The iconic Type 2 turns 75 years old in 2025, a milestone set to be celebrated at next month’s VolksWorld Show at the South of England Showground
Words: Ian Cushway Image: Andrew Thompson
Believe it or not, it’s 75 years since Volkswagen’s iconic Bus first left the firm’s Wolfsburg production line and the milestone is being marked by a special display at this year’s VolksWorld Show at The South of England Showground, Ardingly on 23rd March.
In 1947, Dutch importer Ben Pon famously sketched the beginnings of a van based on the Beetle chassis – a vision that led to the birth of the Volkswagen Type 2. The first prototype was developed in 1949, and on 8 March 1950, the first VW Transporter rolled off the production line, thus in a single stroke changing the world of utility vehicles and camper culture alike.
The original Transporter was, quite literally, a steel box on wheels, designed to maximise load space over its relatively small footprint, helped of course by tucking the Beetle’s air-cooled engine and transmission beneath the rear loading bay and positioning the driver as far forward as possible.
Needless to say, the Transporter was an instant success as, unlike the majority of commercial vehicles of the era, it was compact, manoeuvrable and incredibly flexible, too. Indeed, by 1956, sales were so strong that production of the Type 2 range was moved to a dedicated plant in Hannover, while the first of several overseas operations was launched in Brazil the following year.
In total, more than 1.9 million Split Screen Vans were built prior to the European launch of the second generation Bay Window model in 1967, with Transporter production continuing through to the present day – albeit at Ford’s Otosan factory in Turkey. That makes it the commercial vehicle that’s enjoyed the world’s longest continual production run with the older examples now synonymous with campers, collectors, surfers and celebrity chefs.
With support from clubs like the Split Screen Van Club (SSVC) and The Wolfsburg Bus Crew, the VolksWorld Show in March will bring together an exceptional collection of air-cooled Type 2 Campers and Buses to mark that success and offer a rare glimpse into the evolution of one of Volkswagen’s most loved and coveted creations.
For more information on the VolksWorld Show and to buy tickets, visit the event page by clicking here.
