Blast from the Past [ 1950's Volkswagen camper van ]

funtraveller (71) in photography • 7 years ago (edited)

When I was younger, me and my cousins used to play a game of "knock-the-head". The game is simple, the first person to see a Volkswagen Beetle will knock the head of the other one who saw it last. I would say it's a painful game to play, you know how kids play right? It gets rough all the time.

A few days ago, I was on this event where part of the displays are the classic Volkswagen cars. I was hoping to see a variety of Beetle models, unfortunately there wasn't any of it. Instead, the displays are the model from 1950's which is the Volkswagen Type 2. This model come in many names like Transporter, Kombi, or Microbus. It's funny enough to call it a bus because nowadays the size of it is not comparable to the present day minibus.

VW Kombi with Raffles City skyline behind

This cute looking VW Bus model has been interpreted as a toy, I remember having this when I was a young boy.

Have you ever wonder how did this VW bus came to its beginning? Now, on this coming facts I will be a going through the history a little bit. The model was actually made for the working class of the post WW II Germany where it’s mostly used as a transporter of goods.

VW Bus Type-2 with Marina Bay Sands hotel at the background

You might have noticed the prominent V-shape line that split the front of the VW bus. Did you know it wasn't intended for aesthetic purpose? In fact it was only added due to the poor aerodynamics of the first prototype. This added feature improved the drag coefficient compared to the VW Type-1 “Beetle”. The V-shaped feature also helps the VW Bus to maintain a decent speed on the highway.

VW Kombi in red and black paint

From then, the production of VW Bus has progress for over half a century, thanks to its popularity made by the hippies culture. It became a top choice due to its availability and low cost, not to mention its cute looks. It gained more popularity when it was featured on Bob Dylan’s album “The Freewheelin” which paved it’s way to the pop culture.

VW Kombi with National Gallery Singapore at the background

It’s popularity was also recognized through its functionality, it’s spacious and the parts are easy to maintain. Because of this, it was easily categorized as a camper bus. Its practical qualities made it easy to be converted into a perfect camping vehicle. The spacious interior can house a bed, stove, table and chairs, and it was also air-conditioned. Basically, it’s a home within a bus which made it famous to the ones who love a camping lifestyle.

VW Kombi with "Kombi Rocks light on top"

Nowadays, you might not see it as a practical camper bus due to its smaller capacity compared to the modern day versions, which are larger. But its iconic appeal can still be seen as displays to events like the ones I recently attended – “The Light to Night Festival”. It was a big hit for the millennials, probably because they never seen it before. Not to mention the cute looks of this compact VW bus which became real pop culture icon. Those reasons alone made this VW Type-1 model survived a 64 year journey and there’s no doubt that this icon has a special spot in our nostalgic fantasies.