, the prototype Transporter is approved for production on 19 May. Aerodynamically challenged, it is tested in the Technical University of Braunschweig’s wind tunnel, where tweaks to the roofline lead to splitting the windscreen (hence the “Splittie” denomination) and lowering the drag coefficient from 0,75 to 0,44.

1950 FIRST VAN

On 8 March, the production version of the Transporter is launched, leaving the Wolfsburg plant in paneland passenger-van, plus eight-seater guises, each sporting a Beetle-sourced transmission and rear-sited flat-four and 750 kg payload.

1951 SAMBA STYLE

Following the T1’s introduction, VW unveils the Samba a year later. It is the most luxurious Kombi at the time, with chrome detailing, barn-style pivot doors, 23 panoramic windows and a retractable fabric sunroof.

1952

FROM SAMBA TO SINGLE CAB

In stark contrast to the opulent Samba, VW reveals a more utilitarian variant of the T1, a single-cab bakkie.

1955

BUILT SEASIDE IN SA

Five years after the first-generation model was introduced, VWSA starts building the T1 at its Uitenhage factory.

1956 MOVING VAN PRODUCTION

VW moves Transporter production from its Wolfsburg plant to Hanover, with some models manufactured in São Paulo, Brazil. By the time production of the T1 ends in 1967, nearly two million people would have bought one.

1967

BAY WINDOW

Known as the “Bay Window” model, the second-generation Kombi ditches the split windscreen for a single item while gaining a revised frontend and grille, and a sliding side door.

1968

CAR TESTS THE KOMBI

Tested in the June issue, CAR’S first formal assessment of the Kombi is on a Clipper derivative. A second road test, this time of the Kampmobile, follows in October 1969.

1969 BEACH BOMB

Arguably the most sought-after Hot Wheels model in existence, the pink rear-loading VW Beach Bomb prototype is cast in ‘69 but soon discontinued because it doesn’t fit in the firm’s Super Charger accessory. Two are known to exist, with one officially valued at $125 000 (±R2,4 million).

1972 E-T2

Groundbreaking for its time, the Elektro-transporter/ Bus is a T2 equipped with 72 lead-acid battery cells, which allows for a range of approximately 70 km on a full 10-hour charge and a top speed of 70 km/h (although it takes some 30 seconds to get there). Only 70 examples are produced.

1975 BRAZILIAN-BUILT; LOCALLY ASSEMBLED

Imported as CKD kits from Brazil and assembled at VW’S SA factory, the T2 Fleetline is sold for a year as a more affordable Kombi in comparison to those built in Germany.

MY VW FOR AN APPLE

Were it not for Steve Jobs’ VW Microbus (and Steve Wozniak’s HP calculator), Apple would arguably not exist. The co-founders sell their most prized possessions to gain the necessary capital to start the tech giant. Inspired by the car of the people, Jobs says, “We need a VW,” (of computers, that is).