Jalopnik: Transporter

1959 Volkswagen Transporter

Murilee Martin — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST

Welcome to Down On The Street, where we admire old vehicles found parked on the streets of the Island That Rust Forgot: Alameda, California. Alameda is definitely a VW Transporter sort of town; you can find all the major Transporter-loving groups here, from original-owner curmudgeons to Spicoli-grade surfers. Yes, even though Alameda is inside San Francisco Bay and thus gets waves better measured in inches than in feet on its beaches, we still have plenty of surfers here. Windsurfers and kite surfers, that is, crazies who think nothing of braving the 50° water, howling winds, and vicious currents on their boards. And when they're done flirting with death for the day, they need a proper vehicle to ~~store their bongs~~ haul their gear back home.

We've seen many roof-rack-equipped Transporters in this series, including this '56, this '57, this '60, and this '66. Since this chalkboard-patina example is parked at the beach, I suspect its roof rack is often used to secure boards, sails, etc., leaving room for the ~~bongs~~ wetsuits inside.

Look, nice view of San Francisco through the windshield! And, of course, we must have my usual Old VW Disclaimer: I chose 1959 as the model year of this bus more or less by picking numbers out of a ~~bong~~ hat; I know it's got to be in the 1956-62 range, but that's the best I can do. Experts?

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New Transporter 3 Trailer Offers Up Tasty Audi A8 Footage

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:40:00 EDT

We've already told you that Transporter 3 is headed for theaters at the end of November. Today a new trailer's been released that opens up a little more on the plot and provides some solid stunt-driving action. Back again is the Audi A8 with Jason Statham behind the wheel not performing a number of the stunts we see. Among them are a two-wheeled drive between a couple of tractor-trailers, ramping onto a moving train and a swan dive off a bridge. Considering the action can take place no further than 75 feet from the car, we expect the latest iteration of the franchise to bring the chase scene magic yet again. [Filmofilia]

Nice Price Or Crack Pipe: $41,000 1986 Volkswagen Syncro Westfalia Weekender?

Murilee Martin — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EDT

It's time for Nice Price Or Crack Pipe once again; last time we saw nearly 73% of you opine that $19,500 was too much to pay for a nicely restored 1973 Pinto Squire. This time we're going with a suggestion sent in by 2Trips. Other than a mint-condition 21 Window, the VW Vanagon Syncro might be our favorite VW bus, and when you're looking at a genuine Wolfsburg Edition Westfalia that's been obsessively maintained and pampered for every one of its 22 years, you figure the price tag is going to be fairly high. But forty-one thousand dollars? Mein gott! Still, what do we know? You tell us! [The Samba]

Volkswagen Bus Syncro: Ready For South African Hoonage

Murilee Martin — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EDT

We caused some disgruntlement among VW Transporter ~~fanatics~~ aficionados when we opined that perhaps the little rear-engined vans were on the sluggish side. Today we're going to regruntle our Type 2-loving friends by sharing this VW ad that demonstrates- in fact, encourages- off-road hoonage of the sort you'd normally associate with a Warlord Edition 4x4 Hilux. In South Africa, you could get a four-wheel-drive, Audi-5-banger-powered VW Transporter Syncro until 2002. Yes, 2002!

911-Powered VW Vans Are Everywhere!

Murilee Martin — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EDT

The 911-powered '74 VW Transporter was the big winner in yesterday's Favorite PCH poll, but when was the last time you saw a Vanagon with a 911 engine? Outside of Germany, that is. Chris Hull over at Autofiends shot what we hope is such a Vanagon in SoCal; if it's for real, we approve strongly. [Autofiends]

Volvo XC90 Wins Russian "SUV of The Year," We Offer Alternatives

Ben Wojdyla — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 11:20:00 EDT

Nobody will argue that the Volvo XC90 is a pretty decent SUV. It's stylish, comfortable, and even comes with a V8 now. But all that doesn't explain why it won "Russian SUV of The Year"...for the third time. Considering the soft nature of the big Volvo, we would have thought the hardened fist of Russian nationalism would have pushed for a more domestic entry. But if they won't, we will: Thus, Jalopnik's "No Bolshevik" nominations for Russian SUV of the Year.

Kombat T-98
What would you ever want with a stinky old Volvo XC90 when something like the Kombat T-98 exists? It's an armored luxury SUV available with either an 8.1-liter GM V8 or the Duramax 6.6-liter turbodiesel. The hardware is somewhat awesome, but the interior wins our hearts, featuring steel booze glasses in a chilled glovebox — perfect for keeping your vodka close at hand. [AllCarNews]

Vityaz Transporter
Russia is big, covering a sixth of the Earth and encompassing virtually every type of ecosystem. What better way to get absolutely anywhere under any circumstances than in the totally wicked Vityaz Transporter? Land, sea, arctic permafrost and bog, the Vityaz will get you there and back — the ultimate SUV. [Vityaz]

Porsche Touregenne

When great taste meets fabrication prowess and oil-baron money, the result is a thing like this VW/Porsche Touareg/Cayenne, whatever it is. We all marveled at its breathtaking coachwork and inspired styling updates. For the truly exclusive sets of Russian playboys, this baby is hot to trot. [Porsche Toureg]

GAZ Tiger-2
The GAZ Tiger-2 seems like the Russian version of a Chinese knock-off of the Humvee, but it's complete with space-age plastic hubcaps, multiple shift knobs and luxurious pleather seating surfaces. The Tiger built for the public is a definite choice for all but the most discerning customers. [Tiger 2]

GAZ 59037A
For so many Russians, the Vityaz is just too big to fit in the garage, so a compact, go-anywhere vehicle is definitely in order. The GAZ 59037 will go virtually anywhere the big Vit will, but also offers the convenience of tires and fits nicely into a standard heavy-lift military cargo plane. With convenience like that, its hard to believe the Volvo actually took home the prize. [GAZ 59037A]

Oh, and, if you are interested in the Volvo press release on the actual winner, check it out in all its glory below.

The Volvo XC90 - SUV of the Year in Russia for the third time
Volvo Cars received several prestigious awards in Russia in 2007 and to date in 2008. The most recent is for the Volvo XC90, which was crowned best crossover - "2008 SUV of the Year".

"There was immensely tough competition and we are very proud over this prestigious award," says Volvo Car Russia's PR director, Alexei Kozhukhov, who received the award at a ceremony in Moscow.

Russian car owners voted the Volvo XC90 the best choice on the market.

Motoring organisation Club 4x4 runs the competition, in which eight categories are featured.
Of 101 models in the competition, 16 went on to the finals. Car owners voted via a website or sent in SMS text messages with their votes and Volvo XC90 emerged the winner in the category "Full-size SUV".
That the Volvo XC90 came out on top is by now something of a tradition. The Volvo XC90 received awards in this contest in 2005 and 2006 too.

"Russia has been the European market N1 in the Volvo SUV sales in 2007, so the contest "SUV of the Year" is an important event in this country", says Volvo Car Russia's President, David Thomas. "Russians traditionally like big cars - this is the reason why Russia takes the second place right after the USA in the global sales chart of Volvo XC90. So, we are looking forward to the launch of our new crossover, the Volvo XC60", concludes David Thomas.

21-Window Volkswagen Transporter Braves Downtown San Francisco

Murilee Martin — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EDT

After I was caught in a camera-challenged condition when spotting the '70 Fiat 500 near my office in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood and was forced to use the 640x480 so-called camera in my cellphone, I resolved to start carrying a real camera at all times. Naturally, I totally spaced on the camera thing when I caught sight of this 21-window Transporter while out for some Bánh mì on my lunch break last week, and once again we all get to look at blurry, wide-angle cellphone shots. These things didn't fare too well around here, because the sun and smog tend to eat up the seals around all those windows, which lets rust gain a toehold it generally never relinquishes. But here's a very original black-plate example that (if the window stickers are to be believed) has been damn near everywhere.

1960 Volkswagen Transporter

Murilee Martin — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST

One thing that's hard about this series is the glut of air-cooled Volkswagens on the island; I could easily do nothing but 60s Beetles and Transporters for a month straight and still not run out. These VWs are survivors and fully deserving of recognition, of course, but it wouldn't do to have them shove aside all the other cool machinery in this series. Rationing has been necessary, but it's been a while since our last Transporter (so far we've seen a '56, a '57, a '62, a '63, a '67, and a '70), so let's look at a very nice 48-year-old example today. And, what the heck- let's have a poll!

This '60 parks very close to the 1960 Studebaker Lark and the 1955 Plymouth Savoy.

Vintage VW Type 2 owners will spend the rest of eternity screaming about how they're not hippies. Hell, real hippies haven't been able to afford these things for many years- they're driving 20-year-old Tercels now.

These vintage travel stickers are great, but I can't help but wonder if they've been there all along or are reproductions.

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Porsche Powered VW Transporter

Ben Wojdyla — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 15:30:00 EST

What has four doors, a pick up bed, and a Porsche 911 engine? This heavily modified VW Transporter. We really wish we could call this a full blooded camino (or Straße, or Weg... whatever) but we have a sneaky suspicion this started out as the four door transporter chassis cab and a very nice bed was crafted over the frame. That minor detail does not take away from the flat six 911 heart thumping unter the wooden floored truck bed. So now we're torn. Camino's by nature are burnout machines; light in the back, heavy in the front, with menace in their hearts. But this one offers the possibility of some kind of *gasp* control?

It's true, the builder claims a 0-100 km of 5.1 seconds and a top speed is above 270 km/h. That's crazy talk if you ask us. Such creations should be turning circles at the local 7-11 and rockin' out all night to bad remakes of German techno classics. Of course, you'd do that in a hammered out jalopy, but this sucker will run you 145,000€, so it damn well better be a runner. (Yes we know the engine shot is from the more pedestrian Transporter van version) [via ]

Another Low Volkswagen Transporter

Murilee Martin — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 09:00:00 EST

OK, this VW Transporter isn't quite as low as this insane machine, nor is it quite as old. However, it makes up for those shortcomings by having such a great Survivor Patina, and by parking on one of the busiest streets in town. It's hard to tell how many donor vehicles contributed body parts for this bus, but it's got to be at least four. And, once again, I'm unable to provide an exact year for an older German vehicle; I'm pretty sure it's from the 1963-1967 period, but- as always- clarifications from VWology PhDs are welcomed.

It's got what appears to be every available factory and aftermarket option, including roof rack, headlight shades, and passenger step.

And speaking of the step, is it really helpful on a vehicle that is only about 8" from ground to floor? I bet the owner has to take it real easy on the left turns.

It's hard to say whether it's midway through extensive bodywork or just supposed to look this mean.

The interior is pretty minimalist, but it does have a suicide knob and an 8-track player.

First 100 DOTS Cars

Lynch Mob After Your Hide? Volkswagen Transporter!

Murilee Martin — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:30:00 EDT

Forgive us for thinking that we'd maybe choose something with a bit more power and ground clearance than a VW T2 Transporter, were a howling, torch-wielding mob of European peasants battering down the doors of our castle. Say, a Unimog, for example. Still, for the mad scientist on a tight budget, the Transporter will get the job done!

Ach du Lieber Harry! T3 Transporter Crash Test

Mike Spinelli — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 13:10:07 EDT

How good were T3-generation VW Transporters at preserving life and limb at high speed into a flat wall? Let's just say the last thing to go through the mind of whatever dummy was behind the wheel of this doppeltkabin was about a quarter-ton of gravel. But c'mon, it's wall-on-wall action; what'd you think would happen? [Thanks to Jeremy for the tip.]

Einen VW-Transporter Muß Man Haben!

Murilee Martin — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 10:30:00 EDT

When it drives through your typical quaint German village, the early Transporter inhales crowds of pedestrians, construction equipment, stacks of boxes, whatever you got! Of course, with 36 horses clattering around in the back, it wasn't going to move all that stuff very quickly, but odds are you'd reach your destination.

The Lowest Daily-Driven VW Transporter You Could Possibly Imagine

Murilee Martin — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 09:15:00 EDT

Now, most of the time when I tell people I see a Type 2 driving around town with maybe two inches of ground clearance (if that), they assume the old bus has some sort of airbag suspension and can be raised up to clear driveways, speed bumps, lines painted on the road, etc. Nein! The utter madman who drives this Transporter- and drive it he does; I see it on the move all the time- has it set up to be this low at all times! Yes, you've seen Type 2s even lower than this... at car shows. East Bay readers who have seen this machine leaving showers of sparks on routine road imperfections, back me up here.

Once again, I'm stymied by the German reluctance to change a vehicle's design (just for the sake of change) when it comes time to tell you the year of this bus; the rear door size tells me it's from the 1956-62 period, but that's as close as I can get without spending the next 10 hours researching turn-signal lens differences. So, VWologists, what year is it?

The spotlight is a nice touch, although I shudder to think of the injuries that would result from slamming into the handle during a minor wreck. Oh, wait, there's no such thing as a minor wreck in one of these things.

It's got the sunroof, which is nice, and the roof rack, which probably isn't of much use on a vehicle with zero load capacity. Still, the rack looks cool.

The owner of this Type 2 also has an equally low right-hand-drive Thing, which I'm going to photograph one of these days. Hey, he knows how he likes his Volkswagens: low, lower, lowest.

The visor definitely works here, though I think a vintage Borgward or Glas steering wheel is called for.

It's literally in the weeds!

First 100 DOTS Cars

Frankfurt Auto Show: Volkswagen Caddy Maxi to Transport European Passengers, Luggage

Mike Bumbeck — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 09:00:00 EDT

The ketchup-obsessed Finns over at World Car Fans report the coming of a newer and slightly larger Volkswagen transporter. The Caddy Maxi lands in between the T5 and the standard Caddy, with choice of 1.9L and 2.0L diesel TDI or 100hp gasoline engine. The Caddy Maxi will house seven passengers, all their luggage, and comes complete with stoic yet personable doorman, as shown here. [Volkswagen Caddy Maxi via World Car Fans]

Project Car Hell: VW Bus With 911 Engine or 911 With VW Bus Engine?

Murilee Martin — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 17:30:01 EDT

The Jalopnik readers have spoken, and it seems that yesterday's Project Car Hell poll resulted in a the Maserati Merak administering quite the beat-down to the TVR 280i. It's probably not fair to stack a British machine up against the one-two coolness/madness punch of a Franco-Italian car, though. And, speaking of things that aren't fair, we've got a couple of Frankensteins for today's poll that oughta raise some hackles among the German-car purists out there...

You know how some vehicles are on the dangerous side? You make a mistake while driving and you're in trouble? Well, how about a vehicle that will kill you, no doubt about it? Such as, say, this here '74 VW Transporter with a 911 engine? Yes, we dare you to give this monster a whole bunch of throttle heading into a turn... but first, be sure you have the whole next-of-kin thing all sorted out. We don't know what year 911 engine this thing has, but the seller says it runs "XLNT" and even has air conditioning! How well was the swap done? What's broken? Who knows? What we do know is that the seller hopes to get $5750. By the way, if you've already bought the Turbo Corvair Transporter, you need to add this vehicle to your fleet.

All right, nitpickers; technically, this 1968 Porsche 911 Targa has a 914 engine, not a VW Bus engine as stated in the headline. But come on, what's the essential difference between the VW Type 4 used in the 914 and the one that went in the VW Transporter? The seller seems to feel the swap is kosher, because he found the Type 4 in a different 911; you know, sort of picked up the 911 seasoning or something. Anyway, this project is going to require that you obtain a proper 911 engine, and that won't be cheap. When you're done with that, you can start on the riveted sheet-metal patches put over the rusty floorpan. Then you can fix all the other rust. And the paint. And... well, you want a classic 911, don't you? Only 4 grand- $1750 cheaper than the bus!

Granada vs. Microbus

Davey G. Johnson — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 21:45:00 EDT

We can't tell who's really pulling at the end of this video, but it looks like the Transporter. But with the stylish hood scoop and generally hooptyesque, quite-possibly-meth-addled demeanor, the Euro-spec Ford Granada takes the style trophy for sure.

Syncronicity!

Davey G. Johnson — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 22:45:00 EDT

A passel of Benelux VW Syncro-heads (or at least ones from the Bene bit) got together for some good crawlin', Euro style. Hashish and Chimay undoubtedly followed. Volkswagen bahn-less slow hoons of the Low Countries for the win! [Thanks to eltonito for the tip.]