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VW Bus T1, T2 or T3 - which van suits me best?

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Created on August 25, 2020

Reading time 12min

Written by:

Sven Jürisch

Photos:

Kai-Uwe Knoth

Tamiya

Kai-Uwe Knoth

Tamiya

VW Transporter T1 (1960) - Das Trio versammelt sich auf dem Vorplatz

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VW Transporter T1 (1960) - Das Trio zusammen unterwegs

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VW Transporter T1 (1960) - Generation T1, T2, und T3 auf gemeinsamer Spazierfahrt

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VW Transporter T1 (1960) - Das Trio macht Rast

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VW Transporter T1 (1960) - Alle drei Generationen beisammen

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VW Transporter T1 (1960) - Der T3 rast vorbei

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VW Transporter T1 (1960) - Die guten alten Zeiten aufleben lassen

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VW Transporter T1 (1960) - Der T1 neben Wiese

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VW Transporter T1 (1960) - Der T1 saust vorbei

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VW Transporter T1 (1960) - Der T1 wirkt einfach freundlich

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VW Transporter T1 (1960) - Blümchen in passendem Rot

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VW Transporter T1 (1960) - Der T1 ist einfach der charmanteste

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VW Transporter T1 (1960) - Besitzer mit seinem besten des Menschen

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VW Transporter T1 (1960) - Sicher kein Scheunenfund

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VW Transporter T1 (1960) - Detailansicht des Klappfensters

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VW Transporter T1 (1960) - Der Innenraum ist komplett weiss

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VW Transporter T1 (1960) - sehr dünner Schalthebel

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VW Transporter T3 (1980) - Einfacher, kleiner Schlüssel

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VW Transporter T1 (1960) - Camping-Zubehör im Kofferraum vom T1

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VW Transporter T1 (1960) - Lamellen für die Kühlung

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VW Transporter T1 (1960) - Restaurierung vom T1

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VW Transporter T2 (1971) - Auch der T2 hat noch den Oldtimer-Charme, doch um einiges weniger als der T1

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VW Transporter T2 (1971) - T2 fährt vorbei

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VW Transporter T2 (1971) - Seitenansicht

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VW Transporter T2 (1971) - Immer noch schön, der T2

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VW Transporter T2 (1971) - Beim T2 passt eingies aufs Dach

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VW Transporter T1 (1971) - VW-Schriftzug am Heck

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VW Transporter T2 (1971) - Zugang zum Kofferraum durch eine Heckklappe

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VW Transporter T2 (1971) - der luftgekühlte Vierzylinder-Boxermotor, den man schon aus dem Käfer kannte

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VW Transporter T1 (1960) - Der T1 versteckt sich im Schatten

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VW Transporter T3 (1980) - Er marschiert auch besser als seine Vorgänger

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VW Transporter T3 (1980) - Der T3 unterscheidet sich stark von seinen Vorgängern

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VW Transporter T3 (1980) - Blick durch Alt auf Neu

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VW Transporter T3 (1980) - Das Trittbrett erleichtert den Einstieg

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VW Transporter T3 (1980) - Lufteinlass am T3

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VW Transporter T3 (1980) - Der Innenraum ist schlicht aber robust

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VW Transporter T3 (1980) - Scheibenwischerhebel

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VW Transporter T3 (1980) - Die Rücksitze in verkehrter Richtung

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VW Transporter T3 (1980) - Schlitze für die Klimaanlage, nur im T3

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VW Transporter T1 (1960) - Die Spielzeugversion vom T1

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Summary

At some point, everyone has had an encounter with the Volkswagen Bus. Years later, this often awakens the desire to become the owner of the Wolfsburg all-rounder. But which classic VW Bus suits me? A self-experiment with the first three model series reveals the answer.

This article contains the following chapters

Three classics with rear engines
Museum tour or daily driver
Comfort for guests only
Flower without power
Victory of modernity
All-round classic car
Technical data comparison

Estimated reading time: 12min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Timetable change in the classic car garage at home. Instead of the turbo coupés and powerful V8 limousines that I had celebrated for years, I caught the Bulli fever in my late 40s. No more hectic, faster, higher, wider cars. Car hiking is on the agenda or, as Baloo the Bear says, "Try it with comfort". Even the speed limit of 130 km/h has somehow lost its horror for me. Slowness is easy on the material. In short, I'm no longer in a hurry and I don't need the envious prestige in front of the terraced house either. The VW Bus theme suits me in the here and now. Of course, only with style and a classic boxer in the rear.

Welcome to Zwischengas!