The VW Bulli - History of a cult car

The VW Bulli has been with us for generations. Its success story is practically unmatched. Most Germans should be familiar with the VW Bulli and its appearance or at least the term itself. The small bus with its charming appearance and two-part windscreen can still be found in many homes as a poster on the wall or a model car on the living room shelf. At first glance, it might just look like a slightly roomier car but at second glance you'll realize that it is so much more. For some it was the first van suitable for the masses, for others a symbol of the economic miracle. Whether hippie or surfer's darling, camper or van, one thing is clear: the VW Bulli has absolute cult status. We would like to take a look at the history of this all-rounder from the very beginning. What kind of development has the VW Bulli already undergone and what's yet to come? Let's start at the beginning...the Bulli and its history.

The history of the cult vehicle began in 1939 when the first patented proposal for a transport vehicle suitable for the masses appears in a design office of Porsche GmbH. This concept was not taken up again until 1947 when a Dutch businessman named Ben Pon visited the manufacturing plant in Wolfsburg and drew up the first sketches that would later serve as the basis for the design of the first VW Bulli.

The first VW Bulli wa presented in 1949 and based on the chassis of the VW Beetle. Its newly created ´bus class` is unique up to date. Just one year later, in March 1950 the first 10 T1 generation VW Bullis rolled off the production line at the Wolfsburg plant. By 1967, more than 1.8 million units of exactly this type found a buyer. Thanks to its versatility the VW Bus quickly became a worldwide bestseller. And wasn't not only private citizens who used it: the fire brigade, the police and the post office soon discover its versatility. The first mobile speed cameras were installed in the legendary Transporter and made life difficult for speeders.

The first versions were only produced as commercial vehicles, i.e. with a driver's seat and a large loading area in the rear. Just one year later, the station wagon was already used by numerous people for transporting passengers. With two additional rows for passengers as well as more windows all around the interior the Bulli was ready for many more tasks.

Not only was the additional space gained an absolute novelty compared to conventional vehicles of the time but the possible uses of the cult car could hardly be more versatile as well.

For many people who grew up in the post-war period the Volkswagen represented a way to live out and embody the freedom and wanderlust that accompanied the economic miracle. It wasn't long before the first commercials showed families in a VW Bulli on their way to a summer holiday - usually in Italy. But regardless of whether it was the Adriatic or Nepal, the VW Bulli increasingly found a place in the camper milieu or was used for day trips. The feeling of being able to go somewhere quickly with the whole family was new. It's no surprise that in many cases the van became not only a means to an end but like a second home. Curtains were knitted, the first camping kitchens were installed and the exterior was decorated. Individualism grew along with the feeling of being able to move freely in this world.

Within a very short amount of time, entire fan clubs were formed in which Bulli drivers joined together and planned their own events always including the VW Bus, of course. The ideal value of the vehicle grew so much with every new experience, every holiday and every excursion so that it became a true icon of automotive history.

It wasn't only in Germany that the space miracle on 4 wheels inspired people: More and more people in North America were caught up in the hype surrounding the VW Bulli. This even went so far that every third model of the T2 series of the VW bus was exported to the USA.

There, one group in particular discovered the VW and the lifestyle associated with it: the hippies and followers of the 1968 movement. Today you could say that the VW Bulli belongs to hippies as much as flower shirts and so a VW Bus becomes the face of an entire movement. The Woodstock Festival in 1969 attracted young people from all over the country who arrived in brightly painted Bullis. But surfers around the world also recognise the Bulli as their trademark. It appears in every place where people are particularly striving for a feeling of freedom and individuality. Coincidence? Certainly not!

The VW T1 was produced 8,000 times in 1950 and four years later 100,000 cars rolled off the production line. Demand increased so rapidly that Wolfsburg soon reached the limits of its production capacity. Within just one year, the first production facility specially designed for the T-models was built in Hanover. A milestone in the history of the Bulli.

The Type 2, the successor to the cult T1 model, introduced a number of technical innovations but not much has happened on the outside at first.

Only with the T3 series the Bulli got a big makeover which still devides fans today. The VW Bus lost its round, chunky shape and was replaced by sleek edges and clear lines. A loss for some, but for others it was an urgently needed overhaul of the old design. Production of the new T3 models started in 1979. In addition to the revised shape the Bulli also became significantly larger. The California series was also introduced with the T3 which is, for the first time, also available with the familiar rooftop tent.

It was not until the T4 series of minibuses was produced that the design was changed to the one we are most familiar with now. From 1990 onwards, the vehicle was equipped with front-wheel drive and considerably expanded the repertoire of development possibilities compared to its predecessor.

Have you always dreamed of going on a holiday trip in a VW Bus?

In 2002, the T5 was launched. For the first time it was equipped with 3 different roof heights and adapted multimedia functions. A first facelift followed with the T6 in 2015 but this version was revised once again to be finally launched as the T6.1 in 2019. In addition, there will be a smorgasbord of technical innovatons as well as improved assistance systems to ensure that the Bulli is up to date in the world of digitalisation. Our fleet also mostly consists of VW California T6.1 models and is of course perfectly equipped for camping and holidays.

With only slight fluctuations in sales figures the VW Bus is still one of the most stable models in the VW repertoire. Every year, around 200,00 vehicles are produced and delivered from Hanover and Poland alone. A total of 13 million T-models have already travelled along the many roads of the world. And this success story which has already lasted for more than 70 years is set to continue in the future.

In 2022 VW produced a model whose name breaks with the famous T-series tradition for the first time. Understandable, considering the technical leap and the change in design. With the ID Buzz, the Bulli becomes fully electric for the first time. The electric Bulli can hardly be compared to its predecessors and innovations such as driver assistance systems and over-the-air updates put the VW in an almost futuristic light. But there's one thing that will make nostalgic hears leap for joy: the ID Buzz departs from its angular box shape for the first time since the T3 was produced. The body will remind you of the old-school Bulli from the 50s but combines it with a fresh and modern look at the same time.

In the production stage VW focuses primarily on recycling and the sustainable extraction of raw materials. The interior is completely free of animal leather and they promise a CO2-neutral delivery to protect the environment.

So far it's too early to say whether the ID Buzz can also convince with its performance and range. One thing is certain though: for most people the Bulli is much more than simply a more spacious car. For generations, people have assoociated it with a very special feeling of freedom and individuality. The German icon may now be heading in a new direction but its history remains untouchable.