Celebrating 75 years of the Volkswagen Bus
We celebrate Volkswagen's most successful and longest-produced commercial vehicle in Europe, wishing a Happy 75th Birthday. If you've got any photos or stories to share about your happy memories of the VW Bus, we'd love to hear! Contact us at marketing@thejcbgroup.co.uk. Meanwhile, here's a potted history of the iconic VeeDub ...
-
The first Volkswagen Transporter left the Wolfsburg production line in March 1950. Since then, over 12.5 million 'VW buses' have been made. Now an icon and cult vehicle, the 'VeeDub' produces warm and nostalgic smiles whenever you see one out on the road.
In 1950 the Bus was simply called the Type 2, complementing the Beetle (Type 1), as an affordable van for everyone.
-
-
The Transporter base was used as a campervan for the parents of baby boomers, as a postal van, a trade van, a police van and an ambulance in its many iterations. Technology moved on and the most technologically advanced Transporter was the T3. The first California and the first Multivan were created on its basis and became best sellers. T3 California sold over 5,000 units in its first 12 months of production.
The fourth generation was a technical revolution. After 40 years of rear-wheel drive and a rear-mounted engine, the drive concept completely changed: from now on, the engines were located at the front; and they also no longer powered the rear axle, but the front wheels. This switch changed everything: design, chassis, engines and space.
-
-
The T5 evolution was more spacious and variable than any other VW Bus before. The Transporter made its debut as a Kombi, panel van, dropside, double cab and chassis variant for third-party superstructures. In addition, there were state-of-the-art new editions of the Caravelle, Multivan and California.
Bringing life up to modern day, the T6 and T6.1 versions have introduced modern technological assist systems and infotainment. Fully digital instruments have been introduced for the first time in its line-up.
-
-
And now ELECTRIC!
The first all-electric VW Bus in large-scale production arrived in 2022 with the ID. Buzz.
In 2025, the new Transporter product line launches as the third model series. The current VW Bus range thus consists of three pillars with six base models: the Multivan and California, the ID. Buzz and the ID. Buzz Cargo commercial vehicle, as well as the Transporter and Caravelle shuttle version.
Looking forward, the ID. Buzz AD drives autonomously, marking the next milestone in the Bus’s history with sustainable mobility and transport solutions for people and goods worldwide. But they all carry the T1’s DNA in their design and layout to this day.
-
-
Have you got any photos or stories to share about your happy memories of the VW Bus?
We'd love to hear!
Contact us at marketing@thejcbgroup.co.uk.
