75 years of the Volkswagen Type 2 Camper

The Type 2 concept was created by Dutch Volkswagen importer Ben Pon. He visited the factory to place an order for Type 1s (better known as the Beetle) where he saw a makeshift vehicle for moving parts around the facility. He was inspired, and made a rough sketch of a panel van that would borrow from the Beetle. His sketch was dated 23^rd April 1947 and, while it was taken seriously, at that time Volkswagen was working at capacity to fulfil demand for the Beetle. That rough pencil outline would have to wait.

Even so, development of the idea was under way. The standard Beetle platform, a steel floorpan, proved too weak to underpin a van with a suitable payload capacity, so a ladder chassis and unitary body was used in league with the saloon car’s rear-mounted air-cooled flat-four engine. For the greatest possible load capacity, the front-seat occupants were sited well up front with forward control.

During development, it became apparent that the aerodynamics of the bluff-fronted design needed improvement and that’s why the split windscreen was introduced, resulting in 0.44Cd down from 0.75Cd. It also heralded a distinctive visual element of the early Type 2s that would later inspire its ‘Splitty’ nickname. On 19^th May 1949, Volkswagen CEO, Heinz Nordhoff, signed off the Type 2 for production and the first examples rolled out of the factory a few months later. Initially they were assembled alongside the Type 1 in Wolfsburg, before a purpose-made factory came online in Hanover to cope with increasing demand.

Offered in Transporter, Kombi and Microbus forms, there was crucially no campervan version. It was up to aftermarket organisations to foresee and fulfil that potential. And it’s in campervan form that the Type 2 cemented its reputation as carefree transport for the counter-culture in 1960s America. The relatively compact camper from Europe captured the imagination of the hippy movement in a way that a home-grown alternative simply wouldn’t have.

For one thing, it has a friendly doe-eyed face that was the perfect match for psychedelic DIY paintjobs favoured by festival-goers. The Type 2’s simple, organic form was the ideal canvas for personalisation and adornment. What’s more, its robust mechanicals and economical running made it the ideal way for young Americans to get mobile. Throughout the Type 2’s life, the air-cooled engine grew in capacity and power, but all things are relative – things topped out at 1.5 litres and 52PS (38kW).

It also helped that, by commercial vehicle standards of the time, the Type 2 was pleasant to drive. Independent suspension was advanced for the 1940s, and even two decades later it meant the ‘Splitty’ provided a relatively comfortable way to make slow progress across the States. In 1967, the Type 2 was given an update and, most notably, that split windscreen gave way to a one-piece pane. These ‘Bay Window’ campervans retained much of the character of the original but some of the aesthetic delicacy was lost.

The hippie vibes spread beyond the USA and the Type 2 has become globally known as a flower power mode of transport. It has rooted itself as a cultural icon – and we use the I-word sparingly around here. It’s one of a handful of vehicles that has achieved a level of widespread recognition beyond those who are interested in cars. Almost anyone in any street could identify a debadged VW camper. It’s as important a part of 1960s counter-culture as the music and the festivals and everything else that marks that moment in time.

And the part the Type 2 played in that period continues to cast a warm glow over new Volkswagen campervans to this day. A modern Volkswagen Transporter T6 has very little in common with its 75-year-old forebear, yet the VW marque is still most closely associated with the campervan genre. Original models are now widely sought-after to an extent that no other campervan of the time comes close to. And more recently, the ID.Buzz has been Volkswagen’s re-interpretation – visually, at least – of the pure original.

All cars can move people from one place to another, but only one can lay claim to having mobilised a movement.

Tickets for the Goodwood Revival are now available and you can save up to 10% when you buy before 1^st May 2025 with early bird pricing.

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Article images courtesy of Getty Images.