The Volkswagen Microbus had various pseudonyms around the world, but most people will remember it as a symbol of the 1960s in America. So what happened to the iconic hippie van
Volkswagen pre-dates World War 2, when it began designing an inexpensive car for the masses. The Type 1 was the first model that Volkswagen ever produced, affectionately known as the Beetle, due to its rounded frame. And the extensive
of the hippie van, another iconic vehicle, was established shortly thereafter.
The evolution of the Volkswagen Type 2 spanned seven decades. It was known in different global markets as the Transporter, Kombi, Microbus, Samba, or Campervan. In the U.S., people simply referred to it as the Bus or Camper. Today, we remember it as the hippie van because of its roots in the counterculture movement.
Origin of the hippie van
Production of the Volkswagen Type 2 launched in March of 1950 after a Dutch businessman approached the German automaker with a need for a small bus. According to
, Volkswagen vehicles were not well received in the U.S. market at first, mainly due to its early connection with the dark Nazi era.
The first Type 2 model was commonly referred to as the Splittie, since the front windshield had two separate panes. Standard trim included 11 windows altogether, but other versions had up to 15. An additional eight small skylights were also available.
As always, the engine was rear-mounted. The original hippie van was equipped with a 1.1-liter air-cooled engine that made just 25 hp. A 1.5-liter came later, increasing output to 44 hp. Fuel economy was roughly 20 mpg with a top speed of 55 mph.
The second generation Volkswagen Microbus arrived 18 years after its initial inception. The new water-cooled, four-cylinder 1.6-liter engine had a top speed of 68 mph, as per
. Available powertrains included a three-speed automatic transmission and a four-speed manual transmission.
In the final years of the hippie van, a 1.7-litre engine with 65 hp was introduced. Although the Volkswagen Bus saw many iterations, it always kept its boxy, utilitarian shape.
In the 1960s, the Volkswagen Bus became a symbol at protests against the Vietnam war. It was used to transport groups of young people and their camping gear across America. Adorned with colorful murals and peace signs, the hippie van was born.
Although spotted often at concerts during this time, distribution of the Volkswagen Bus in the United States ended just three years after the first Woodstock music festival. Importing was no longer sustainable due to costly tariffs and federal automobile emissions regulations.
A third generation of the hippie van made a brief reappearance in 1980 as the Vanagon. New environmental legislation and high tariffs extinguished the model in U.S. markets for good. The Vanagon continued to sell in other markets globally until the last Brazilian plant ended production in 2013.
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