Classic VW Bus History Explained

Volkswagen, maker of the Beetle automobile, expands its product offerings to include a microbus, which goes into production on this day in 1950. Known officially as the Volkswagen Type 2 (the Beetle was the Type 1) or the Transporter, the bus was a favorite mode of transportation for hippies in the U.S. during the 1960s and became an icon of the American counterculture movement.

The VW bus was reportedly the brainchild of Dutch businessman Ben Pon, an importer of Beetles to the Netherlands, who saw a market for a small bus and in 1947 sketched out his concept. Volkswagen engineers further developed the idea and in March 1950, the vehicle, with its boxy, utilitarian shape and rear engine, went into production. The bus eventually collected a number of nicknames, including the “Combi” (for combined-use vehicle) and the “Splittie” (for its split windshield); in Germany it was known as the “Bulli.” In the U.S., it was referred to by some as a hippie van or bus because it was used to transport groups of young people and their camping gear and other supplies to concerts and anti-war rallies. Some owners painted colorful murals on their buses and replaced the VW logo on the front with a peace symbol. According to “Bug” by Phil Patton, when Grateful Dead musician Jerry Garcia died in 1995, Volkswagen ran an ad featuring a drawing of the front of a bus with a tear streaming down it.

[Ztv]

All those Barn Doors!!!! This is some of the best bus footage I've ever seen.

[kevinrichards]

I don't see those old VW minibuses on the roads anymore like I use to back in those days.

[Jo_Wardy]

Cool vans but sadly the hippie movement made them really expensive.

[davidtosh]

I like antique VW buses from 1948-1967 with factory original dual beam headlights (like the one for pre-1940 American cars), and a 6 volt electrical system. Antique VW pick up trucks and paneled van are available.

[jackharperd]

Despite weighting around 1 to 3 Metric Tons and made mostly out of Steel more for Basic Urban Industrial Purposes rather than Luxury ones, the first generation VW 🚌 still seems to look very Cute and Futuristic on the Outside after all these years, even with Today's Beauty Standards!

[grcguyreadcar]

This is one of World Best Car with T1_BEETLE

[OMENASOSEALTA]

i wishd id had some day 2 type1s 1 green and one red

[johneastman]

This was a mid 50’ VW type 2 promotional film, the narration is of limited value tacked on.

[edsmith]

I love these buses
I hate the AI commentary its puts me off
For the love of god find a human

[ROMANEMPIRE]

It would be nice not to have a Siri voice explaining the history. 🤪

[marylvscats]

My great grandpas cousin was Ben Pon :)