Volkswagen Transporter turns 60

The German automaker announced today that their Volkswagen Transporter is celebrating its 60th anniversary as the well known van entered production in March 1950.

With 10 million units produced since then, the Volkswagen Transporter has now reached the 5th generation, evolving continuously in every aspect.

The first Volkswagen Transporter was fitted with an air-cooled 4-cylinder 1.1-litre petrol engine that developed 25 PS and could reach a top speed of 60 mph.

On the latest generation Volkswagen Transporter power is extracted from a 2.0-litre common rail, turbocharged diesel engine that produces between 84 PS and 180 PS while maximum speed is now 119 mph.

As the Volkswagen Transporter turns 60 the

company is promoting the latest generation that went on sale in UK in January through a new campaign entitled the 'Evolution of Van'.

Volkswagen press release :

Production of the Volkswagen Transporter van officially started inMarch 1950 and during the 60 years since then it has become one ofVolkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ best-selling models globally, thenumber one imported van in the UK as well as one of the most iconic andpopular vans in the world.

With over 10 million produced, the Volkswagen Transporter hasevolved through five generations of functional and practicalbodystyles, each representing the ultimate multi-purpose vehicle of itstime and loved by business and private users alike for transportinggoods or people for work or leisure.  This unique heritage is the focusof the current ‘Evolution

of Van’ advertising campaign for the newTransporter which was launched in the UK in January.

The first T1 ‘split-screen’ model was powered by a four-cylinder,air-cooled, 1.1-litre petrol engine mounted at the back of thevehicle.  It produced 25 PS of power and had a top speed of about 60mph.  By comparison, the new Transporter enjoys the refinement ofVolkswagen’s latest 2.0-litre, common rail, turbocharged diesel engine,available with power outputs ranging from 84 PS to 180 PS and a topspeed of up to 119 mph, plus the latest stability control systems andbraking technology that would have sounded like something from ascience fiction novel 60 years ago.

Although the design has evolved over the years, the first and thelatest Transporter share the same badge on the front and the samedesign principles of a generous loadspace and an enviable reputationfor quality and durability. 

Similarly, comparing the latest Volkswagen California with a T1campervan shows that both make efficient use of the space available tocreate a vehicle equally suitable for daily trips to work or the shops,as for weekend escapes or continental capers.

Over the years, Volkswagen Transporters have endured challenginground the world trips by enthusiastic travellers, been used as thepreferred choice of travel for rock bands since the 1960s to thepresent day, and been relied upon by many businesses needing a fleet ofdelivery or passenger carrying vehicles.

The first Transporter was imported into the UK in 1955, and thelatest version of the van as well as today’s people-carrying andcampervan versions, the Caravelle and California, arrived in the UKthis January, 55 years later.  Full details of the new Transporter,Caravelle and California and the latest finance offers are available bycalling 0800 717131 or visiting www.volkswagen.vans.co.uk.

Tags: 60, 60th, anniversary, transporter, van, volkswagen, vw

Added in Volkswagen, Various News

Source: Volkswagen