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 The Versatile Type 2: VW Bus & Transporter History in Print

Introduced in 1950, the Volkswagen Type 2 redefined the commercial vehicle. Whether it was called the Microbus, Kombi, Station Wagon, or simply the VW Van, its forward-control design offered unparalleled space. This gallery spans the "Barndoor" era of the mid-1950s through the beloved "Split-window" and "Bay-window" models of the late 70s. You’ll find everything from Swedish coffee-delivery vans to the witty US advertisements created by Doyle Dane Bernbach (DDB). These iconic ads, like the famous "Open for business" campaign, helped transform a utilitarian German workhorse into a worldwide symbol of counter-culture and adventure.

Tap images for full screen. Rotate phone for wide ads and use the info icon for details.

View fullsize  Vintage 1954 Volkswagen Single Cab Pick-up illustration showing side loading treasure chest compartment and rear bed utility.
View fullsize  Vintage German 1957 VW Microbus ad showing a man with a grandfather clock in the sunroof and another loading a moose head into the side doors.
View fullsize  Australian Reader’s Digest ad for the Volkswagen Kombi-van, dated August 1958.
View fullsize  1959 French-Canadian print ad for the Volkswagen microbus deluxe and standard versions.
View fullsize  A 1959 French-Canadian print ad with a technical cutaway diagram of a red and white VW Microbus showcasing the rear engine and interior seating layout.
View fullsize  Detailed 1959 print ad with a technical cutaway diagram in French showing the internal components, seating, and rear-engine layout of a red and white Volkswagen Microbus.
View fullsize  1959 French-language print ad showing the interior seating and side door access of a green and white Volkswagen Microbus.
View fullsize  1960 blue Volkswagen bus - from an original French-Canadian print advertisement.
View fullsize  A vintage 1950s Volkswagen T1 Barndoor Panel Van modified into a giant coffee pot for Gevalia Kaffe promotional deliveries in Gävle, Sweden.
View fullsize   "Snel en voordelig" —Fast and economical. A classic 1960 Dutch campaign for the VW Type 2 commercial van.
View fullsize  Vintage 1960 Dutch ad for the VW Single Cab Pick-up, showing a worker loading rolls of material into the lower 'treasure chest' storage compartment.
View fullsize  1960 Dutch print ad for the Volkswagen ‘Kampeerwagen’ version showing a white-over-red bus with camper interior.
View fullsize   "Drie wagens in één model verenigd!"  (Three cars united in one model). Dutch print ad showcasing the modular 1960 Volkswagen Transporter.
View fullsize  1960 Dutch print ad showing a white-over-red Volkswagen microbus deluxe version and a green-and-white standard model.
View fullsize  1963 Volkswagen Station Wagon print ad from the USA highlighting the compact size and cheap overall running costs and purchase price.
View fullsize  Mid-1960s print advertisement for the Volkswagen station wagon aka bus.
View fullsize  1961 two-tone white over red Volkswagen station wagon bus - original print advertisement.
View fullsize  1961 blue Volkswagen dual-cab pick-up with canopy - vintage print ad.
View fullsize  1961 blue Volkswagen single-cab pick-up showing the ‘treasure chest’ underfloor storage compartment - vintage print ad.
View fullsize  1961 French Canadian print ad showcasing the Volkswagen bus/station wagon air-cooled flat four cylinder engine and gearbox-transaxle.
View fullsize  1961 red Volkswagen Combi van- vintage print ad.
View fullsize  1961 blue Volkswagen van with side doors open - vintage print ad.
View fullsize  1961 blue Volkswagen dual-cab pick-up in 3 or 6 seat configurations - vintage print ad.
View fullsize  1961 Volkswagen van side view cutaway showing mechanicals - vintage print ad.
View fullsize  1966 Volkswagen station wagon (type 2 bus)  Deluxe 21-Window model  in red and white with its distinctive "skylight" windows and fabric sunroof. ‘Open for Business’ - page from an original print campaign.
View fullsize  ‘Your VW Station Wagon becomes an office on wheels!’ Original 1962 print ad demonstrating the Bus's 170 cubic feet of space by literally moving an entire office—desk, chairs, typewriter, and secretary—inside.
View fullsize  1966 Volkswagen Station Wagon print campaign - this ad showcasing the heavy-duty potential and load space, showing it filled with floral arrangements and over 1,600 pounds of cargo - more than a conventional ½ ton truck.
View fullsize   ‘It carries a larger crowd than a 7-passenger limousine’. Original print ad  ad showcases the VW Bus's ability to carry up to nine adults, highlighting the separate luggage compartment and low running costs.
View fullsize  1966 Volkswagen Standard Station Wagon in two-tone brown showing the iconic split-window silhouette. Image taken from a VW multi-page US promotional campaign.
View fullsize  1970 red Volkswagen Station Wagon with side sliding door open to reveal a velvet couch to highlight the interior room. Original print ad
View fullsize  1970 red Volkswagen Station Wagon print ad highlighting the reliability of the VW mechanicals.
View fullsize  1970 Volkswagen Station Wagon with the side cut away to highlight the three rows of seating and luggage space. Original print ad
View fullsize  1970 red Volkswagen Station Wagon looking through the windscreen at a family occupying all three seating rows. Original print ad
View fullsize  1971 two-tone white over orange Volkswagen 8-seater bus. Original print ad.
View fullsize  1974 white over red Volkswagen Station Wagon - original print ad.
View fullsize  1974 yellow Volkswagen Station Wagon ‘Campmobile’ with roof raised - original print ad.
View fullsize  1976 Volkswagen Campmobile bus showing interior appointments - original print ad.
View fullsize  1976 Volkswagen Station Wagon print ad highlighting the versatility and spaciousness ‘the box you can fit anything into’.
View fullsize  1976 green Volkswagen Campmobile bus with roof up and optional side canopy attached - original print ad.
View fullsize  1977 German print ad showing a blue Volkswagen Bay Window Bus exterior profile and a close-up of the front seating, dashboard, engine and exterior styling features.

[ ← BACK TO THE VW ARCHIVE ]   |   [ NEXT: VW KARMANN GHIA GALLERY → ]


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