1975 Volkswagen Type 2 T1 Fleetline Camper Van

14th Jun, 2023 13:00
Imperial War Museum | Duxford, Cambridgeshire

Brazillian built ‘T1’ example from the final year of global split-screen production
Lavished with over £10,000 worth of expenditure in 2021
Current ownership since 2012 with only two former UK keepers
Right-hand drive example with a nicely specified interior
The Volkswagen Type 2 (the Type 1 was the Beetle) has long since acquired cult status courtesy of such diverse celebrity owners as Jamie Oliver, Martin Clunes, Roger Daltry, Vernon Kay and Jenson Button. It has been home to generations of travelling Australians, helped hippies survive the 60s/70s, and become the transport of choice for many a surfer. Variously available in Van, Micro-Bus, Pick-up and Camper guises, it would probably have been nicknamed the 'car that changed the world' if the Model T hadn't got there first. The original Splitscreen T1 version (now very sought after) was launched in 1950 and built in both Germany and Brazil. It was powered by a rear-mounted 1131cc flat-four engine producing a modest 24bhp. By the late 70s, a range of engines up to 2-litres in capacity was available. German production stopped after the 1967 model year; however, the T1 still was made in Brazil until 1975

Manufactured in the final production year for split-screens globally, chassis number 2051000835 is understood to be a ‘Fleetline’ example and would have been supplied new to South Africa, hence the right-hand drive configuration. Fleetline’s were those split-screen vans assembled by VWSA from Volkswagen do Brasil-built kits, either CKD (completely knocked down) or SKD (semi knocked down). They were built for one year only, the 1975 model year. Fitted with 1600cc flat-four engine allied to the four-speed manual transmission, the Volkswagen is finished in White. Reputed to have resided in South Africa until 2010, the T1 was imported to the United Kingdom and road registered ‘KLJ 275N’. Purchased by the vendor in 2012, ‘KLJ 275N’ was used for music festivals and events for several years. The interior is nicely specified with a rock ‘n’ roll bed, table, fridge, stove, sink and gas bottle, stow-away table, plug sockets, both main and leisure batteries, and a very good Bluetooth stereo system with Blaupunkt speakers.

In 2021, the Type 2 was lavished with over £10,000 worth of expenditure with both Type 2 Detectives and R.A.D Bodywork. Comprehensively mechanically overhauled, the improvements included a steering box overhaul; braking and handbrake attention; dual circuit master cylinder; new front wheel cylinder pipes and shoes; gearbox re-sealing; Bilstein rear shock absorbers; CSP pushrod tubes; engine servicing and refitting; starting equipment refresh; and much more with the full Type 2 Detectives image shown in the images. Bodywork wise, the doors and door shuts were repaired as required and repainted, and some new trim pieces were supplied. Accompanied by a no advisory MOT certificate until April 2024, a few previous invoices and MOTs, and a current V5C document, the Volkswagen is also offered with an unused Classic Additions fitted car cover (costing almost £300 new).