| Type 2 Split Screen 1950 - 1967 | | | | were produced in Brazil long after VW had stopped |
| This was the first VW camper adapted from the VW | | | | production. |
| bus (known as the Samba) - which itself was adapted | | | | Type 25 VW - the Vanagon 1980-1991 |
| from the VW panel van. You'll recognise the rounded | | | | The third generation Transporter was introduced in |
| VW campervan with the sweeping V moulding on the | | | | 1979. The VW t25 was larger again and provides |
| front, the huge VW badge, split windscreen and big | | | | substantial space. It was known as the Vanagon in the |
| round headlights as the classic VW Camper. | | | | USA and is often referred to now as the VW t3. This |
| Production of the first generation, 'split-screen' | | | | model is much more angular with a very 1980's shape. |
| Transporters known as the type 2, (as the Beetle was | | | | In 1982, after 32 years and with production totalling |
| type 1), started in Wolfsburg for the 1950 model year | | | | over five million vehicles, the Transporter switched |
| with a tiny 1100cc air-cooled engine developing | | | | from air-cooled to water-cooled engines - but still |
| borrowed from the Volkswagen Beetle. By | | | | rear-mounted. |
| comparison, today's Transporter has a choice of four | | | | The Volkswagen T4 1991-2003 |
| TDI PD diesel engines from 1.9 litres to 2.5 litres. | | | | The fourth generation Transporter was introduced in |
| Volkswagen imported the first VW Campervan to the | | | | 1990 and marked a major change. It was the first to |
| UK in 1955 and a year later, transporter production | | | | have the engine at the front to leave a completely flat |
| moved to a new factory in Hanover. The campers | | | | load area. It is a pronounced wedge, but still a relatively |
| were fitted out by Westfalia, a coachwork company | | | | sleek shape with a huge amount of space. |
| who worked in partnership with VW for many years. | | | | Autosleeper, Bilbo, Reimo, Danbury and Westfalia all |
| There were a huge number of configurations of the | | | | produced camper conversions. The Caravelle is the |
| furniture, and other companies produced conversions | | | | people carrier and the California is the Westfalia |
| too. The split-screen campers had the same air-cooled | | | | camper. The other conversion companies all have their |
| engines as the panel vans and the same 6 volt | | | | own names for their range of models. |
| electrics. | | | | T5 2004 to present |
| Type 2 Bay Window Camper 1967-1980 | | | | The current, fifth generation Transporter made its |
| The taller and larger bay window VW camper had 12 | | | | debut in 2003 and in 2007 Rock legends, The Who, |
| volt electrics, a sliding side door and larger engine. It still | | | | performed live at an official event to celebrate 60 |
| had a friendly, rounded shape but with better visibility | | | | years of Volkswagen vans which was held in |
| and more space. Over three million were made during | | | | Hanover, Germany. It attracted 71,000 visitors with an |
| 12 years of production. Westfalia continued to do | | | | amazing selection of over 5,000 Transporter vans and |
| conversions, and a large number of other companies | | | | campers. Over the period of sixty years over 10 million |
| such as Devon, Danbury, Canterbury and Dormobile in | | | | transporters have been made. VW campervan |
| the UK, joined the market too. There are also VW | | | | conversions have been produced for each transporter |
| camper vans that have been converted by small | | | | model - and by a large number of companies. And |
| companies and DIY conversions as well. Up top there | | | | then there are the small company and amateur |
| were a wide range of pop-ups to give more space - | | | | conversions, too. But now you do have a good |
| ones that go straight up, examples with bellows, | | | | overview, so should at least ask know what questions |
| side-fixed (they are often Dormobiles) plus the type | | | | to ask, when you're buying, or just admiring a VW |
| hinged at the front (wedges) from Devon. Versions of | | | | Camper. |
| the bay window are still in production in Mexico and | | | | |