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Start hanging around the VW scene and it won't be long before you are a little
confused by all the references to "Type this" and "Type that"...
then on top of that you'll hear and encounter people who further abbreviate the
VW Type System with terms like "T1", "TIV" or "T4"!
A general understanding the VW Type
System will both assist you in communicating with your fellow Aircooled enthusiasts,
and in deciphering many of the "numbers" associated with the marque.
(After reading this, be sure to read the essays on the VW Part Numbering System
and also on Chassis Numbers).
When the idea of "the people's
car" was born, Porsche (the creator of Volkswagens, did you know?!) used
a number to describe and differentiate his vehicle prototypes and production models.
Early Volkswagen prototype and wartime production models included:
- the Type VW-3 (3 prototypes were
built by Dalmer-Benz - 2 were wooden frame, the third built was the first all
metal version of the VW)
- the Type VW38 (approx 60 prototypes
built by Reutter & Company in 1938 for road testing purposes)
- the Type 166 - the Schwimmwagen
(an amphibious 4 wheel drive vehicle)
- the Type 87 - Kommandeurswagen (4
wheel drive)
- the Type 82E - 2 wheel drive version
of the Kommandeurswagen used as a staff car by the German army)
- the Type 82 - the Kublewagen (the
forerunner of the Thing)
TYPE 1 (aka T1, TI)
The first production model of the Volkswagen "sedan" was built in 1945
and since it was based on Porsche's original protoype, it was designated as a
"Type 1" vehicle. Production models that resulted from modification
and changes to the original concept of Protoype 1 were also classed as "Type
1" vehicles, and model/version numbers were added to their type designations
to distinguish them. Beetles (Type 11), SuperBeetles (Type 15), Ghias (Type 14),
Hebmullers (Type 14A), and Things (formally designated as Kurierwagens - Type
18) were all based on the original Type 1 prototype.
TYPE 2 (aka T2, TII)
Prototype 2 for a "truck" version of the Volkswagen was developed in
the post-war production years at the Wolfsburg Factory. The Beetle (or Type 1)
chassis proved to be too weak to withstand the rigors of truck-use, and so a stiffer
(and lighter) unitized body/chassis was developed. Production of Type 2 vehicles,
also formally designated as "Transporters", began in 1950. Type 2 refers
to any and all versions of the VW "vans" or "busses" that
followed -- and that includes an awful lot of models and versions! Within Type
2 circles, there is another that came into widespread use as the transporter evolved
over the years. It is another "type system" used to differentiate between
"Early Bus" (T1); "Late Bus" or "Loaf" (T2); and
"Brick" (T3) style vans. (Can you see how this might get confusing?)
As far as we know, these are unofficial "type" designations, usually
only used in the abbreviated format "T1", "T2", "T3",
but you will need to be aware of their use for clarification purproses.
TYPE 3 (aka T3, TIII)
Researching -- more to come!
TYPE 4 (aka T4, TIV)
Researching -- more to come!
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