On this day, March 8, 1950, production of the Volkswagen Microbus began.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Volkswagen Type 2

The Volkswagen Type 2, known officially (depending on body type) as the Transporter, Kombi or Microbus, or, informally, as the Bus (US), Camper (UK) or Bulli (Germany), is a forward control light commercial vehicle introduced in 1950 by the German automaker Volkswagen as its second car model. Following – and initially deriving from – Volkswagen's first model, the Type 1 (Beetle), it was given the factory designation Type 2.

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First generation (T1; 1950)



1966 Volkswagen Type 2

The first generation of the Volkswagen Type 2 with the split windshield, informally called the Microbus, Splitscreen, or Splittie among modern fans, was produced from 8 March 1950 through the end of the 1967 model year. From 1950 to 1956, the T1 (not called that at the time) was built in Wolfsburg; from 1956, it was built at the completely new Transporter factory in Hanover. Like the Beetle, the first Transporters used the 1100 Volkswagen air-cooled engine, an 1,131 cc (69.0 cu in), DIN-rated 18 kW (24 PS; 24 bhp), air-cooled flat-four-cylinder 'boxer' engine mounted in the rear. This was upgraded to the 1200 – an 1,192 cc (72.7 cu in) 22 kW (30 PS; 30 bhp) in 1953. A higher compression ratio became standard in 1955; while an unusual early version of the 30 kW (41 PS; 40 bhp) engine debuted exclusively on the Type 2 in 1959. Any 1959 models that retain that early engine today are rare. Since the engine was discontinued almost immediately, no spare parts were made available.

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[Hugh_Lebowski]

1. Whenever I hear VW Microbus I think of Alice's Restaurant

I can't be the only one

[TomSlick]

2. For me it's Convoy and the "Eleven long-haired friends of Jesus in a chartreuse microbus."

[calguy]

3. I drove a 1963 bus for fifteen years

Of all the vehicles I've owned, my VW camper bus will always be my favorite. I drove it all over California.
I loved working on it, and rebuilt the engine twice. I'd probably still be driving it today if parts hadn't become almost impossible to get.