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In pictures. 75 years ago, Volkswagen launched the Combi, the world's most beloved vehicle.

In pictures. 75 years ago, Volkswagen launched the Combi, the world's most beloved vehicle.

  • 75 years after its launch, the Combi has become an automotive icon. A utility vehicle transformed in every way, a symbol of travel, synonymous with freedom, the favorite vehicle of 70s hippies, it has today become the van of choice for fans of
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  • Back in April 1947, Ben Pons, who distributed Beetles in the Netherlands, visited the management of the Volkswagen factory in Wolfsburg. As he turned a corner, a vehicle caught his eye. Built by Volkswagen workers, it was a small utility vehicle designed to transport pallets within the factory. Post-war Holland, like all post-war European countries, needed small utility vehicles that were simple to manufacture, inexpensive, and easy to maintain. The sight of this small vehicle with a rear platform triggered a thought in Ben Pons. On a notepad, the importer began sketching a new vehicle. He sketched a single-body utility vehicle with a Beetle engine at the rear in a few strokes. The Kombi was born! Photo: Volkswagen Media
  • On March 8, 1950, barely three years later, Volkswagen launched production of this van, the second model in its history, internally called “Type 2.” It was then necessary to find a commercial name for this vehicle. As early as 1949, Volkswagen had tried to trademark the name “Bulli” (the German name for the Combi). But this name had already been registered by a company manufacturing snow groomers! Finally, the vehicle was called “Transporter,” but in the minds of customers, the nickname “Combi” had already entered the minds of customers. Over the years, variations, and markets, the vehicle was called Kombi, Combi, Bulli, VW bus, Microbus, Caravelle, Transporter… This utility vehicle was highly anticipated by professionals, especially in a Germany in the midst of an “economic miracle.” Photo Volkswagen Media
  • The Combi will quickly become synonymous with escape. Photo Volkswagen Media
  • In March 1950, the Type 2 was presented at the Geneva Motor Show. It used the engine, gearbox, and axles from the Beetle and a self-supporting body. The payload was 750 kilos. The engine had a displacement of 1,131 cm³ and developed 24 hp. It could carry up to eight people. Once the seats were removed, it boasted a remarkable loading capacity of 4.5 m³. It quickly became a success. Craftsmen, shopkeepers, police officers, and postal services adopted the Combi. In a Germany undergoing reconstruction, the need was immense. Thirty different versions were produced, from buses to pickup trucks, vans, and ambulances. Photo: Volkswagen Media
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  • To meet demand, it was decided to dedicate a factory to it in Hanover. But it was another coincidence that gave it its status as a vehicle of freedom. Photo: Volkswagen Media
  • At that time, Germany had a number of American and British military bases. On weekends or during their leave, soldiers indulged in their hobbies. In 1951, a British officer based in Germany walked into Westfalia, a coachbuilder in Wiedenbrück. His request was simple: he wanted to convert his Combi into a vehicle in which he could sleep comfortably while preparing food. Westfalia invented a kit called a “Camping-Box.” The “California” was a resounding success. The recreational vehicle was born. Photo: Volkswagen Media
  • With its 25 hp flat-four engine from the Beetle, the T1 barely reached a top speed of 80 km/h. Its power was then increased to 44 hp to reach 105 km/h. New body variants quickly followed: a version with a rear window was available from April 1950, followed by a minibus version and a flatbed truck. In June 1951, the “Minibus Special Version”, quickly nicknamed “Bus Samba” (photo), offered nine seats and was equipped with 23 windows, a two-tone body color and a luxury equipment with a folding panoramic roof. Photo Volkswagen Media
  • In 1956, Volkswagen moved production of the Combi to its new factory in Hanover. By October 2, 1962, production of the T1 had already reached one million units. In July 1967, the T1 was replaced by the T2, after more than 1.8 million units had been assembled. However, the T1 continued to be produced in Brazil until 1975. More than ever, the Combi became a symbol of change and youth. It was in the T2 that the baby boom generation grew up, and it was with this vehicle that they discovered the world. In August 1969, Jimi Hendrix, Joe Cocker, Joan Baez, and many others made history at Woodstock, and many Combis were photographed there. It became a legend. Photo: Volkswagen Media
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  • The T3 continues the rear-engine concept. Photo Volkswagen Media
  • The history of this vehicle spans eight generations. A story that is not about to end, as the range now includes several versions, with the Transporter based on the Ford Transit, the all-electric iDbuzz, and the Caravelle 6.1. The California version, updated last year, is enjoying ever-growing success. The Combi legend is not about to die out. Photo: Volkswagen Media
  • Today, the Combi is electric. Photo Volkswagen Media
  • But it also remains a collector's item. Photo Volkswagen Media
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  • The Combi dynasty continues in 2025. Photo Volkswagen Media

It's 1950. Europe is slowly recovering from World War II, but a wind of freedom is blowing across the continent. Rock 'n' roll is about to be invented, and at Volkswagen, the little Beetle is a hit. Businesses need utility vehicles to rebuild Germany. But the Kombi will quickly become a symbol of love, road trips, and travel.

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