VW Bulli: A lifestyle celebrates its birthday

On March 8, 1950, the first T1 Transporter rolled off the production line. Since then, 12.5 million more Bulli have followed. This makes the versatile VW, which was produced in Hanover (Germany) from 1956, the most successful European commercial vehicle of all time. From the T1 to the sixth-generation T6.1, one platform has always provided the basis for all derivatives - from the Transporter to the Multivan to the camper icons. However, the age of e-mobility necessitated a transformation of the all-rounder and a paradigm shift: One van for everyone became "the right van for everyone".

The beginning of a legend - T1: 1950 to 1967

Europe had to reinvent itself after the Second World War in 1950. The American Bing Crosby was the musical superstar of the time, while Elvis Presley was still a teenager and Paul McCartney a schoolboy. While rock music is yet to be invented, Volkswagen is already in its fifth year of producing another small car that is making a big splash worldwide: the Beetle, aka Type 1. At the same time, on March 8, VW also starts series production of a second model series: the Transporter. Internally, it is simply called the Type 2 T1.

As early as 1949, Volkswagen wanted to protect the popular name Bulli as a word mark at the patent office. However, another company had previously secured the rights for a snow groomer. Bad luck. Or maybe not: because the name Bulli somehow made its way to the fans. The unofficial name of the van for German-speaking countries was born. Officially, it remained "Transporter" for the time being.

The first version of the 4.10-metre-long T1 is a panel van without any windows in the cargo area, which holds a remarkable 4.5 cubic meters. The two-part "split window" windshield earned it the nickname "Splittie" in the UK. With the 18 kW/25 hp four-cylinder boxer engine from the Beetle, the T1 reached a top speed of 80 km/h at the time; later, the power was increased to 32 kW/44 hp and the top speed to 105 km/h.

Further body variants follow quickly: A station wagon with a glazed rear compartment was already available in April 1950, followed by a minibus and a flatbed van. The special model that is now regarded as the most legendary of all vintage Bulli vehicles made its debut in June 1951: the "special edition minibus" - christened the "Samba Bus" by fans. It offers space for nine people and is characterized by up to 23 windows, a two-tone paint finish and luxurious equipment including a panoramic folding roof. Today, Bulli fans around the world pay well over 100,000 francs for an original, no matter how many kilometers it has on the clock. In 1956, Volkswagen moved production to the new plant in Hanover (Germany). On October 2, 1962, the one millionth T1 leaves the assembly halls. In July 1967, after more than 1.8 million units, the T1 is replaced by the T2.

The Flower Power van - T2: 1967 to 1979

Thousands of young people flock to the Monterey Pop Festival in California in 1967. The Beatles release "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", one of the most important albums of all time. In the middle of this soundtrack, the second generation of the Bulli makes its debut in 1967: the T2. It is the generation of the Bulli with which today's baby boomers grow up, with which they discover the world as children in the back of the VW Bus with their parents, with which the post office delivers the parcels, with which the craftsmen of Europe go on assembly work and police officers and paramedics do their duty. As a camper van, the T2 became an indestructible vehicle for globetrotters. In August 1969, musicians such as Jimi Hendrix and Joan Baez make history in Woodstock. This is where the most famous of all Bulli photos was taken: a Flower Power T1 - the "Light Bus" - with a couple on the roof. It burns itself into the collective memory of mankind and makes the Bulli an icon of automotive freedom. This T1 was created and painted by artist Dr. Bob Hieronimus, who is still associated with the VW Bus today and created a modern interpretation with the "Earth Buzz" in 2023.

The new front section is the T2's most striking distinguishing feature. Instead of the V-shape between the round headlights, a design with horizontal lines now emphasizes the width. These are not the only details that make the T2 look more modern: visibly larger side windows and the now one-piece, strongly curved windshield are the most striking features. In addition, the T2 now has a sliding door as standard. The engineers have noticeably modernized the technology. The progress is most noticeable in the chassis and brakes. With an unchanged wheelbase of 2.40 meters and slightly more width, the body has also increased in length by 20 centimeters. As a result, the T2 scores with even more space.

A major facelift followed in 1972, consolidating the success of the global bestseller. In 1978, the 4.5 millionth Transporter leaves the production halls. One year later, German T2 production is discontinued. However, the end of production is far from in sight, it is simply continued elsewhere: until 1987 at the Mexican plant in Puebla with an air-cooled boxer engine, then until 1996 with water-cooled four-cylinder engines. In addition, a further 355,000 T2c were built at Volkswagen do Brasil until 2013, when stricter safety and emissions regulations led to the final retirement of this evergreen. The last 1,200 examples of the T2 leave the factory as the "56 Anos Kombi - Last Edition".

Clarity and precision - T3: 1979 to 1992

In the late 1970s, new bands such as Dire Straits and The Alan Parsons Project and old cult rock groups in the style of Pink Floyd and Yes formed the incomparable sound of the time. VW's T3, launched in 1979, was just as incomparable and made history as the most angular van of all time. But the T3 is also the most technically advanced van to date. Icons such as the first California and the first Multivan were also created on its basis. VW makes significant progress in the area of passive safety. The wider body also offers significantly more passenger and loading space with a moderate increase in length and height; the standardized flat engines also contribute to this.

At market launch, the air-cooled T3 boxer engines produced between 37 kW/50 hp and 51 kW/70 hp. From 1981, a water-cooled diesel engine was installed in the rear of the van for the first time. Output: 37 kW/50 hp. Just one year later, boxer engines with water cooling were developed specifically for the bus. They developed 44 kW/60 hp and 57 kW/78 hp. Later, their output increased to 82 kW/112 hp. In 1985, VW added numerous other innovations: The petrol engines were fitted with catalytic converters and the first diesel engines with turbochargers. Above all, however, the all-wheel drive models enrich the range; they bear the additional designation Syncro. From 1988, the California is the first factory-produced camper van. By the time the last T3 rolled off the production line at the Hanover plant, other new versions such as the Caravelle and Multivan had long since established themselves as bestsellers. The Syncro versions of the T3 continued to be produced at the Steyr-Daimler-Puch plant in Graz (A) until 1992. The T3 even continued to roll off the production line in South Africa until 2002.

Technical revolution - T4: 1990 to 2003

Turning on the car radio in 1990 without hearing a song by Phil Collins or Madonna or Westernhagen and Grönemeyer is practically impossible in the early 1990s. This was also the case when VW presented the new T4 in August 1990. The fourth generation was a technical revolution. After 40 years of rear-wheel drive and rear engines, Volkswagen completely changed the drive concept: From now on, the engines are at the front; and they no longer drive the rear axle, but the front wheels. Unless - as already available as an option in the T3 - the Syncro drive is on board, which is also used to drive the rear axle in the T4.

With the switch to front-wheel drive, everything about the Bulli changed: the design, the chassis, the engines and the space available. Particularly at the rear, where the boxer engine still took up a lot of space in the T3, there is now considerably more room available. At the front, the T4 grows in length in order to create sufficient space for the transversely installed four and five-cylinder in-line engines as well as better crash characteristics. At market launch, T4 buyers can choose between three water-cooled gasoline and two diesel engines (49 kW/61 hp to 81 kW/110 hp). In January 1996, there is a comprehensive update, especially under the hood: a first turbodiesel direct injection engine (TDI) with 2.5 liter displacement and five cylinders is installed. The longer front end also allowed the integration of a 2.8-liter VR6 petrol engine. From 1998, the top-of-the-range TDI produced an impressive 111 kW/151 hp, while the six-cylinder engine unleashed up to 150 kW/204 hp. After 14 years of production and around two million units, the T4 was replaced by the T5 in 2003.

Timeless and simple - T5: 2003 to 2015

Christina Aguilera, Dido, Robbie Williams and Justin Timberlake are the soundtrack of 2003, the year in which VW Commercial Vehicles launches the fifth generation of the Transporter - the T5. The new design is more spacious and variable than any van before it. The Transporter makes its debut as an estate, panel van, flatbed, crew cab and as a chassis for third-party bodies. In addition, the ultra-modern new editions of the Caravelle, Multivan and California redefine the VW Commercial Vehicles van.

For the debut of the T5, propulsion is provided by so-called pump-nozzle turbodiesels and petrol units. The diesels develop between 63 kW/86 hp and 128 kW/174 hp. With the petrol engines, the spectrum ranges from 85 kW/115 hp to a V6 power plant with 173 kW/235 hp. The all-wheel drive versions are renamed from Syncro to 4Motion due to a newly developed multi-plate clutch. There is a reason to celebrate in 2007: the "Bulli" naming rights finally belong to VW. Two years later, the TDI engines are replaced by new and quieter common-rail four-cylinder engines that mobilize up to 132 kW/180 hp. The petrol engines are also replaced by new turbo engines. The T5 will continue to roll off the production line until 2015. Then, after 13 years and around two million units, it will be replaced by the comprehensively modernized T6.

Quality and economy - T6 and T6.1: 2015 to 2024

Adele sings "Hello" exactly ten years ago - with more than a billion views on YouTube, the music video for the song is one of the most successful of all time. In the same year, Taylor Swift catapulted herself into the charts with "Blank Space". And Ed Sheeran follows right behind with "Thinking Out Loud". This is roughly what it sounds like in 2015, the year in which VW launches a new evolutionary stage of the Bulli: the T6. New engines, even more comprehensive assistance and more modern infotainment systems characterize the new generation.

Externally, the T6 can be recognized above all by its redesigned front section. New two-tone paint finishes pay homage to the first generations of Bulli. The engine range includes four new TDI engines and two new TSI engines, each with a displacement of two liters - all with start-stop system as standard. The power spectrum ranges from 62 kW/84 hp to 150 kW/204 hp. Depending on the power output, these engines are paired with a five- or six-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed DSG automatic transmission. Many variants can also be ordered with all-wheel drive, which is particularly popular in Switzerland.

Even the mature sixth-generation Bulli can still be perfected, as the T6.1 presented in fall 2019 shows. VW Commercial Vehicles is transferring the cult model into the era of digitalization: the completely redesigned instrument panel of the T6.1 will be offered with fully digital instruments for the first time. In addition, the 6.1 generation, which will be built until 2024, offers an upgrade of the equipment and an update of the design.

Focus on sustainability - Multivan and California: since 2021 and 2024

VW Commercial Vehicles sets off a firework of innovations with the new Multivan generation in November 2021. For the first time, the drive and electronic systems of a Bulli are based on the components of the Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB). With it, VW Commercial Vehicles is opening up a new high-tech spectrum for the Bulli. Never before has a Multivan been more variable, connected and sustainable. The first optional plug-in hybrid drive will be on board as early as 2021. In mid-2024, VW Commercial Vehicles will launch the new California based on the Multivan long-wheelbase version - a motorhome that has been rethought down to the last detail and yet is absolutely iconic, transferring the DNA of its predecessors into the present and future.

Bulli goes electric - ID.Buzz and ID.Buzz Cargo: since 2022

On March 9, 2022, VW will unveil the long-awaited production version of the new ID.Buzz with electric drive: the ID.Buzz Pro for family, leisure and business and the ID.Buzz Cargo for trade, commerce and industry. And that is still the case today. However, the ID.Buzz family has grown and developed significantly since 2022. Since last year, a more efficient electric drive with an output of 210 kW/286 hp and a 79 kWh battery has been in use. Whether with space for up to seven people, with a short or long wheelbase, with rear-wheel drive or even 4×4 or as a sporty GTX variant with 250 kW/340 hp - for the 85th anniversary of the Bulli, there has long been a suitable electric Bulli for every purpose and every style. And with the new Transporter and Caravelle, the impressive history also continues in use as a versatile worker or large-capacity cab. The VW multitool for work, family, leisure and adventure will of course also be celebrated in 2025 - there will be many events around the world to mark the 75th anniversary, including one from May 16 to 18 at the Salzburgring in Austria, where a Swiss Bulli delegation will also be taking part.